Venus Part 1

-At an outdoor pool, Peter is filming some girls diving and Manny and Emma are laying on lounge chairs-

Peter: 1, 2, 3, action!

Manny: Do you think that agent is ever gonna call me?

Emma: Do you think that Peter guy is ever gonna notice me? We’ve been coming here for weeks. Hey what if I stood up? Do I have like lumpy chair dents in my thighs?

Manny: Alright you’d need fat on them, or any.

Emma: Look. He’s talking to that turquoise tankini tramp. I hate her.

Manny: You’ve already won. You don’t need a tankini to hide your Buddha belly or shorts to camouflage your butt.

Emma: Manny! He’s looking at you.

Manny: Please. I’m not his type. He’s looking at you. You are.

Emma: That is the first guy I’ve liked since hurricane Sean blew through my emotional trailer park.

Manny: Em, I have one goal this year and it ain’t anonymous hot dude at pool. I’m gonna be an actress. Go ahead. Smile. I’m doing it. Whatever it takes, I’m doing.

-Outside the school, Paige, Ellie, Jimmy, Marco, Hazel and Craig are walking-

Paige: Can you believe that we, the most cursed class in history, actually made it to senior year?

Everyone else: No!

Hazel: I guess Ashley didn’t make it.

Craig: Yet! She’ll be here. Right El?

Ellie: Definitely.

-Outside the school, Manny, Emma, Toby, JT and Liberty are walking-


 * Manny is checking her cell phone for a message and doesn’t see one*

Emma: She’s a big agent. She’s probably just busy.

JT: Just trust Papa Super Fry okay? The acting world is all about brutal rejection.

-Inside the school-

Ms. Hatzilakos: You put in a lot of work this summer. That’s why I’m letting you back, but one slip up, and I mean one, and you’re out that door.

Spinner: Got it. I won’t disappoint you Ms. H! I swear to god.


 * She leaves and Spinner sees everyone walk into the school*

Spinner: Hey guys. Look who’s back. Jimmy. Uh good summer?


 * They all walk by without saying anything*

-In a hallway, Emma sees Peter and grabs Manny-

Emma: He’s actually here.

Manny: Oh! You can do it.

Emma: I’m too nervous!


 * Manny pushes Emma towards him*

Emma: Hi. Welcome to Emma. I’m Degrassi.

Peter: Nice to meet you Degrassi.

Manny: It’s a tradition. Backwards greeting. We all do it first day, so you’re Manny and I’m…?

Peter: Peter. I know you! You’re the actress from the Kevin Smith film.

Manny: Yeah.

Peter: I’m a director. Aspiring anyway. You got an agent?

Manny: I sent my photos to Bernice Fein. She’s the best in the city so I’m just waiting for a call.

Peter: Forever. That’s how long you’re gonna have to wait. You gotta march right into her office looking like a million bucks and demand to see her. My dad always says if you want something in life, don’t ask, just take.


 * His phone rings*

Peter: Excuse me. *On the phone* Hello?

-In another hallway-

Ellie: Ashley hasn’t e-mailed in a week. She’s totally disappeared.

Marco: Okay uh maybe, maybe, maybe she’s gonna surprise Craig, hmm? Show up at his birthday tomorrow.

Ellie: It’s tomorrow? What do we do?

-At Manny’s house-

Mrs. Santos: Oh Manuelita. I didn’t make lunch.

Manny: I just came for my credit card.

Mrs. Santos: *Changing the subject* Uh leftovers or a toasted sandwich? I could throw together an omelette.

Manny: Mom! It’s my credit card and I don’t even know why you guys don’t let me keep it.

Mrs. Santos: Your daddy and I just want you to be responsible.

Manny: I am. I worked really hard on that movie to make all that money.

Mrs. Santos: Sometimes we are concerned. What you wear, where you go…with boys. And your grades!

Manny: What do you think I’m retarded? I’m not. I can manage. I’m smart.


 * Her mom doesn’t say anything*

Manny: I just, I just need some new clothes for school, okay mom?


 * Her mom smiles and gets the credit card from her wallet*

Mrs. Santos: $50 only. You know how your daddy is. He’ll chop off our heads.

Manny: Okay. Thanks bye!

-In the Media Immersion classroom-

Marco: I did a safari in Masai Mara and honest El, it blew my mind.


 * Craig starts doing hand signals to Ellie who laughs*

Marco: What? You two have hand signals? We don’t even have hand signals.

Ellie: Oh good! It’s from Ash.


 * Ellie looks at the e-mail and sees a picture of Ashley with another guy*

Ellie: Not good. Way, way not good.


 * Ashley’s e-mail tells her that she met a new guy named Alistair and that she’s not coming home because of him, but she doesn’t know how to tell Craig yet. Ellie shows Marco the attached picture*

Marco: Uh that, that is not Craig.

Ellie: It’s Alistair, AKA Ali, AKA the reason she’s staying in England.

Marco: What?! Nice birthday present.

Ellie: Okay we have to throw him the greatest, most rocking-est party ever.

Marco: Wow. You just say rocking-est?

Ellie: Yeah. I’m that upset for him.

-In the mall, music is playing while there’s a montage of Manny-


 * Manny is walking around the mall staring at pictures of models and looking at mannequins, and seeing really skinny girls try on clothes. She tries on a blonde wig, then takes it off. She goes into a change room with a pair of jeans and has to squeeze to get them on. Before she leaves Manny sees an outfit that she loves, so she buys it and wears it out of the mall*

-At the agent’s office-

Manny: Two minutes. I promise. I won’t leave and I’ll stare at you really, really hard.

Bernice’s assistant: *On the phone* Spare two minutes for pest control? Thanks Bernice.

Manny: *Reading for the camera* And in the midst of all that rescuing, in the midst of all that clawing for hope, nobody made it out of our wedding alive.

Bernice: Glass of milk honey.

Manny: You want me to?

Bernice: It was nice. Milk. Eh it’s kind of boring. Danny look at the wall behind me. Tell me what you see dear.

Manny: A bunch of really gorgeous people?

Bernice: Mm hmm, but they’re not just gorgeous. They’re special. They have ‘it’. Look at Robin. Robin has ‘it’. Robin is special! What’s so special about you? Hmm?


 * Manny doesn’t know what to say*

Bernice: Exactly my point. So you go figure that out before you come back here. Oh and a word of advice, stop with the beans and rice, and dump the lumps.

-Outside-


 * Manny is walking outside crying and nearly gets hit by a bus, then sees an add for plastic surgery and stares at it*

Manny: *On the phone* Hi. Emma? Can you meet me downtown now?

-At the plastic surgery office, Manny and Emma are looking at brochures and booklets-

Emma: Ugh, look at that ass.

Manny: She said dump the lumps.

Emma: Okay. She’s out of her mind.

Manny: And I’m a glass of milk.

Emma: Okay. You are out of your mind. Manny you are gorgeous. You do not need to change.

Manny: Remember when you got your period in class?

Emma: Shh!!

Manny: Remember when you got your period in class and everyone was laughing at you and you just told them all to shut up? I feel like that everyday. Like everybody’s joking about me and I can never get them to shut up.

Emma: And a plastic surgeon can change that?

Manny: They won’t be laughing when I’m famous.

Surgeon: Manny Santos?

-In the surgeon’s office-

Manny: So, some off my uh thighs and my…


 * She gestures to her butt*

Surgeon: Your bottom?

Manny: Yes, but I think my…


 * She gestures to her boobs*

Surgeon: Bosom.

Manny: Yes, I think they’re fine, or it, or my bust. I mean it's fine.

Surgeon: Consider...a larger bust will actually help balance out your lower half. So if we combine lipo with breast augmentation I can create for you Manny a very, very striking figure.

Manny: Oh okay. I want to do it. Let's do it.

Surgeon: Okay. There's some details that we have to discuss, including the risks of course.

Manny: Fine. How much?

Surgeon: Ah, well $6000 is the average cost of an implant, plus or minus depending on the model, etc. Liposuction, more or less $300.

Manny: I have enough.

Surgeon: And parental consent?

Manny: I have enough. Of it. I'm sorry, I have it. How soon?

Surgeon: Uh 7 or 8 weeks until there’s an opening in the O.R., but that's only if you book now and leave a deposit, otherwise-

Manny: Do you take credit cards?

-At the Dot-

Ellie: Hey Spinner, have any coffee?

Spinner: They tell me that’s what the cups are for.

Ellie: One to go please.

Spinner: Party supplies eh? I know school’s exciting, but...

Ellie: It’s Craig’s birthday.

Spinner: So what, you guys best friends now?

Ellie: No. No. I just, I kinda feel responsible since my former best friend’s ruined the guy’s life.

Spinner: Oops. Ash did it again. She played with his heart, got lost in-

Ellie: Anyway! Now I’ve got no place to throw him his cheer up party.

Spinner: Well you know I could get us that whole corner. I mean you, you guys can have that whole corner.

Ellie: Really?

Spinner: Yeah it’s no problem. I’m here for the night shift anyway.

-In the school library-

Manny: Captain Cook? Didn’t we already do him in like grade 4?

Peter: Years later Peter used to look back and remember how cute it was when she made fun of his history project. Wait, wait. I have this idea for a movie. It’s about a girl like you. Smart, fiery, not totally hideous.

Manny: Charming. Thanks, but I don’t know.

Peter: Why not? A good movie under your belt, your agent would love that. You did go talk to that agent didn’t you?

Manny: Yeah, but she said I needed some work.

Peter: So do it! Listen to this. ‘I had the ambition not only to go farther than any man had ever gone, but to go as far as it was possible to go’. You free tonight? My friend’s having a party.

Manny: Um sorry I can’t.

Peter: Because?

Manny: Just because, but you should ask Emma. You know, she’s free.

Peter: Yeah I will ask her, but uh here’s the address for you. Just in case.

-At the Dot-

Jimmy: Still can’t believe they let him back after what he did. It makes me sick.

Paige: Blah, blah Spinner. That’s so last year. I want the latest with the princess Ashley diaries. How’s Craig doing with his dumpage?

Ellie: Well. Really well.

Marco: Yeah ‘cause um, he doesn’t know yet.

Paige: Oh!

Ellie: Hey it’s the guy’s birthday. It can at least wait until tomorrow, right?

Hazel: There he is!

Everyone: Surprise!! Surprise!


 * Ellie starts spraying him with silly string*

Craig: Who did this? I hate surprises!


 * Craig gives Ellie a big hug from behind*

Craig: Thanks guys. Thank you. This is great. This is great!

-At Manny’s house, Manny walks in and her parents are sitting at the table-

Manny: Sorry. How was your day?


 * Her parents don’t say anything*

Manny: What’s going on?

Mrs. Santos: A doctor’s office called today to get permission for breast surgery.

Manny: Okay! Wait, I have to explain. I was just asking…I was curious.

Mr. Santos: Don’t lie! You made a deposit! I called the credit card company!

Manny: I’m trying to be an actress. I need to make changes for my job.

Mr. Santos: School’s your job and the only changing you should do is into, into decent clothes.

Manny: My clothes are fine.

Mr. Santos: You think I sacrificed all my life so you could be a loose girl?

Manny: I’m not a loose girl.

Mr. Santos: Then why do you want bigger boobs, huh? Huh?! What kind of girl wants that? A good girl? No! A slut.


 * Manny runs out of the room crying*

Mrs. Santos: Manuela wait! Joseph-


 * Mrs. Santos keeps talking to him as Manny is crying in the hallway*

-At the Dot-

Spinner: There are two extra scoops in there.

Craig: I won’t tell.

Spinner: Happy birthday man.

Craig: Yeah. I gotta get back.

Spinner: Uh Craig. I’m sorry about what happened. It sucks. You’re a great guy and you deserve better than that.

Craig: Better than what?

Spinner: Better than Ashley. Man I know all about it.

Craig: All about what? What the hell are you talking about?

Spinner: Ellie said that…nothing. It’s nothing! Nothing…

Ellie: Time to open presents?

Craig: It’s time to tell the truth. What is going on with Ashley?


 * Nobody says anything*

Craig: If you told Spinner, you can tell me.

Ellie: She wanted to tell you herself. She wanted to wait ‘til the time was right.

Craig: Whatever. Just tell me.

Ellie: She met someone.

Craig: Wait. You knew and you didn’t tell me?

Marco: Don’t shoot the messenger Craig. We-

Craig: You knew? Did everybody know? Screw you.

-At the party, Manny walks in and Emma is talking to some random girl-

Random girl: Are they vintage? They look vintage.

Emma: Yeah they’re from some little store at Dundas/Grace.


 * Emma sees Manny and walks over to her*

Emma: Hey Manny! What are you doing here?

Manny: I was just bored I guess.

Emma: So how’d you know about this party?

Peter: Hey Manny. Glad you could make it.

Emma: I guess he invited you.

Random girl: Oh that explains it. Peter invited her. He does go for girls like that.

Emma: Manny what is going on? Have you been crying?

Manny: No I’m fine. Just leave me alone.


 * She walks over to some guys that are drinking *

Manny: Hi can I borrow some vodka?


 * She starts drinking and Peter is filming the party*

-Outside the Dot-

Ellie: How is he?

Marco: Well he’s bashing on the poor, defenceless drum kit, but he’ll be fine.

Ellie: Ugh! So terrible.

Marco: El, it’s not your fault okay? Don’t worry. I think he kinda saw it coming.

Ellie: Then why do I feel so awful?

Marco: Because you like him.

Ellie: Marco, he’s my best friend’s boyfriend.

Marco: Yeah, but not anymore.

Ellie: Yeah, well…you are so wrong.

-At the party, Manny is drinking more and more, while Peter is filming everyone-


 * Emma walks by with some other girl having a good time and Manny watches them sadly. She keeps drinking and talking to the guy who is basically passed out next to her*

Manny: And then my dad called me a slut.

Peter: It must be quite the conversation. I think it’s time for you to go home little girl lost.

Manny: I’m not a little girl.


 * Manny grabs Peter’s hand and they walk to another room together*

Manny: Have you ever known a girl who got a boob job or is gonna?

Peter: Hope you’re not talking about you.

Manny: That’s what I said. I said my boobs are great and the doctor said I’m wrong.

Peter: Well maybe you need a second opinion.

Manny: Maybe we should make a little movie ‘cause camera’s never lie.

Peter: Know what? You’re right Manny. Camera’s never lie. In fact this camera will give a perfect second opinion.

Manny: I’m gonna be an actress. Like academy award winning. You can sell this for a million dollars cause I’m gonna be famous!


 * She takes off her shirt as Peter films her*