Degrassi High (1987–1991): Season 1, Episode 4 - The Cover-Up - full transcript

Joey inadvertently helps his friend Rick when he discovers that Rick's dad beats him.

Man:
Hey, ricky!

You seen my
blue tie?

It's in here, dad.

Where?

What you
got there?

Where'd you
get this?

Frank give this to you?

Frank been
in here?

No, dad.

How'd you
get it?

I bought it.



You stole it, didn't you?

I bought it!

Where'd you
get the money?

I took back
some bottles.

You think money grows on trees?

You think we got money to waste?

I had plans for that money.

I have to go...

Yeah, right.

What did you say?

Punk.

Don't you
ever talk back.

No, dad, no!
I can't
stand...

♪ wake up in the morning,
feeling shy and lonely ♪



♪ gee, I got to go to school ♪

♪ I don't think I can make it,
don't think I can take it ♪

♪ I'm wondering
what I'm going to do ♪

♪ but when I look
around, I see ♪

♪ that someone is
smiling right at me ♪

♪ wait! ♪

♪ that someone's talking to me ♪

♪ hey! I've got a new friend. ♪

♪ everybody can succeed ♪

♪ all you need is to believe ♪

♪ be honest with yourself ♪

♪ forget your fears and doubts ♪

♪ come on, give us a try ♪

♪ degrassi junior high. ♪

Joey:
Watch this!

Joey jeremiah,
esquire

King of the skateboard.

Hey, rick, buddy,
how're you doing?

Hi, mr. Raditch.

Fooling around again?

This calls
for a visit

To the
nurse's office

And then a chat

With the principal.

Go on.

Susie:
Rick munro
is so cute.

Caitlin:
I hear he's
on probation.

Probably for
beating someone up.

He's always got
lots of bruises.

Joey, what
happened to you?

These guys were beating
up a little kid.

I had to stop them.

So you're here for
a commendation?

Mr. Raditch wants me to see

Mr. Lawrence.

Mr. Jeremiah
is here

For another chat.

Lawrence ( over phone ):
Send him in.

Good morning, students.

Only one announcement
this morning--

Mr. Lawrence asked
me to remind you

That Thursday is photo day.

Remember, these are pictures

You'll want to show
friends and relatives

And look at yourselves
over the years.

So please, try to dress
your best... For a change.

Hi, voula.

Hello.

Look, I'm sorry
for thanking joey

Instead of you

During the election.

Won't you forgive me?

It wouldn't look good
for our school president

To be talking

To a peasant
like me.

Voula!

Is that how
you'll dress

For photo day?

Of course!

Your mom will love
those pictures.

Or doesn't
she know

About your new image?

He always looks
so tragic.

It must be weird to flunk

And your friends
are in grade eight.

I don't think
he has friends.

He's such
a loner

And he
never smiles.

I think we should help him.

We should make him smile.

Everyone has
to smile.

Voula:
So photo day is this Thursday.

I can't wait.

Yeah, I think
I'll wear

My castrol t-shirt.

Very classy, l.D.

Very classy.

Hello, ladies.

What happened
to your eye?

These three
big guys

Said stephanie
was only

The second
best president

This school
has ever had.

I taught them
a lesson.

Good morning,
aspiring scholars.

You'll be
pleased to know

I've marked your papers.

Some of you will be pleased.

You going to dress
up for photo day?

Of course!

It'll be the classic
case of the four js--

"joey jeremiah in
his jean jacket."

Mr. Jeremiah!

How many times
have you been told

That socializing is
not done in my class?

Some of you still
need improvement...

Joey, is
that you?

Mom, why
are you home?

I decided to
do some cleaning

Around here.

It's a dirty job.

Joey, what happened to your eye?

It was really weird!

I'm studying when, wham!

This book jumps up,
hits me in the eye!

Did the nurse see it?

Yeah, sure.

Just a surface wound.

She told me
not to study.

Hey, my room!

You cleaned up my room!

What'd you clean my room for?

I got fed up.

I was going to
do it tomorrow.

Don't worry.

I didn't throw anything out.

That's not the point.

This is an invasion
of my privacy.

Dad!

It was a
dirty job.

Sure, make jokes.

I thought I had
some rights here.

What are you doing?

My jacket!

My favorite jacket!

It was a wreck, joey.

We bought you a
new one last week.

I can't wear a new one.

I've got to break it in.

And Thursday's
photo day!

I was going

To wear this one!

You've ruined
everything!

I'm sorry, joey...

This is child abuse!

Joey:
There should be
a parent exchange

Because I've
really had it
with mine.

I mean,
no respect!

Parents are
a real pain.

It's child abuse.

It took months

To get that
jacket right.

Then they go and wreck it.

I got nothing
for photo day.

Hey, jeremiah.

You really
need a jacket?

I might have one
I could sell you.

Like, used
and everything?

Everything I've got is used.

I've got to
see it first.

So, come see it.

To your place?

Meet me here
after school.

All right!

Thanks, buddy.

Just because you're
buying my jacket

Doesn't make us "buddies."

Yeah, sure-- okay.

Here he comes.

Rick--

I've got
a joke.

It's really funny.

Why did the turtle
cross the road?

Because it was the
chicken's day off!

Voula--

I need your advice.

I wouldn't presume
to offer advice

To someone
so important.

Would you stop that?

We used to be
best friends.

I still want to be.

If I get my
pictures taken

In home clothes

Everyone will laugh.

But if I wear
school clothes

My mom will ground me

For the rest of my
life when she sees.

I don't know
what to do.

That's your problem.

Jeez, nice bike!

Wow!

Hi.

Come on, let's go.

Come with me.

Rick:
I said come on!

So, this is
the place?

Yeah.

Rick:
You're so slow.

It's in here.

Hey!

I like
this place.

Your mom must
be real cool.

I don't
have a mom.

You want a pop?

Yeah, sure.

I'll get
the jacket.

Nice bike.

I've been
on one.

My brother frank's got one.

He takes me driving
on it sometimes.

When he gets it
going real fast

It's like nothing
can stop you.

This used
to be frank's.

Frank live
here, too?

He moved out.

Well, what do
you think?

It's cool!

Who's this?

I'm joey jeremiah.

You wouldn't
believe

The day I've had.

You better go.

How much for the jacket?

Father:
Hey, ricky!

I thought we had something
to drink in here.

You're asking for trouble.

But dad...

Shut up!

You think
we can afford

Giving stuff to
every punk you know?

You want
to start

Bringing home
a paycheck?

No, dad!

Dragging in
the scum off
the streets!

I've had enough!

I wish I could get
out of this place...

Ricky,
I'm sorry.

I wish I could get
out of this place.

It won't happen
again, rick...

I believe
we're shooting

In the
resource center.

Joey:
Hey, tim!

So, that's
rick's jacket?

No way, man.

It's my jacket.

Looks good.

On me, everything
looks good.

So, it went okay?

He was cool?

Yeah, sure.

He was cool.

Smile.

Next.

Smile.

Next.

I decided I
have to be me.

I'd like to see
your mother's face

When she sees
the pictures.

A zit!

An enormous zit!

Right on my face!

I can't
believe this!

I don't see a zit.

I see it.

The camera
will see a zit.

Smile.

Next.

Smile.

Next.

What would you do
if you knew someone

Whose dad
beat him up?

Who?

It's just a question.

Smile, please.

Smile!

Doris:
All right,
grade eights.

Hey, jeremiah, you
owe me 15 bucks.

Oh, yeah, sure.

Jacket fits
great, man.

Oh, no, I've only
got ten on me.

Then give
it back.

No!

Not today!

Fifteen bucks, now.

I need it today.

I don't want to look
like a broomhead.

Take this.

I'll give you the
rest after school.

I really need
the jacket.

Please?

Just don't try and
rip me off, jeremiah.

Rick...

Do you want
to talk?

Mind your
own business.

I just thought...

Shut up!

Photographer:
Smile.

Next.

Next.

You're next.

We're going to
look pretty dumb

If he doesn't
think this is funny.

Here he comes!

Hi, rick!
Hi, rick!

Oink, oink, oink!

Oink, oink!

Oink, oink, oink...

"let me rest for a
moment as I am out of..."

This guy getting
beat up by his dad--

It's rick, isn't it?

No!

It is,
isn't it?

It's just
a question!

Mr. Jeremiah--

How many times
have I told you

My classroom is for
learning, not socializing?

I think you
should go

See the principal,
right now.

Now, then...

For homework this evening...

Lawrence:
If I ever have
to talk to you

About this again

I'm going to have
to call your parents.

Yes, sir.

How's the eye?

Getting better.

That's good.

Doris...

Suppose I knew someone

Who was getting
beat up by his dad...

Someone in
this school?

No, I was
just asking

In case...

Joey, is everything
okay at home?

Sure!

Really?

More or less.

I mean, parents-- right?

Bye.

Hey, jeremiah,
you owe me five bucks.

No problem.

I got it
at my place.

So, let's go.

Stupid chain...

What's
the problem?

My chain
came off.

Fix it
at my place.

You've got
tools?

Yeah, sure.

I live right
over there.

Nice bike!

Whose is that?

I don't know.

Not as cool
as frank's

But not bad.

Come on,
let's go.

Rick!

You can leave
your bike there.

We've brought
up four kids.

No one has ever
accused us

Of child
abuse before.

Well, we
have to check

All these calls.

Mom:
Joey?

Hi, mom.

Joey, this
is mr. Marino

From the
children's aid.

Children's aid?

How you doing?

Fine, I guess.

That's a nasty-
looking eye.

Somebody hit you?

I sort of fell
into some bikes.

I see.

You told your school secretary

About a father

Beating a child.

Dad:
We never...

I'd like to hear
joey's story.

My folks
never hit me.

They yell at
me sometimes

But that's all.

Then who were you
talking about?

Because if
it's true

He needs help,
very badly.

Even if he won't admit it.

Want a hand?

I can fix it.

I know something
about bikes.

Let me have
a look at it.

Just lift
the seat.

I can get a court
order if I need to.

Do you get a bonus
for bagging kids?

No-- the kid gets help.

There you go.

I'd like to
talk to you.

Leave me alone!

Does your dad?

What do
you care?

I care!

Yeah, right.

I care about
kids getting hurt

And I don't just
mean getting hit.

Maybe you're covering
up for someone.

But what about you?

You don't seem

Like a very
happy kid.

But I can
help you.

I can.

Is there someone else
you could stay with?

Hey, jeremiah--

Where's my money?

Honest, rick,
I didn't say anything!

The guy didn't
want to talk to me.

Where's my money?

Here, just
like I promised.

You take care
of that jacket.

I will.

Great jacket, man.

I might
be living

With my brother
for a bit.

Frank?

That's great!

Yeah.

Maybe you
could come over.

He might let you
ride his harley.

All right!

See you around?

Yeah.

See you around...

Buddy.

Susie, he's
smiling!