"EPISODE 1.11 - Season Spirit"

Written and produced By Alex Gregg. Copyrighted 2003.
Originally Aired December 15th 2003

Day. A shot of the Arcade's Cafeteria. Cut inside. The camera moves across the room to Ashley, Ling and Maria, who are sitting at a booth.

Ling:  Wow, really?!

Ashley:  Yup!

Maria:  A Dog? That's a cool Christmas present!

Ashley:  I know! I ask for one every year. And the answer is always "no". I asked again yesterday and she said "yes". I was like "Can I have that in writing?!". We're going to the animal shelter in Stokeside this afternoon. Man, I can't wait!

Maria:  Yeah... lucky you.

Ling:  What kind do you want?

Ashley:  I don't really know... Just gonna see what they've got, you know?

Dissolve to later. Rick stops the car in the animal shelter car park and Ashley gets out. Her Mom and Rick stay seated for a minute.

Rick:  Rachel, are you sure about this?

Mrs. Ross:  Yes.

Rick:  And your letting her have this dog for the right reasons?

Mrs. Ross:  (annoyed) What do you mean by that?

Rick:  You know what I mean, Rachel... This thing with the baby photos... and Ashley being--

Mrs. Ross:  (interrupts) Don't. Look, Ashley has wanted a dog ever since I can remember. Is it a crime for me to get her what she wants for Christmas?

Rick:  Yes. If your buying her a dog to make her forget about the whole baby photos issue. And not tell her the truth.

Mrs. Ross:  (ignores him. Opens the car door) Are you coming?

Cut to Ashley, her Mom and Rick in the Shelter kennel blocks. Their looking at the dogs. Cut to later They come down another line of Kennels. Ashley comes to the third kennel, as she looks in she sees a young German Shepherd. As she crouches down to his level he grabs his tennis ball and comes up to the kennel door.

Ashley:  Hey (looks at the name on his kennel door) ...Diesel. 

As she talks to him he lifts his right front paw up as if to show the command "paw". Ashley can't help but laugh. She, smiles at him, stands up, takes his card and shows it to her Mom. Cut to the car Mrs Ross and Rick are in the front, Ashley is in the back with Diesel.

Mrs Ross:  Is he okay, honey?

Ashley:  (looks at her new dog) Yeah. He's perfect.
 

The Credits

Special Guest Stars: Dylan Matthews
Guest Staring: Mrs Ross, Rick, Diesel

 
Ashley Voice Over:  Wow. I have a dog... I've wanted one ever since I can remember. And Diesel is just *so* perfect. After I showed Mom his card, she came and looked at him. We then asked if we could see him in the field. I grabbed his ball from his kennel and we played ball for a while. Then I took him for a walk on the lead. I just fell in love with him. Man, he is such a gentile and obedient dog. I can't wait to show him off to Ling and Maria! Ha!

Cut to the next day. Ashley, Ling and Maria are with Diesel in Ashley's room.

Maria:  Aw, (pats Diesel) Ash, he awesome...

Ling:  (pats him also) Yeah, he's so sweet. Why didn't you tell us you had him last night? We would have *so* been over here.

Maria:  (nods in a agreement) Uh huh!

Ashley:  Well, I was gonna phone you guys, but Mom reckoned that he needed some time to settle in... Plus, (hugs him) I wanted him all to my self!

Maria and Ling laugh.

Ling:  So! Christmas Eve! What are you guys doing tonight?

Ashley:  Nothing much, probably go to midnight service with Mum and Rick.

Ling:  I think we're just spending the night as a "family" ...ugh... boring. So Maria, what are you gonna do? Spend it with your Dad?

Maria:  What are you kidding? (Ashley and Ling look at each other) Nope! I'm spending it with Dylan... in style I might add!

Ling:  Style?

Ashley:  Doing what? (gets it) Oh.... right, I get you...

Ashley/Ling:  (look at each other, then at Maria) Making out!

Maria:  Heh, yup. We're meeting at the Beach.

Ashley:  Ooo!

Fade to later. Fade to the beach. Its just got dark. Dylan is waiting my the South rocks for Maria. She approaches.

Dylan:  Hey.

Maria:  Hey yourself

They kiss lightly.

Dylan:  So, what do you wanna do?

Maria:  Well... (pulls out a small bottle of liquor from her pocket, holds it up)

Dylan:  Where did you get that?!

Maria:  My Dads Cabinet...

Dylan:  (hesitates for a few seconds) ...Cool!

Cut to later. Dylan and Maria walk past a street sign that says North Street. Maria is slightly drunk, she swaying a little.

Maria:  So.. where to?

Dylan:  Uhm.... (thinks) Well the Play Park's not far from here...

Maria:  Race you? (turns and runs down the street. Followed by Dylan).

Cut to Ling's Room. She's laying on her bed reading book. Suddenly the phone rings. Ling picks up the receiver from her bedside table.

Ling:  Oh, Hey Dylan.

Cut to Dylan, he's in a pay phone.

Dylan:  Hey, Uhm.. Are you busy?

Ling:  Not really, why?

Dylan:  Well.. um.. we kind your need your help...

Cut back to Ling in her room.

Ling:  Where are you? Okay I'll meet you there.

Cut to the play Park. Maria is swinging on a swing and Dylan is standing near by. Maria looks more drunk then before. Ling comes in though the entrance gate. Maria jumps off the Swing and rushes over to her friend.

Maria:  Ling!

Ling:  So what's--

Before she can finish, she's hugged by her friend a little too hard.

Ling:  Uh... Maria... can't... breath...

Maria:  (lets go) Oh! Sorry! (to Dylan) Its Ling! My buddy Ling!

Look looks at her confused. But the gets it.

Ling:  (to Maria) Are you... (to Dylan) Is she drunk?!

Dylan:  Heh (nervous laugh) Drunk? Pfft! No!

Ling:  (Ling gives him a look) So why'd you call me out at (looks at her watch) 10:30 at night?

Dylan:  Okay, just a little drunk maybe?

Ling looks at Maria who's acting more then little drunk.

Ling:  A Little?! 

Dylan:  Okay a little more then a little... 

Ling:  Dylan, how could you let her do this?!

Dylan:  Hey, I did not *let* her do anything! This is Maria we're talkin' about.... you try and stop her...

Ling:  (considers) Okay, point taken...

Dylan:  So, what are we gonna do?

Cut to Ashley's house. Cut to the Living room. She's sitting on the sofa with Diesel, watching Tv. The phone rings. Ashley gets up to answer it.

Ashley:  Hey, Ling. (goes back to the sofa and sits down). What's up? (listens) She what?! Okay, okay, I'll meet you there. (hangs up). Well, Boy, (to Diesel) looks like we're going for walk.

She goes over to the coat rack near the front door and puts on her coat. Diesel comes over to her. Her Mom walks in from the kitchen.

Mrs Ross:  Where are you going?

Ashley:  Oh, um... just taking Diesel for a walk.

Mrs Ross:  Ashley, its 10:45 at night.

Ashley:  (grabs his lead from the rack) I know... but I'm only going a few blocks. (attaches it to his color). Plus, who's gonna come after me with a German Shepherd walkin' beside me?

Mrs Ross:  Well, I suppose. But I thought the three of us where going to Midnight service? It starts at 11.

Ashley:  I know. If I'm back I'll come with you.

With that's she opens the door and walks out.

Mrs Ross:  (calls) Be careful!

Cut to the Play Park. Ashley comes through the gate with Diesel.

Maria:  Hey! Ashley! (sees Diesel's with her) Diesel, Hiya boy!

Ashley goes over to them, Diesel wags his tail and looks pleased to see them. Maria hugs Diesel and he licks her on the nose.

Dylan:  Hey, Cool lookin' dog. (pats Diesel) He yours?

Ashley:  Yep.

Maria:  (looks up at the sky) The stars are petty... I like the stars...

Ashley:  (to Ling) Okay, you said she was drunk... not out of it!

Ling:  I didn't wanna make it sound that bad...

Ling:  Okay, so what are we gonna do?

Ashley:  Well we can't take her home... Her Dad will freak.

Dylan:  Which means she'll have to stay over at one of yours.

Ling:  Yeah but guys, come on. Wont her Dad wonder why she's not going home on Christmas Eve?

Dylan:  We'll have to make up some kind of story.

Ashley:  So who's house? Mine or (points at Ling) yours?

Ashley Voice Over:  Oh God... Man, why does Maria do these things... and drag us into it... ah well... Heh, she is kinda funny... But don't tell Ling is said that... So we decided that She's gonna stay at mine... cos Mom and Rick are going out and I don't have a brother who can grass us up...

West Avenue. Dylan and Ling are supporting Maria between them as they come down the road, Ashley walks in front of them holding Diesel's lead.

Ashley:  Oh Great! (sees Rick's car in the drive) There still at home!

Ling:  Well... we'll just have to get past em...

Maria:  (sings loudly) Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells Jungle all the way!

Dylan:  Maria, think you could turn the volume down, maybe?

Maria:  Why, its Christmas Eve!

Ashley:  Yes! But its late...

As they walk up the path leading to the house the front door opens. Mrs Ross and Rick come out.

Mrs Ross:  Ashley.

Maria:  (loudly) Hey Ashley's Mom! Its Christmas, did you know?

Ashley:  (laughs nervously trying to cover) Heh. She's happy its Christmas is all. Hey, Mom. Its okay if the guys come in right?

Mrs Ross:  Well...

Ashley:  Please?

Mrs Ross:  Okay, but only for a while... its late.

Ashley:  (to Ling, Maria and Dylan) Okay, you guys go on in...

They head in to the house. Diesel goes in as well

Ashley:  Uh.. is it okay if Maria stays tonight?

Mrs Ross:  Ashley, its Christmas eve, I'm sure her dad wants her at home...

Cut to inside. Maria is laying on the sofa. Dylan and Ling are sitting on the chairs. Ashley comes in a closes the door.

Ashley:  She agreed. I managed to persuaded her. So now all we gotta do is convince Mr Harris. First lets get Maria up to my room.

They all go over to Maria, who is now half asleep. Cut to the next day. Christmas morning. Ashley is in the kitchen sitting at the table with Ling. Diesel is laying on the floor next to Ashley's chair. Maria wonders in.

Ashley:  Hey. Merry Christmas.

Maria:  Hey... (to Ling) Did you stay over as well?

Ling:  Nope. I came over about ten minutes ago. You don't remember?

Maira:  No... I don't remember much about last night, actually...

Ashley:  Oooh, Speaking of... How's the head?

Maria:  Ugh (puts her hand to her head) My god... Like somebody's just taken a sledgehammer to it...

Ling:  (looking angry) Good... (Ashley and Maria look up at her) It serves you right. Maria, what you did--

Maria:  Ling, spare me the lecture, okay?

Ling:  No! Your gonna hear this. Maria you got drunk - I mean you where so out of it you didn't know what the hell you where doing!

Maria:  (sighs) I know...

Ling:  Not to mention that your fourteen - so its legal.

Maria:  I know...

Ling:  And! We had to lie to out parents about the whole thing. To get you out of it. And I just think that you--

Maria:  (interrupts) I know, Ling. Okay? I know. (a little sarcastic) Me did wrong, me has learnt my lesson, me feels crap right now and me is *so* not gonna be doing it again anytime soon.

With that she heads out of the kitchen. Ashley looks at her friend.

Ling:  What?!

Maria:  I'm not saying a word...

Ashley Voice Over:  I think Ling went a bit overboard on Maria. But I think she was just trying to look out for her. Maria's Dad didn't find out, thank god. And Christmas was good. We all hung out with our families then after dinner we hung out together with Diesel and Dylan as well. Well... I guess all that's left to say is Merry Christmas and a Happy new Year.

The camera pulls back as Ashley and Ling sit at the table, not saying a word.