"EPISODE 1.13 - Truth"

Written and produced By Alex Gregg. Copyrighted 2003-04.
Originally Aired February 2nd 2004

Ashley:  Previously, on Chestaville High.

Ashley:  How do you lose an album full of *all* your kids tiny-baby photos? This whole thing just spells weird to me...

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

Mrs. Ross:  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?
 
 
 
Fade in to a street. Camera pans over to a sign that says "School Way". The Camera pans over to the Ashley, Ling, Maria and Dylan walking home.

Maria:  So, birthday girl... what times the party?

Ashley:  Its not exactly a party... We're watching a video...

Maria:  You've got a cake, right?

Ashley:  Yeah...

Maria:  Then its a party! Right Ling?

Ling:  Heh, I guess.

Maria:  So, again, I ask: What times the party?

Ashley:  (laughs) Okay, okay! Well, when I get in, I've gotta take Dee for a walk, so come over in about an hour?

Maria:  Okay.

Ashley:  (terns to Dylan) Hey, are you sure you can't come?

Dylan:  Yeah... Sorry, I've got practice, and Couch is kinda counting on me.

Maria:  Can't you like... call in sick?

Dylan:  Maria, we had PE today, He's already seen I'm not sick.

Maria:  Oh. Yeah.

Dylan:  Besides we have game ageist The Red Sharks next week, the whole teem need the be on top form... Their good...

Ashley:  Hey, no its cool.

The get to the corner of "town Street".

Dylan:  Well, this is my stop.

He and Maria kiss and say goodbye and Dylan goes his separate way home the girls walks down the opposite street.

Maria:  So, Any plans for tomorrow? Its Saturday.

Ashley:  Nope...

Ling:  How about a movie?

Maria:  Nah... there's gotta be something else be can do besides a movie.

Ling:  Well... what?

Maria:  I don't know... How about we go to Arcades?

Ashley:  Maybe. How about the Skater Park? (they give her a look) What?

Maria:  So, yours at four, right?

Ashley:  Yup!

Ling:  Bye.

They get to the end of the street and Maria goes home her separate way. Ashley and Ling carry on walking home together.

Ashley:  You've been quiet today, Something wrong?

Ling:  No, no... I'm fine...

Ashley:  (doesn't buy it) Ling, come on...

Ling:  (sighs) It would have been Grampa's birthday today...

Ashley:  Oh, man... The same day as mine. I forgot...

Ling:  Its okay, you've been to busy enjoying your day.

Ashley:  I'm sorry...

Ling:  No, Ash. Its okay, really.

Ashley:  Are you sure? I know how much you miss him.

Ling:  Yeah, its true, I miss him... a lot, but, you know, Grampa wouldn't want me to be all sad and mope-y. He'd want me to enjoy my best friends birthday with her - so, I will.

Ashley:  (gives her a thin smile) Well.... okay, in that case, do you wanna come for a walk with me and Dee? We're beach-bound.

Ling:  Sure, sounds fun!
 

The Credits

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

  
Ashley Voice Over:  Yeah! Its my birthday! Its been great so far - except for the part where I had to go to school, ugh! Well, tomorrow's Saturday. Weekend! I can't believe I forgot it was Ling's Grampa's birthday as well. Man, I feel like such an idiot, I should have remembered... As for my presents Ling and Maria brought them to school, Ling got me "Scooby Doo, The movie" and Maria got me the new Eminem CD, Cool, huh?

Cut to later. Cut to Ashley's living room. The girls are seated on the sofa with a bowl of popcorn, watching the movie and chatting. Ashley is in the middle holding the bowl, Maria is sitting to her left and Ling is sitting to her right. Diesel is laying stretched out on the rug between the sofa and the Tv.

Maria:  So, does 15 feel any different from 14?

Ashley:  Uhm... not really. Not yet anyway.

Maria:  Oh...

Ashley:  (sarcastically) Aww... is Maria feeling left out?

Ling:  Heh. Don't worry, you see the side of 15 in a cupple of weeks.

Maria:  Yeah... (sighs) I guess.

Ashley:  Being the youngest of the group is brutal, huh?

Maria:  You have no idea...

Ashley and Ling laugh.

Ashley:  Okay, I'm up (gets up) who's for a drink?

Ling/Maria:  Yup!

Ashley:  Okay, Coke?

Ling and Maria both nod. Ashley gives Maria the popcorn bowl.

Ashley:  Don't hog it all.

Maria:  Huh! Would I?

Ashley/Ling:  Yes.

Ling:  Don't worry, I'll keep an eye. (nods).

Ashley laughs and heads for the kitchen.

Cut to the Kitchen. Mrs Ross and Rick stand opposite sides of the island. Mrs Ross is putting candles on the cake, Rick is watching.

Rick:  I just think that she has a right to know, that's all.

Mrs Ross:  I will tell her, Rick. In my own time.

Rick:  The sooner you do, you won't have to keep lying to her.

Mrs Ross:  I'm not lying to her.

Rick:  No? Well, what about telling her the baby photos have been lost? And buying her the dog to cover it up?

Mrs Ross:  Look, I just need to figure out what and how to say it, alright? Because once Ashley finds out, it'll change her life forever.

Ashley is standing behind them, at the kitchen door.

Ashley:  What will change my life forever?

Both her Mom and Rick turn around to face.

Mrs Ross:  (shocked to see her there) Ashley...

There's a long silence in the kitchen. Ashley brakes it.

Ashley:  Well? What's going on?

Mrs Ross:  (tries to change the subject) How about some cake?

Ashley:  Mom, don't blow me off! (there's another silence as Mrs Ross looks at Rick) What's gonna change my life? (loudly) Tell me!

Cut to Ling and Maria sitting on the sofa in the living room. They both hear Ashley's words "Tell me". Concerned they get up and head to the kitchen. They join her at the door. Ashley looks at them and then back at her mom.

Mrs Ross:  Ashley. (comes round the front of the island table) Perhaps we could talk about this, just you and me.

Ashley:  No. No whatever it is, they can be here. They're my best friends.

Mrs Ross:  (gives in) Okay... (takes a deep breath) Ashley, honey, there's something... (sighs) There's something you need to know...

Ashley:  (a little worried) I'm feeling that...

Mrs Ross:  Maybe you should sit down.

Ashley:  No, I'm fine.

Mrs Ross:  (realizes its time) Ashley... (softly) Your adopted...

Ashley:  (shocked) What? (it hits her: she's adopted) Oh my god. (upset, near tears) Oh my god...

Ling and Maria are speechless.

Mrs Ross:  (steps towards her) Honey... 

Ashley:  (steps back and puts her heads up) Don't touch me!

Just then Ashley turns and heads for the door, she runs past Ling and Maria, runs out of the kitchen, through the Living room and up the stairs. Cut back to the Kitchen Nobody knows what to do. Suddenly they hear a door slam.

Cut to later: Cut to Ashley's Room. She's sitting on her bed leaning up against her headboard, hugging a pillow in comfort. Diesel is laying next to her and Mrs Ross is sitting on he end of the bed.

Mrs Ross:  Ashley, I didn't want you to find out like that.

Ashley:  (not looking up) Why didn't you tell me?

Mrs Ross:  I was going too, sweetheart. I just thought... (sighs) I wanted to wait until you were older.

Ashley:  (angry, voice braking. holding back tears) That's no excuse!

Mrs Ross:  I know....

There's a long silence.

Ashley:  Was I an orphan?

Mrs Ross:  What?

Ashley:  (looks up) My parents... did they die?

Mrs Ross:  Ashley, maybe now's not the right time to--

Ashley:  (interrupts) I wanna know!

Mrs Ross:  (a short pause) No... they didn't die...

Ashley:  (looks away, gets it) They just didn't want me.

Mrs Ross:  (softly) Honey, its more complicated than that... (Ashley looks up and gives her a "so, explain" look. Mrs Ross sighs). I don't know much. But your mother, was just a little older then you are now.

Ashley:  (grimly) So, now I know. I was a mistake...

Mrs Ross:  (firmly) No, that's not what I meant.

Ashley:  I was! I wasn't planed, she didn't want me! I was a mistake. (teary) Guess I'm lucky she didn't "get rid" of me, huh?

Mrs Ross:  Honey...

Ashley:  (crying) Leave me alone! 

Mrs Ross:  Sweetheart--

Ashley:  (shouts) Get out!

Mrs Ross:  Ashley, calm down, okay... Its gonna be alright...

Ashley:  Don't tell me what to do. (angrily) You're not my mother...

Ashley turns away. Mrs Ross looks hurt. After a long moment she gets up and leaves the room, closing the door behind her. Ashley bursts into tears. Diesel looks up at her, he wines a little, knowing something's wrong. He sits up and rests his chin on Ashley's knee looking up at her with his eyes. 

Ashley Voice Over:  (voice breaking) I cant believe what's happened. Adopted? I'm adopted... God, you know, I'm so angry with my Mom-- no wait. She's not my mom... she's just... Rachel, I guess. You know? Maybe I should have seen this coming... I guess it explains the baby photos, right? God... I just...  I *so* don't know what do right now... 

Cut to the Arcade's Cafeteria. Ling, Maria and Dylan are sitting at a booth. The girls have told him what's happened. 

Dylan:  And, she just told her? Just like that? (Maria nods) Man...

Maria:  Yeah...

Ling:  God, I cant imagine what Ashley's going through right now...

Maria:  I know...

Ling:  It must be awful...

Maria:  Totally... Man, I was right... I said she was adopted...

Ling:  You where joking at the time...

Maria:  I know, I know. (pause) But I was right... (sighs) I guess all we can do is be there, if she wants to talk...

Ling:  Yeah...

Dylan:  So, do you guys have any idea what's she gonna do?

Ling and Maria shakes their heads "no".

In the background "Tomorrow", by Avril Lavigne, plays over the scene.

Maria:  How do you think she's dealing?

Ling:  Honestly? (shakes her head) I have no idea...

Cut back to Ashley. She's still sitting on her bed. Close up on her face. 

Lyrics:  And I wanna believe you / When you tell me that it'll be okay

Cut to a closer shot. She stares ahead sadly, tears running down her face.

Lyrics:  Yeah, I try to believe you / But I don't / When you say that it's gonna be / It always turns out to be a different way

Ashley gets off the bed and goes over to her closet. 

Lyrics:  I try to believe you / Not today, today, today, today, today... 

She opens one of the doors, pulls out her backpack, empties her school books and gym things onto her bed.

Lyrics:  I don't know how I'll feel / Tomorrow / Tomorrow / Tomorrow / Tomorrow / I don't know what to say / Tomorrow / Tomorrow

She slams the bag itself onto the mattress and opens it up. Diesel watching her as she does this. She then goes back to her closet, gets out a pile of folded clothes, heads back to her bed and stuffs them into the backpack.

Lyrics:  Tomorrow / Is a different day / Tomorrow / Its always been up to you

Cut to Mrs Ross in the kitchen sitting at the island table, drinking a cup of coffee, looking very unhappy. Cut back to Ashley in her room, she's packing the last of her things. She goes over to the window, opens it and looks out, down at the flat garage roof below. she looks back at Diesel still sitting on her bed, calls him over, then shoves her back out the window.

Lyrics:  Let's turn it around, its up to me

Cut to Ashley walking down the path from her house, backpack on her shoulders. Ashley holds Diesel's lead as he walks besides her. She stops, glances back at the house, then carries on walking.

Lyrics:  I'm gonna do what I have to do / Just don't

Dissolve to Ashley with Diesel walking a down street. Then dissolve to them walking down a different street.

Lyrics:  Give me a little time

Cut to Ashley sitting down on one of the benches at the bus stop. Diesel sitting next to her. Her Backpack is between her legs.

Lyrics:  Leave me alone a little while / Maybe its not too late

Closer shot of Ashley, as she sighs, very unhappy. She watches people drive by as she's waiting for the bus. Whilst checking her watch. Cut to Maria. She turns the corner and sees Ashley.

Lyrics:  Not today, today, today, today, today / Oh

Maria:  (calls) Ashley!

Ashley:  (sees her) Great... (looks in the other direction).

Maria crosses the road and goes over to her friend.

Maria:  Ashley, Hey. (indicates her bag) You going somewhere?

Ashley:  (not looking at her) Maybe...

Lyrics:  I don't know how I'll feel

Maria:  (gets it) Your running away? (sits next to her).

Diesel goes over to Maria. She strokes him.

Ashley:  (sighs) I've just gotta get out of here...

Lyrics:  Tomorrow / Tomorrow

Maria:  Is this because of what happened with your Mom?

Ashley:  She's *not* my Mom! (quietly) She never was...

Maria:  And you think running away is the answer? Ash, I know things seem bad, but running isn't gonna solve anything...

The bus approaches from the top of the street. Ashley sees it.

Ashley:  Well, there's the bus... 

Lyrics:  Tomorrow / Tomorrow

Maria:  Ash, please *don't* get on it. You shouldn't be on your own...

Ashley:  (sighs) Maria...

The Bus comes to a stop.

Lyrics:  I don't know what to say / Tomorrow / Tomorrow

Maria:  Please Ashley... We can, we can go someplace talk about it. (Ashley is not convinced) There's another bus out of Chestaville in an hour, right? If you still wanna go, I wont stop you.

Ashley:  (sighs) I'll stay, for now. (Maria nods) *For now*, Okay?

Maria looks a little relived. Ashley, with Diesel, follows her down the street.

Lyrics:  Is a different day...

The Music fades out as does the Camera.

...TO BE CONTINUED...