"EPISODE 1.21 - Meetings"

Written and produced By Alex Gregg. Copyrighted 2003-04.
Originally Aired April 26th 2004

Fade in to Chestaville High. Cut to Chem class. Ashley and Ling are seated in the second row, on the left isle, Maria and Dylan are behind them. Zak is to the left of Dylan in the middle isle and Abby is seated in the back row on the right isle, next to a friend. Mr DeCole to turns to face the class.

Mr DeCole:  So! If there 19 electrons in potassium, how would we draw the atom? (points to Maria with his chalk) Miss Harris, perhaps you could tell us?

Maria:  (stops doodling on her book and looks up) huh?

Mr DeCole:  19 electrons in potassium, how would we draw each shell?

Maria:  (glances at Dylan) Uh... I um... uh... 3 in the first shell? 

Mr DeCole:  (walks towards her) Perhaps, Miss Harris, it would help if you (raises his vice a little) *paid* attention! (walks back to the front of the room as the whole class looks at Maria. Abby silently laughs) Miss Lee, could you please explain to Miss Harris what the correct answer is?

Maria:  (glances at Maria then looks back at Mr DeCole) Uhm... 2 in the first shell, 8 in the second, 8 in the third and 1 in the fourth.

Mr DeCole:  Thank you Miss Lee. (looks at Maria) You would do well to take a leaf out of Miss Lee's book. (look at Dylan) Mr Matthews, could you explain to Miss Harris why her answer of "3" can in no way possibly be correct?

Dylan:   Because, uh... (glances at Maria then back to Mr DeCole) the first shell can only hold up to a maximum of 2 electrons.

Mr DeCole:  Thank you Mr Matthews. (he turns to Ashley). Miss Ross, can you explain how we know that Potassium is in Group 1 on the periodic Table according to it's atomic number? 

Dylan, looks over at Ashley. He notices she's holding her wrist in a protective manner, although this is hardly noticeable really. He catches her eye.

Ashley:   Huh? (sees Dylan looking at her, then looks away towards Mr DeCole) Oh, uh... because, it only has one electron in its outer shell?

Mr DeCole:  (looks at Maria) Correct Miss Ross. 

Cut to the halls after class, it's recess. The group heads towards the quad.

Maria:   The guy is a serous rodent! Asking all you guys questions, because he knows I hang with you. Just to humiliate me in front of the class...

Dylan:   (watching Ashley) Uh huh.... (he notices the way she has her arms folded, she supporting her wrist still). Yeah, serous rodent... (Maria gives him a look, but he just smiles at her and puts him arm round her shoulder).

Zak:   He didn't ask me...

Maria:   Well, he probably hasn't figured you hang with us yet...

Ashley:   Did you see Abby laughing at you?

Maria:   Yup. Man, I could seriously slap her! (looks at Zak) I'm sorry Zak, I know she's your cousin and all, but...

Zak:   Hey, it's cool, I know what you mean...

They reach the doors leading to the quad, go though them and head over to one of the picnic tables. Dylan, Maria and Ashley take the left side and Ling and Zak take the right, Zak opposite Ashley and Ling opposite Maria.

Ling:   So, PE next. (sighs) yippy yay yay...

Zak:   Wow, you know, that's the first time heard you diss a class...

Dylan, Maria and Ashley laugh.

Maria:   Ling loathes PE. (Ling nods) - Because its something you can't learn out of a book (Ling hits her on the arm). Ouch...

Zak:   (laughs) PE is the best!

Ling:   And, why is that? 

Dylan:   (quietly to Ashley) Are you alright?

Ashley:   (quietly) Sure.

Zak:   Well, There's no homework for one thing...

Ashley:   (back to the group) My point exactly.

Dylan:   Yeah, I'll have to agree with that.

Maria:   (nods) Uh huh, me too.

Ling looks at her friends and sighs shaking her head in disappointment.
 
 

The Credits

Special Guest Stars: Dylan Matthews, Zak Williams, Abby Tumbridge
Guest Staring: Mr DeCole, Mrs Ross, Rick, Shane Nash

 
Fade into the girls walking down the hall. They reach their lockers.

Ashley:   (to Maria) So, have your heard from your mom yet?

Maria:   (opens her locker as does Ling) Nope. I don't expect too though, not until everything's set up. (gets her PE stuff out) I mean, I know how she works, she wants me to help Jamie, that's it (closes the door).

Ling:   (gets out her PE stuff also) Yeah, but aren't you going to meet your brother before the operation? (closes her locker) I mean, if you get that far...

Maria:   Yeah, but I'll be when she wants me too.

Ashley:   Well, why don't you phone her? See what's happening? I mean, its been over three weeks now, right?

Maria:   Guys, I've agreed to help, but I'm not gonna go chasing her about it.

Ling:   Hey, Ash (motions her locker) get your stuff, we'll be late...

Ashley:   I'm, uh.. I'm not going...

Ling:   What?! Why not? 

Ashley:   I don't feel like it...

Ling:   Ashley, okay it's PE but, it's still a class...you can't just blow it off...

Maria:   Yeah - That's my job...

Ling:   (annoyed, turns to Maria) Not helping here.. (turns to Ashley) Ash-

Ashley:   Look, Li, does it really matter? (annoyed with her friend) I don't think I'm gonna fail High School by blowing off a PE class! I'll see you later...

With that she heads down the hall in the opposite direction from which she should be headed to class. Ling and Maria just watch her go.

Ashley Voice Over:   Okay, so maybe I shouldn't have had a go at Ling like that, I guess she was just looking out for me, but I really don't feel like going to PE today, and why? Well, I have my reasons.

Fade to later, the student lounge. The camera closes in on Ashley, who's the only person in there. She's doing homework. Dylan walks in.

Dylan:   Hey (Ashley looks up at him) What's up? 

Ashley:   (goes back to work) History.

Dylan:   (sits) Shouldn't you be in PE right now? 

Ashley:   (looks up at him) Shouldn't you? (he gives her a look, she sighs) Dylan, I don't feel like PE right now, is that a crime?

Dylan:   Technically, as far as school goes... yes. (there's a long silence between them) What's up Ash? You can talk to me, remember? We agreed.

Ashley:   (packs up her books) I'm fine. (gives a fake smile, gets up).

Dylan:   (gets up also) Ashley Wait... 

With out realizing he touches her arm, she immediately jerks is out of his reach with a wince of pain. He notices.

Dylan:   What's wrong with your arm? 

Ashley:   (trying to blow it off) Nothing (she walks to the door).

Dylan:   (walks in front of her) Right, nothing. (crosses his arms) So, I'm guessing this "nothing" stopped you from doing PE? (from the look on her face he knows he right) Ashley, talk to me. Please?

She gives in, they sit back down at the table. Ashley lowers her head and doesn't look at him. There's a long silence between them. Dylan brakes it.

Dylan:   Lemme See. 

Ashley:   (looks up at him) What? No. (he just looks at her) Okay!

She carefully pulls up the sleeve, which reveals purple/blue bruises from the middle of her forearm going up past her elbow to her upper arm.

Dylan:   (shocked) Oh man...

Ashley:   Fashion tip, Dylan? Mouth looks better closed.

Dylan:   He did this, didn't he? (Ashley slowly nods) How did it happen?

Ashley:   I pissed him off, he got mad. Does it really matter?! (sighs) Sorry.

Dylan:   (puts his hand on her shoulder) Look, it's okay. And yes, it does matter. (there's another long silence) Ash, you could have told me.

Ashley:   I just did...

Dylan:   How long has it been going on?

Ashley:   Three weeks.. he's only hit me twice, but...

Dylan:   Ashley, look at me. (she does) You can't let him do this to you. It's getting way beyond serious now. You *have* to tell someone.

Ashley:   (on the verge of tears) No! No, I can't. He said, if-if I tell, he'd--

At that moment bell rings, but they ignore it.

Dylan:   I don't care. Ashley, whatever he's threatened you with, it doesn't matter. Look, if you tell somebody... your mom? It'll be over.

Ashley:   (bursts into tears) No. I told you that I can't. Please, just leave it.

Ashley hides her face in her hands and cries. Dylan isn't sure what to do, but after a moment he gently pulls them away. Ashley looks up at him.

Dylan:   Hey, it's goanna be okay. Okay? We'll fugue this out.

Ashley:   (still crying) I'm so sacred Dylan. I don't wanna go home. I can't sleep at night. I don't know what he's gonna do next...

Dylan:   Hey, come here...

She lets him pull her into a hug. The camera pans across the room and up to the windows of the Student lounge. Abby is looking in at the two of them. A smile comes over her face. The camera switches to her point of view. Ashley has her back to the window, Dylan is facing it, but he doesn't see Abby. Sill smiling Abby walks away down the hall.

Cut to Abby walking down one of the halls, she stops when she see her friends at their lockers. She goes over to them.

Abby:   You will *never* guess what I've just seen!

Friend #1:  (closes her locker) What?

Abby:   Ashley and Dylan, full on in the student lounge. 

Friend #2:  They where kissing?

Abby:   Well, no. Hugging. But I bet they where just before I got there.

Friend #1:  He's still with Maria, right?

Abby:   (smiles) Yep. Time to put our plan into action, don't you think?

Friend #2:  Oh yeah!

They all laugh as we cut to the Cafeteria. Maria and Ling are sitting at one of the tables eating their lunch. Abby walks over and sits down opposite Maria.

Abby:   Hi, Harris.

Maria:   What do you want, Abby?

Abby:   Oh, nothing, nothing....

Maria:   Then... go away!

Abby:   (smiles at her) Sure... (gets up and leans down on the table) it's just... do you know where your boyfriend is right now?

Abby walks away. Maria watches her head over to another table and sit with her friends. They all look in Maria's direction and laugh.

Maria:   (She looks back at Ling) Okay, so what was all that about? "do you know where your boyfriend is". What is she trying to say?

Ling:   Maria, you know Abby. She's just trying to cause trouble. Ignore her.

Maria:   Yeah... (glances back at Abby) Yeah, your right...

At that moment Ashley and Dylan comes over to the table and sit down.

Ashley:   Hey. 

Ashley and Dylan see Ling and Maria exchange a look.

Dylan:   What?

Maria:   You weren't in PE.

Dylan:   Yeah, I, uh, was in the Library doing math homework.

Maria:   Oh.

Ling:   (to Maria) "Oh"? Is that all you've got to say? (to Dylan) Look, I--

Dylan:   (interrupts) Li, Math is important right?

Ling:   Yeah.

Dylan:   More important the PE?

Ling:   Well, I guess...

Dylan:   Right. So it was either Math or PE, tell me I made the right choice?

Ling gives him a unpleasant look. Just then Zak joins them.

Zak:   Howdy, girls. (looks at Dylan) - and Guy.

Ashley/Maria/Ling/Dylan:   Hey.

Zak:   (to Ashley) Oh, uh, hey, what are you dong tomorrow night?

Ashley:   I, uh... Why? 

Zak:   Well, there's this new movie out, and, I thought that we could go. (sees the look on Ashley face, quickly adds) All of us. (looks at the group).

Ashley:   Uhm, I guess. 

Maria:   Yeah, I'm up for it.

Ling:   Yup, me too.

Maria:   Dylan?

Dylan:   Yeah, sounds good. (gets up) Listen I've gotta bail. Gotta see coach before practice after school. (kisses Maria) See you later?

Maria:   Sure.

Zak:   (to Dylan) Uh, hey, you know what? I'll come with you.

They guys leave. Ling and Maria tern to Ashley.

Maria:   You realize that was Zak trying to ask you on a date, right?

Ashley:   Yeah... 

Maria:   So, why did you refuse?

Ashley:   (sighs) I've just got so much going on... I don't need a boyfriend. 

Ling:   (concerned) Like what? 

Ashley:   Uh, school, and uh homework... and stuff, you know? 

Cut to the halls. Dylan and Zak are heading towards the Sports Hall.

Dylan:   Nice tactical skills. 

Zak:   Yeah, yeah, I know. I suck. 

They reach the sports hall and head inside.

Ashley Voice Over:   Man! I don't know why I do that! I like him! I do! It just seems that something's telling me to stay away... and I don't know why...

Cut to after school. The bell rings. The girls are walking down the hall.

Maria:   Hey, we're going to watch Dylan practice, you wanna come?  

Ashley:   Uh, nah, I've really gotta get home. Maybe next time.

Maria:   Oh, okay then. See you tomorrow.

Ashley:   Yup.

Ling:   Hey, Ash, are you uh.. okay?

Ashley:   Yeah, fine. See you tomorrow.

Ling:   I'll call you later?

Ashley:   Yup...

Ashley watches them head to the Gym. Zak comes up behind her.

Zak:   (joking) Geez, anyone would think your avoiding them. 

Ashley:   (turns to face him) What? No! I've just gotta get home. So, see ya..

Zak watches her walk down the hall. Abby comes over to him.

Abby:   Give it up, cuz. She isn't interested...

Zak just watches Ashley walk out of the school's main entrance.

Abby:   You know, you need to set your sights much much higher...

He and Abby walk down the hall themselves.

Cut to the sports hall, the game is in play. Chestaville High's Basketball team are divided into two groups and are playing against each other. The Camera pans over to the bleachers where Ling and Maria are sitting, on the second row to the ground. There are roughly ten others watching the game also.

Ling:   I'm just saying, whatever it is, its still going on. Did Dylan talk to her?

Maria:   Yup, he said there's nothing wrong, she's just got "stuff going on".

Ling:   Great...

Maria:   Look, I'm sure she'll tell us when she's good and ready.

Just at that moment 10th grader Shane Nash passes the ball to Dylan, who aims and makes a basket. The camera pans back to the girls.

Maria:   What do you think she meant?

Ling:   Who? Ashley?

Maria:   No. Abby. "do you know where your boyfriend is".

Ling:   Maria, she was trying to get to you.

Maria:   Maybe. But, what if she knows something I don't? What if she's, you know... seen Dylan with... someone else?

Ling:   What are you talking about? Maria, Dylan would never do that. And besides since when have you ever let Abby get to you like this?

Maria:   (sighs) I know, I know... Your right. She was probably just trying to get to me. I'm an idiot, okay? Forget I said anything.

Just then the coach blows his whistle and the game stops for half time. The teem members go over to sit on the benches, and get out their flasks and towels. Except for one of them, who goes over to the girls. 

Shane:   (to Ling) Uh, Hi. Could you pass me my shirt? Its behind you.

Ling:   What? (looks behind her, sees a blue 'Nike' shirt and picks it up) Oh, Sure. Here you go. (hands it to him).

Shane:   (smiles at her) Thanks, babe. (he heads back to the others).

Maria:   (gives her a smile) Thanks *babe*? He likes you!

Ling:   What? Oh come on! I only passed him his shirt. 

Maria:   And did you see the way he looked at you? He likes you Ling.

Ling looks over in his direction, the guy sits down next to Dylan. Cut to them.

Shane:   Hey Dyl, who's that sitting next to your girl? 

Dylan:   (looks) Ling Lee, why?

Shane:   Lee? Lok Lee's sister?

Dylan:   Yup.

Shane:   She's in your grade, right?

Dylan:   Yeah, why? See something you like their, man?

Shane:   (looks at Ling and smiles) Maybe.

Cut to later at Ashley's house. Cut to the dining room. Ashley, her mom and Rick are seated at the table. Ashley is just picking at her food.

Mrs Rsss:   (to her daughter) Honey, is there something wrong?

Ashley:   (looks up her mom) Huh? (glances over at Rick) Uh, no, no I'm fine.

Rick:   So, did you have a good day at school, Ashley?

Ashley:   Uh, yeah. It was okay...

Rick:   Good. That's good. (to his fiancée) Well, Hun, what do you think?

Mrs Rsss:   Mm, its very nice. Isn't it, Ashley?

Ashley:   (looks at Rick) Yeah. But, I'm not really hungry. Can I be excused?

Mrs Rsss:   Honey, I really think you should try and eat something.

Rick:   (to his fiancée) Now, Rach, if Ashley's not hungry, then that's fine. (looks at Ashley) But if she's just using it as an reason to leave the table, that's not so fine. What do you say Ashley?

Ashley:   (there's a long pause, they can both read her) Can I go?

Mrs Rsss:   (sighs) Ashley. Has something happened at school?

Ashley:   No. 

Mrs Rsss:   Has something happened here? (Rick looks up, towards Ashley).

Ashley:   (glances over at Rick) Uh, no.

Mrs Rsss:   Well, okay. (Ashley gets up) But Ashley, you know you can talk to us about any problems your having, okay?

Rick:   That's right. We're both here to help, just.. say the word. Alright?

Ashley can't believe Rick's attitude towards her now her moms in the room.

Ashley:   Uh, alright...

With that she leaves the room, Diesel following her. Cut to Ashley sitting on the end of her bed hugging her teddy bear, looking on the verge of tears.

The Camera fades out.