07x22 & 07x23 - Brave New World (Part 1 & 2)

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Opening credits --

Scene one:

CORY: I do not want to move to New York. New York has big, hairy, scary monsters. That’s not what I want to do with my life.

SHAWN: What about Topanga’s life?

CORY: Who cares about…Why does everyone take Topanga’s side?

ERIC: Boobies.

JACK AND RACHEL ENTER.

JACK: I did it! I joined the Peace Corps!

SHAWN: Are you serious?

JACK: (SARCASM) Yeah. I’m gonna sit in a hut and eat mud. It’s a plan! My stepdad’s gonna cut me off? I’m gonna cut HIM off. I signed up for a one-way ticket to a little village called Chak Chak.

ERIC: I’m gonna be a tugboat cap’n.

SHAWN: (TO JACK) Actually, a year or two doing good in the world might be just what you need, Jack.

I’ll tell you what I need. I need my stepdad to think I’m actually gonna join, and then gimme three mil not to help anybody!

ERIC: Tugboat cap’ns help a lot of people. Through tugging.

RACHEL: Actually, Angela going to Europe got me thinking about maybe doing some traveling. I mean, I could just see Angela now, surrounded by culture and handsome Frenchmen, having the time of her life. What do you all think?

SHAWN: (EMOTIONALLY) I think you’re the most cruelest person on the face of the Earth.

TOPANGA ENTERS. THE ROOM STILLS.

TOPANGA: Cory. I’ve been thinking about this whole New York thing.

CORY: I have, too. And I’m gonna tell you what we’re gonna do, Topanga. We are--

TOPANGA: This is where our friends are. This is where we grew up. This is where we should stay. I’m turning down the internship.

CORY: We’re gonna do what ever you want. What ever you say. I mean, I was kinda lookin’ forward to it. But you don’t wanna go. Huh. Gee. I’m really torn.

OUT OF HER VIEW HE MAKES A FACE OF EXTREME JOY.

TOPANGA: Yeah. Well. We should stay here. I’ll see you at home.

CORY: (NODS) Where we live.

TOPANGA TURNS AND EXITS. CORY DANCES.

CORY: (CONT’D) We’re not going to New York! Nothing’s gonna change! YAYYYY!!

SHAWN: You know she didn’t mean a word she just said, right?

CORY: I know, but for now, join me in fooling myself.

HE GRABS SHAWN’S AND THEY BOTH DANCE. FADE OUT:

CORY IS SITTING ALONE IN THE BACKYARD. ERIC ENTERS AND SITS NEXT TO HIM.

ERIC: You want? Should I?

CORY: Wouldja?

ERIC: Okay. (STANDS) FEE-NEH! Fee-hee-hee-hee, NEH! (SOMETHING NEW) Feeeeee-neee. Oooo, that was a good one.

FEENY BARGES OUT OF HIS HOUSE.

FEENY: You are not calling a duck!

ERIC: Oh, c’mon. You love the “Feeny Call.” Admit it, Feeny. I have a feeling we’re not going to be together much longer. Admit it, before it’s too late.

FEENY TAKES IT IN.

FEENY: (GRUDGINGLY) I love the “Feeny Call.” I love Fee-hee-NEH the best.

ERIC: I know, I made this for ya.

ERIC TAKES OUT A PULL-STRING ERIC DOLL. HE PULLS THE STRING.

ERIC DOLL: Fee-NEH! Fee-hee-hee-NEH! Feeeee-neeee!

FEENY: Bone chilling, Mr. Matthews.

ERIC: (LOOKING ON PROUDLY) Yeah, and they can put it in your coffin after ya kick.

FEENY: Oh, Goody.

ERIC: (DANGLES THE DOLL) Look. It’s Eric doing “Mission Impossible.” All right, enough of this love-fest. Cory’s in trouble. He’s afraid of change. Give him the usual.

ERIC EXITS, LEAVING FEENY AND CORY ALONE. DURING THE FOLLOWING, CORY IS EMOTIONALLY ALL OVER THE PLACE.

CORY: I’ll have the usual.

FEENY: (SMILES) Hi, Cory.

CORY: Mr. Matthews. Call me Mr. Matthews. I want things to go back to how they were.

FEENY: Fine. “Mr. Matthews.”

CORY: You’re supposed to stand by the fence. Your best advice comes from the fence.

FEENY: Okay, what can I do for you?

CORY: Topanga’s got this job offer. An internship at a law firm in New York City--

FEENY/CORY: And she turned it down

Because of me. Hey! How did you know?

FEENY: What if she didn’t turn it down because of you?

CORY: Of course she did. You’re slipping, Feeny. You’re wrong about this one. (SMILES, QUIETLY) Okay, there’s your opening. Now get me.

FEENY: You see this flower?

CORY: Yayy! A garden metaphor! We’re gonna do a garden metaphor!

FEENY: The flower used to be in a small pot in my living room. But it outgrew it’s surroundings, so I transplanted it here in the garden.

CORY: It seems like it’s okay.

FEENY: Yes, it’s flourishing. Now, Topanga has always thrived here. She’s been successful at everything she has ever done. Here.

CORY: She’d be successful anywhere.

FEENY: Do you believe that?

CORY: Of course I do.

FEENY: Does she?

CORY: What?

FEENY: You know, before she chose not to attend Yale, she came to talk to me in my office.

CORY: About me, right? She told you she didn’t want to go to Yale because of me, right?

FEENY: Yes, that’s what she said.

CORY: It’s not about me?

FEENY: So, when I pulled the flower out of the little pot in the living room, it resisted a little. It tried to hold on by its roots. I had to force it out.

CORY: Because you were sure it would do better out here. In the world.

FEENY: Because I was sure that if I left it where it was, it would stop growing.

SCENE 2:

CORY IS WAITING ON THE COUCH IN THEIR APPARTMENT FOR TOPANGA, WHO ENTERS.

CORY: Hey.

TOPANGA: Hi.

CORY: Thanks for turning down New York. I think you did the right thing.

TOPANGA: You’re welcome. We belong here. (THEN) Is there any tuna fish?

CORY: Yeah, I don’t know if I could’ve made it in New York.

TOPANGA: Yeah, tough town. Any tuna?

CORY: Yeah. Thanks for turning down Yale for me, too.

TOPANGA LOOKS AT HIM. SHE KNOWS SOMETHING’S UP.

TOPANGA: If you ate the tuna why don’t you just say so?

CORY: We should go to Yale, someday, and take pictures of those ivy-covered buildings you never set foot in.

TOPANGA: (GRABS HIM BY THE SHIRT COLLAR) You got something to tell me, just say it!

CORY: I ate the tuna fish…and then I had a talk with Feeny.

TOPANGA: About what?

CORY: He thinks you’re chicken.

TOPANGA STOPS IN HER TRACKS, STUNNED.

TOPANGA: He does?

CORY: He thinks you’re a big tuna fish in a small pot in his living room, wait I wrote it down on my hand.

TOPANGA: When have I ever been afraid of anything in my life?

CORY: Right now. You’re scared, Honey. It’s okay. I’m scared, too.

TOPANGA: (SARCASM) Yeah. I’m scared of Yale. I have better grades than you, Shawn and Eric combined!

CORY: So does my shoe.

TOPANGA: I have never failed at one thing!

CORY: No, you never have. And you never will as long as you stay here and play it safe.

THIS STOPS TOPANGA. SHE LOOKS AT HIM.

CORY: (CONT’D) Feeny told me you came to him about Yale.

TOPANGA: (WEAKLY) No, I didn’t. I never did.

CORY: (REASSURINGLY) It’s okay. I love you. Look.

CORY GENTLY PULLS TO THE SIDE OF THE FRAME TO MAKE ROOM FOR THE FLASHBACK SCENE OF TOPANGA REVEALING HER FEAR TO FEENY, THAT AIRS ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SPLIT SCREEN.

BOTH FEENY AND TOPANGA ARE SEATED.

TOPANGA: Do you think I would be okay at Yale, Mr. Feeny?

FEENY: If you’re asking, do I think you’ll be successful. I would have to say, duh. They wouldn’t have accepted you if they didn’t think you would do well.

TOPANGA: I don’t know what to do.

FEENY: What do you want?

TOPANGA: If I knew I wouldn’t have come to see you. What do I do about Cory?

FEENY: This isn’t about Cory and you know it. This is about you.

TOPANGA: What do you mean?

Ms. Lawrence, whether you go to Yale or not, certainly you’re smart enough to know what I mean.

BACK TO PRESENT.

TOPANGA: (FIGHTING THIS REVELATION) Shut up. Shut up, I’m not listening to you. It doesn’t matter what Feeny said. I didn’t go to Yale for you! I’m not going to New York because of you! I ‘m doing this for us.

CORY: Oh. Well…I want to go to New York.

TOPANGA: You do not.

CORY: Yeah. I need room to grow, Topanga. I don’t think it’s fair that you keep me from growing.

TOPANGA UNDERSTANDS THE SACRIFICE CORY IS MAKING.

TOPANGA: You would do that for me?

CORY: I would do anything for you.

TOPANGA HOLDS HIM. SHE PUTS HER HEAD ON HIS SHOULDER.

TOPANGA: I’m scared, Cory.

CORY: I know you are.

TOPANGA: What if I fail?

CORY: Then I will see this girl who took an incredible risk… She danced the dance. (HE KISSES HER ON HER FOREHEAD) And if you fail, there’s a real chance I will love you more.

THEY HUG EACH OTHER AND HOLD EACH OTHER FOR A WHILE.

TOPANGA: We are going to New York. We’re going to start the next chapter of our lives,

CORY: How’m I taking it?

TOPANGA: (SMILES) Better than me.

THEY LOOK AT EACH OTHER WITH A SMILE THAT SAYS, “PRETTY WILD WE’RE GOING ON THIS ADVENTURE…”

FADE OUT

ACT TWO; SCENE 1:

ALAN, AMY, MORGAN AND JOSHUA ARE IN THE BACKYARD. AMY IS WEEPING. ALAN IS BLOWING SOAP BUBBLES FOR JOSH.

AMY: What do they mean New York? New York is crazy! They’re just babies! There’s no babies in New York! The rats will eat ‘em!

MORGAN: Get a hold of yourself! You’re psycho!

AMY: Very nice, your mother’s psycho. Alan, I’m psycho now.

ALAN: Don’t call your mother psycho, Honey. It’s not nice.

MORGAN: Mom, sometimes it’s time to move on. Someday I’m gonna leave the nest.

AMY: You watch your mouth! (CRYING) Cory and Topanga are going to the big city! I’m inconsolable!

ALAN: Eric has decided to go with them.

AMY CONSIDERS THAT AND STOPS CRYING AND STARTS TO SMILE.

AMY: Oh. (STRAIGHTENING HERSELF UP) So, what’s for lunch?

RESET TO: JACK AND RACHEL ARE IN THE KITCHEN TALKING.

RACHEL: When’s your boat leaving for Chak Chak, Jack?

JACK: (SMILES) What’s the difference? I ain’t on it. My stepdad heard about my Peace Corps idea. He freaked. He spotted me all the money I needed. “I’mJack.com” lives, Baby!

RACHEL: Oh. That’s too bad.

JACK: Why?

RACHEL: I was looking forward to being Peace Corps buddies with you.

JACK: But I thought you were going to travel the world.

RACHEL: I will. Right after I do some good in it.

JACK: Well. I’m… wow. So, you’re gonna go to Chak Chak.

EXTENDS HIS HAND.

RACHEL: (SHAKES IT) And you’re gonna be rich.

ANGLE ON: CORY AND TOPANGA, SHAWN AND ERIC, WHO ENTER FROM THE LIVING ROOM WITH SUITCASES. THEY PUT THEM IN A PILE ON THE KITCHEN FLOOR.

CORY: Okay, that’s everything.

TOPANGA: I can’t believe we’re actually doing this.

ERIC: I feel this is the right move for me. No one knows me in New York. I could be whoever I want.

TOPANGA: I want you to be Eric.

ERIC: Thanks, sis.

ERIC MOVES TO JACK AND RACHEL.

ERIC: (CONT’D) I’m going to New York.

JACK: Good.

THEY THROW THEIR ARMS AROUND EACH OTHER.

CORY: Well, I guess this is it, guys. The best good-byes are fast good-byes.

SHAWN: Are you freakin; NUTS?!?! Where is your SOUL, Man?! Are you just gonna cast me aside like an old pair of shows? We have to say good-bye for an hour!

TOPANGA: Guys, it’s only seventy miles away.

CORY: (OPENLY SOBBING) No no no!! I was just doing it QUICK because I thought YOU wanted to do it QUICK!

TOPANGA: If you stand on your tiptoes you can see the Empire State Building.

CORY: I love long good-byes. I was just doing it to save you from crying!!!

SHAWN: (A GIRL) Really?

TOPANGA: I want a divorce.

ALAN, AMY, MORGAN AND JOSHUA ENTER FROM THE BACKYARD.

MORGAN: So this is it, huh?

CORY: Yes. This is--

SHAWN: (TRAGICALLY) Good-bye.

TOPANGA: That’s it! I can’t take it anymore!

TOPANGA GRABS A BACKPACK AND THROWS IT AT SHAWN’S FEET.

TOPANGA: (CONT’D) Here! I knew it would come to this.

CORY: What’s that?

TOPANGA: His stuff.

CORY: He’s coming with us?

SHAWN: I’m going with you? (JOYFUL) Really??

TOPANGA: Oh, please. You know you’re going with us.

CORY AND SHAWN HUG AND DANCE.

CORY/SHAWN: YAYY YAAYYY YAYY!!

SHAWN: Whoa, whoa whoa! (INDIGNANT) What makes you think I can just pick up and leave. I have a life, I have a father and a mother and a girlfriend and a good job--

SHAWN AND CORY cr*ck UP AT THAT.

SHAWN: (CONT’D) Wait. Everything I own is in this bag?

TOPANGA: (SYMPATHETICALLY) Yeah.

SHAWN: Wow. Pretty sad.

ANGLE ON: ALAN AND ERIC.

ERIC: So, you’re probably not going to miss me at all, huh?

ALAN: Not one bit.

ERIC: Is that a tear in your eye?

ALAN: (EYES WATERY) No.

ERIC: Baby.

LAST BIT OF PARENTING.

ALAN: (SOFTLY) Take the turnpike. It’s faster.

AMY: (SOFTLY) Put on a jacket. It’s suppose to cool off.

ALAN: And when you walk around New York. Look like you belong there.

AMY: (BLURTS) And don’t you dare get Topanga pregnant until you are absolutely ready.

ERIC: I won’t.

ANGLE ON: SHAWN AND JACK.

JACK: What, do we say good-bye, now? How do we do that?

SHAWN: I could never have handled Dad’s death without you.

JACK: I wish he could be here to us finally getting along.

CHET ENTERS. HE WALKS BETWEEN HIS BOYS AND PUTS HIS ARMS AROUND BOTH OF THEM. THEY DON’T REALIZE HE’S THERE BECAUSE HE IS A GHOST.

CHET: I am here, boys. I’m always here for ya.

JACK: He’d be proud of you. Starting this adventure in New York with nothing but the clothes on your back.

SHAWN: Yeah, well Dad always said, (IMITATES CHET) “Money don’t make you rich. Life makes you rich.”

CHET: I don’t talk nothin’ like that.

JACK: (TO SHAWN) You never had a nickel in your pocket and it was never important to you. I admire you, Shawn. Heck, I admire you more that I admire me.

SHAWN: Uh oh.

CHET: “Uh oh” what?

JACK: (CALLS) Rachel!

RACHEL ENTERS AND MOVES TO THEM.

RACHEL: Yeah?

JACK: Save me a seat next to you on the boat. I can’t believe I just say that.

CHET: What’d you do? (TO SHAWN) What’d he do?

RACHEL: (SMILES) You’re giving up your stepfather’s money?

CHET: What money?! What in the Sam Hill is she talkin’ about?

JACK: Money doesn’t make you rich. Life makes you rich. Our father taught us that.

CHET: Did not! That’s insane! Money makes you rich. Ask anybody! What makes you rich? Money! I got two stupid sons. You’re makin’ me ashamed in front of my dead friends!

HE SLAPS JACK IN THE BACK OF THE HEAD.

RACHEL: (HUGS JACK) We’re going into the Peace Corps.

CHET: (SOFTENS) The Peace Corps? You gonna do good for people? They like that up here.

CHET PUTS HIS ARMS AROUND BOTH OF HIS SONS.

CHET: I am proud of both of you and I know you will do good in the world.

RESET TO: BACKYARD WITH CORY DEEP IN THOUGHT. JOSHUA AND TOPANGA ARE STANDING AT THE DOOR.

TOPANGA: There’s someone who wants to see you.

CORY: Come here, Josh.

JOSH COMES TOWARD CORY. CORY TAKES HIS HAND.

CORY: How are you?

JOSH: Good.

CORY: Well, I’d like to have a little chat with you. Is that okay with you?

JOSH: Yeah.

CORY: Though you are a little boy, you will soon have to make your own choices. And you’re going to learn something from it everyday. And make mistakes. (CLIP) And make good friends. (CLIP) and Mr. Feeny will probably teach every grade you’re ever in. (MONTAGE CLIP OF FEENY TEACHING IN EVERY GRADE) And maybe someday you’ll fall in love with a woman as wonderful as Topanga. (CLIP) And be lucky enough to make have a good friend as Shawn. (CLIP) And when you are not a little boy anymore, when the world has taught you how to be a man… then you’ll still make mistakes. But your family, and all of those good friends you’ve made along the way, will help you. (CLIP) And even though you’ll think the world has gone out of it’s way to teach you some tough lessons, you’ll realize that it’s the same world that’s given you your family and those friends, and you’ll come to believe that no matter what happens, somehow the world will protect you, too. (SMILES. REALIZES) “Boy Meets World.” Now I get it.

TOPANGA AND ERIC ENTER FROM THE HOUSE.

CORY: (CONT’D) Did you call him?

ERIC: I called him. He’ll be there.

SHAWN, JACK AND RACHEL ENTER FROM THE HOUSE. CORY LOOKS AT THEM AND SMILES.

CORY: You ready?

SHAWN: I was born ready.

TOPANGA: Let’s do it.

THEY EXIT. EXCEPT CORY. CORY TAKES IN THE BACKYARD, FEENY’S YARD, AND MOVES TO HIS PARENTS AND MORGAN WHO ARE WATCHING.

CORY: (TO THEM ALL) Thank you. I’ll do the best I can.

AMY: We know you will.

ALAN: We’re always here for you, Cory.

CORY: I know.

CORY MOVES TO MORGAN.

CORY: (CONT’D) Take care of them, Morgan.

MORGAN: I will. Take care of yourself, Cory.

HE MOVES TO ALAN AND AMY. THEY HUG.

CORY: Bye.

CORY EXITS.

SCENE 2:

FEENY ENTERS THE JUNIOR HIGH CLASSROOM. HE LOOKS ILL-AT-EASE. HE PERUSES THE CLASSROOM, TAKING IN THE SYMBOLS SUCH AS THE AMERICAN FLAG, THE CHALKBOARD AND A GLOBE. CORY, SHAWN, TOPANGA AND ERIC STREAM IN. THEY TAKE THEIR SEATS AT THE TOO-SMALL DESKS. FEENY SETTLES AT THE FRONT OF THE CLASS.

FEENY: (BREAKING THE SILENCE) What?

CORY: We’re leaving.

FEENY: I know.

TOPANGA: We wanted to know if you have anything else to teach us.

FEENY: No. My work with you is done.

SHAWN: I don’t know. It’s pretty scary. We’re going out into a whole, new world.

FEENY: And you are ready to go into that world.

ERIC: Even me?

FEENY: (SMILES AT ERIC) Even you. (ADDRESSES THEM ALL) Believe in yourselves. Dream. Try. Do good.

TOPANGA: Don’t you mean do “well”?

FEENY: No. I mean do good.

ERIC: All right, Feeny. One last thing: Tell us you love us.

FEENY: Look, if there’s one thing I’ve taught you, it’s that there is a line between teacher and student that tmust never be crossed.

ERIC: Tell us you love us!

FEENY: I regard all my students equally.

SHAWN: Oh, C’mon. You know we’re you’re favorites!

CORY: Come on Feeny! You haven’t even talked to another student for seven years.

ERIC: Tell us you love us.

FEENY: I surely will not.

ERIC: (SMILES) Okay for you, then.

TOPANGA MOVES TO FEENY FIRST FOR HER GOOD-BYE. SHE LOOKS AT HIM AND GIVES HIM A LONG, TIGHT HUG.

TOPANGA: I will never forget you. You were more of a father to me than my own dad.

SHE KISSES HIM AND EXITS. SHAWN MOVES TO FEENY.

SHAWN: You never gave up on me. Never once. You’re the best person I know.

FEENY STICKS OUT HIS HAND. SHAWN IGNORES IT AND HUGS HIM AND EXITS. ERIC MOVES TO FEENY.

ERIC: I don’t know what’s going to happen to me. But I do know that I’m going to be a good person who cares about people. I blame you for that.

FEENY HOLDS OUT HIS ARMS TO HUG ERIC. ERIC SHAKES HIS HAND. HE TURNS TO GO. HE TURNS BACK AND HUGS FEENY. ERIC EXITS. CORY IS LEFT ALONE WITH FEENY.

FEENY: So. Mr. Matthews.

CORY: You think we know each other long enough now for you to call me Cory?

FEENY: Mr. Matthews, I think we know each other long enough now for me to call you Cornelius.

CORY: Shhh! Topanga doesn’t even know that!

FEENY: Your secret’s safe with me.

CORY: I got Topanga to go to New York.

FEENY: Good for you.

CORY: She’s not even scared anymore.

FEENY: Nor should she be.

CORY: But I am.

FEENY: Well, you have a right to be.

THEY HUG EACH OTHER.

CORY: You coming with us? You gonna follow us? You gonna sneak up on us in Central Park?

FEENY: No, Mr. Matthews. I shall remain here.

CORY: No. You’ll be with us. As long as we live.

CORY TURNS AND EXITS. FEENY TAKES ONE LAST LOOK AT THE EMPTY CHAIRS.

FEENY: I love you. I love you all. Class dismissed.

FEENY TURNS AND EXITS THE CLASS. WE LINGER ON THE EMPTY CLASS, WE FADE OUT: