Original Airdate: 7-FEB-1997
Written by Matthew Nelson. Directed by Jeff McCracken
Courtesy of Dennis�s Boy Meets World Transcript Source. Transcribed by Dennis
Opening Credits
[SCENE � Chubbie�s, Eric enters. He spots Shawn and Topanga hugging, and watched them step apart, look at each say something inaudible, then kiss quickly. Eric sighs and shakes his head]
[SCENE � Matthews� kitchen. Corey is eating a feast at the table while Morgan eats food, too. Meanwhile, Eric overlooks.]
Cory: Um, Eric, listen, don�t think I don�t appreciate a good T-Bone, but I would�ve been plenty happy with a Double Chubby Burger.
Morgan: (Looks at Cory�s food) He gets steak, (looks at own food) I get cold grilled cheese. What gives?
Eric: Well, Morgan, I just feel that our brother, with his interesting life, he deserves a hardy meal. (Rubs Cory�s shoulders)
Morgan: (Holding grilled cheese feebly) You don�t think my life�s interesting?
Eric: (Leaning in) Morgan, did I just do something nice for Cory?
Morgan: Yeah.
Eric: Do I normally do nice stuff for Cory?
Morgan: No.
Eric: Why would I some nice stuff for Cory?
Morgan: Because something terrible happened to him.
Eric: Yeah, eat your grilled cheese� (Pushes it into her mouth)
Cory: (Takes a bite) So I would be correct in assuming that this wonderful meal is actually one of those condemned man, death row, last meal kind of things but that can�t be because there�s no cake. (Eric lifts the cover off a plate in front of Cory, revealing a large chocolate cake) (Stands) Dead man walkin�. (To Eric) Should be do this in the living room?
Eric: (Places hand on Cory�s shoulder) We could do it there� (Touches his face)
[Cut to living room, moments later, where Cory and Eric are alone talking]
Eric: I�m only telling you this because I�m your older brother and it�s the right thing to do.
Cory: (To self) Big buildup, bad bad bad. (To Eric) Don�t tell me!
Eric: No Cory, I think you gotta hear this one.
Cory: Alright, tell me. As long as it doesn�t have anything to do with Shawn or Topanga, I should be okay.
Eric: (Contemplating uncomfortably) Okay! Um, have you ever heard the expression (mumbles phony Japanese while mimicking stabbing himself with a sword and falling on the couch)?
Cory: (Sits) Well, you certainly have my attention.
Eric: Cor, I saw Shawn at Chubbie�s. He was there with Topanga, she seemed upset, uh, they hugging and he kissed her.
Cory: What?
Eric: He kissed her.
Cory: (After pause, stands) (More intensified) What?
Eric: (Sarcasm) Nothing happened at all! Y�know, normally I love telling you bad stuff but this one�s killing me.
Cory: (Grabs phone, starts dialing) (Into phone) Pick up the phone, Shawn. Are you there? Pick up the phone!
Eric: Cor, I know how upset you must be.
Cory: Eric, listen, nothing happened at all, right? You said so yourself. (Dials another number) Topanga, it�s me, are you there? It�s seven o�clock, pick up the phone. Where are you? (Pause, hangs up phone, dejected, then wanders forward)
Eric: I had to tell you, right? You understand, I had to tell you what I saw.
Cory: Eric, listen, I understand that you�re my older brother, okay? You�re not supposed to let anything bad happen to me. (Shoves Eric backwards onto couch) (Angrily) How could you let this happen to me?!
Eric: (Still lying backwards on the couch) (Restraining himself, inhales sharply) Okay, I understand that you�re upset, and that�s why I�m not gonna kick your butt.
Cory: (Calmer) You saw him kiss her?
Eric: (Still on couch) I did.
Cory: My butt�s kicked anyway. (Wanders upstairs meagerly)
[SCENE � John Adam�s High cafeteria. Shawn and Topanga are eating together. Cory enters]
Cory: Shawn? (Camera pans in on Shawn) Hi. Topanga. (Camera pans in on Topanga) Hi. The both of you, (Camera pans out to view Shawn & Topanga) Hi. Topanga, I need to talk to you.
Topanga: I can�t. (Gets up) I have Feeny�s history class. (Makes for exit)
Cory: (Steps in front of her) No, you have lunch now. How come you didn�t call me back last night?
Topanga: It was really late.
Cory: It was seven o�clock.
Topanga: (Uncomfortable pause) Cory, I have history now. (Exits, Shawn gets up to follow, but Cory stops him)
Cory: Wait, where are you going?
Shawn: I have history, now.
Cory: (Forcefully) You have lunch now. With me.
Shawn: (Meekly) You let her go. Okay, okay, but I only got like a minute or two.
Cory: Alright, listen, I am going to be absolutely mature about this. Knock knock (Points finger threateningly)
Shawn: (Unsure) Who�s there?
Cory: You and Topanga, together at Chubbie�s last night, Eric saw you.
Shawn: You-and-Topanga-together-at-Chubbie�s-last-night-Eric-saw-you� who?
Cory: Were you at Chubbie�s last night?
Shawn: Eric has no idea what he saw?
Cory: Were you at Chubbie�s last night?
Shawn: Yes.
Cory: Were you there with Topanga?
Shawn: Yes.
Cory: Okay, I�ll be looking for a �no� on this next question, got it?
Shawn: Yes.
Cory: No. Did you kiss her?
Shawn: Yes.
Cory: No! (Incredulously) You kissed her?
Shawn: Cory, it was no big deal, okay? Topanga got into a fight with her parents. She was real emotional and I happened to be there, so I gave her a hug and, yes, I gave her an innocent kiss. Innocent. That�s what happened and you know that I tell you everything.
Cory: Yeah, but how come she didn�t come to me?
Shawn: She will. We just happened to run into each other first, that�s all.
Cory: Okay, well I guess I feel better, then.
Shawn: Topanga loves you. Your brother�s got you jumping to conclusions, tell him to back off.
Cory: �Scuse me.
[SCENE � Matthew�s living room. Cory is lecturing Eric at close range while pointing at him violently]
Cory: And Shawn�s by best friend and Topanga loves me, okay? And it takes a pretty twisted sibling to think that they would ever entertain the thought of sneaking around behind my back. Y�know, Shawn was right about you, seeing what you don�t see, jumping to conclusion. You are my brother, Eric. You�re supposed to protect me.
Eric: �Scuse me.
[SCENE � Chubbie�s. Shawn is playing pinball. Eric walks up]
Shawn: Hey, Eric. (Eric grabs him and pins him against the wall) Eric, leave me alone. You don�t know what�s going on.
Eric: Yeah? You think you can do something that causes Cory pain, you�re not gonna get pain back, you don�t know what going on.
Cory: (Enters) Eric! (Pulls him off of Shawn) Eric, listen, let him go. I�ve thought this out, I�ve reached my own conclusion. (Shoves Shawn into wall) (To Shawn) And my own conclusion is that something bad happened. Something bad happened, didn�t it?
Shawn: Yeah, it did.
Cory: Then tell me.
Shawn: I can�t. Okay, you just gotta talk to Topanga. (Cory Exits. Eric points at Shawn threateningly, to which Shawn holds out his hands innocently)
[SCENE � Topanga�s room. She is staring at a picture when Cory knocks on the window. She opens the window and lets him in]
Topanga: What are you doing? (Cory kisses her passionately) What was that for?
Cory: I wanted to be the last one to kiss you before I kill you.
Topanga: Cory�
Cory: Topanga, my favorite part about our relationship is that we�ve always been able to talk to each other. About anything. So I want you to talk to me. (Topanga kisses him passionately) What was that for?
Topanga: (Solemnly) I wanted to be the last one to kiss you before I kill you. (Paces towards bed)
Cory: This is really bad, huh?
Topanga: (Voice breaking) Cory, look. You�re my best friend and you always have been. And more. And I know how young and stupid this is but I�ve always believed that we�d be together for the rest of our lives.
Cory: (Quietly) Stop that�
Topanga: What?
Cory: I wanna call a stop time now. I want to stop time. Because I know that if you keep on going then you�re gonna get to the bad part. But I know that if we stop time, then we�re gonna be together for the rest of our lives. (Topanga, holding back tears, turns and sits on her bed) Topanga, I called a stop time. (Sits and puts his arm around her) You can�t cry, nothing happens during stop time. We�re just together. (Topanga puts her head on his shoulder) Please don�t cry� (Long pause) How come there�s so many boxes in your room?
Topanga: Cory, (long pause) my family and I are moving.
Cory: (Desperately) To a different house on the same block you live on now.
Topanga: We�re leaving Philadelphia. (Cory stares at her in despondent shock)
[SCENE � Topanga�s room, continued from earlier.]
Topanga: We�re moving the day after tomorrow. There�s no way out of this, my mom was transferred to Pittsburgh and they need her right away. (Pause) Cory, you have to say something.
Cory: I don�t believe in Pittsburgh. I believe in us. I don�t care if I have to walk to Pittsburgh, nothing�s gonna come between us, alright, we�re gonna be together for the rest of our lives. (Hopefully) So, there. I�m as young and stupid as you.
Topanga: I�m sorry I was afraid to talk to you. (Hugs his arm) Here you are, trying to make me feel better. Cory, what�s going to happen?
Cory: Nothing. (Rubs her hand) Look, what�s going to happen is that this is a simple test for our relationship. A simple piece-of-cake test for a relationship as solid as ours.
Topanga: You�re right. If two people who care about each other as much as we do can�t hold it together than there�s not hope for anyone.
Cory: Yeah. I mean, it�s gonna take something a lot bigger than Pittsburgh to break us apart. (They kiss) What was that for?
Topanga: I wanted to be the last person to kiss you before I kiss you again. (They smile and touch foreheads romantically)
[SCENE � Matthews� kitchen. Cory�s parents are talking to him as he does some calculations with a map]
Amy: Cory, honey, I know hard this must seem right now, but sometimes we have to believe that things happen for a reason and that life works out for the best.
Cory: Mom, listen, everything�s gonna work out, I mean (turns to papers) do you know how close Philadelphia and Pittsburgh actually are? It�s very easy, it�s just a matter of rearranging some schedules.
Amy: No, I think it�s gonna be harder than you realize.
Alan: Amy, Cory�s trying very hard. Now why do we have to�
Amy: Because, Alan, it�s going to be harder than he realizes and I think he needs to know that.
Cory: Mom, listen, Topanga and I have talked about this, okay? If we believe we can make this work why would you doubt us?
Amy: I don�t doubt your feelings for Topanga, it�s just that long distance relationships are very difficult.
Cory: Okay, so what are you saying, you want us to just give up?
Amy: No, I am saying that you have lived around the corner from each other all your lives and now you won�t. And that�s gonna make things painful.
Cory: (To Alan) Why is mom talking about pain?
Alan: Because it may be tougher than you think.
Cory: Listen guys, Topanga and I know what in each other�s hearts, okay? And if our hearts say that we�re worth any sacrifice for each other, and we�re willing to make tose sacrifices because we�re gonna be together for the rest of our lives, then why shouldn�t we?
Amy: The rest of your lives?
Cory: Yeah. That�s right.
Amy: Cory, you�re sixteen years old.
Cory: Yeah, mom, so were a couple of friends of mine names Romeo and Juliet. And they turned out okay, didn�t they?
[SCENE � Matthews� backyard. Cory is reading Romeo and Juliet when Mr. Feeny enters from his house]
Cory: (To self) Look at my man, Romeo. In love with his Juliet, nothing�s gonna keep �em apart.
Feeny: Mister Matthews, brushing up on your Shakespeare.
Cory: Well, yeah. You know how you always told us that we should take what we learn in the classroom and apply it to everyday life.
Feeny: You and Topanga?
Cory: She�s moving to Padua.
Feeny: Pittsburgh, she told me. I�m sorry, Mr. Matthews.
Cory: Well, listen, there are those that don�t think we can make it because we�re just a couple of kids, but here�s the proof, Mr. Feeny, that two kids with everything going against them can take the power of love and make it work.
Feeny: Oh, boy.
Cory: What?
Feeny: You haven�t actually finished the play, have you?
Cory: Well, they�re in love, what could possibly go wrong?
Feeny: Flip ahead a little.
Cory: (Reading) �Yea, noise, then I�ll be brief. O happy dagger, this is thy sheath. There rust, and let me die�� (To Feeny, pointing at text) Happy dagger, see? Happy. (Feeny points to book, Cory reads on) She picks up Romeo�s dagger, stabs herself, and dies. Shakespeare, heh heh, what a hack! (Throws book)
Feeny: Y�know, Cory. Over the course of a person�s life he comes across a few defining moments. Now this is one of yours. It�s an opportunity, really.
Cory: Mr. Feeny, I don�t know, I mean� Pittsburgh�s 305 miles away. Maybe I�m just kidding myself.
Feeny: For as long as I�ve known you, whenever you�ve been faced with adversity you have always risen to the occasion. Now I have no reason to believe you won�t again.
Cory: Do you believe that two 16-year-olds can be in love, Friar Feeny?
Feeny: I believe that you and Miss Lawrence have something that you won�t allow yourselves to lose. And if you search your heart and listen to its instruction, you won�t go wrong.
Cory: Thanks. (Hugs him) That was brilliant. My true journey to Topanga begins, huh? (Runs off)
Feeny: (Unsure) Yes, well� There we are.
[SCENE � Topanga�s emptying bedroom. Cory is hugging Topanga at the waist]
Cory: Marry me. Buy a house, start a family, and live in the same city.
Topanga: Cory, we can�t get married.
Cory: Look, I know we�ll struggle at first, but all couples struggle at first. I figure we get a couple of part-time jobs, cut back on expenses, and find an abandoned home in an upscale neighborhood. No bugs. That�s all I ask. No bugs.
Topanga: Cory.
Cory: Alright, one bug, but nothing with teeth. (Stands) Now let�s go see what your parents will get ya, okay? Come on, let�s go.
Topanga: Cory, we can�t get married.
Cory: Can we see each other every weekend?
Topanga: Yeah. Can we write letters to each other every day?
Cory: Yeah. Every day. (They hug) Look, Topanga, I don�t know. I mean, it is a new town. With a new school, it�s new people. Pretty soon, guys are gonna be lining up to ask you out. I mean with me not there, why shouldn�t you accept?
Topanga: What about you, Cory? I know a million girls who would love to go out with you.
Cory: (Joking) Really? Cause I was thinking about ten.
Topanga: Cory.
Cory: (Laughs) Just a little tension breaker.
Topanga: So where does that leave us? I�m leaving for Pittsburgh tomorrow night.
Cory: Yeah. (Long pause) Well, it�s a long walk to Pittsburgh.
Topanga: (Grabs jacket from nearby box) So does that mean I have to give you back your jean jacket?
Cory: No, keep it. It�s your. (Drapes it on her shoulders, then hugs her from behind) Like I am.
Topanga: Good. Cause I wouldn�t have given it back to you anyway.
[SCENE � Chubbie�s. Cory and Shaun are having sodas and talking. There are countless empty cups, cans, and bottles before Cory, who finishes chugging a cup]
Shawn: So, (Takes a sip) what�re you and Topanga doing this weekend?
Cory: (Blinks disbelievingly) Y�know, Shawn, it occurs to me that we have been here an hour and you are yet to feel bad for me. Now, why is that? Why haven�t you felt bad for me?
Shawn: Cory, would you say that I happen to watch a lot of TV?
Cory: More than anyone I know, why?
Shawn: I have seen this plot a thousand times, and it always ends exactly the same. The girlfriend never moves away.
Cory: Shawn, this girlfriend�s mom got a job in Pittsburgh.
Shawn: Yeah yeah yeah, I know. All packed up and roll to a new school, boohoo, tears tears, gimme a challenge, okay? Topanga is not going anywhere.
Cory: Shawn, it�s not TV.
Shawn: Trust me.
Cory: So, you�re saying that she can�t move if we�re really supposed to be together, can she?
Shawn: Not if TV is the true mirror of our lives.
Cory: Okay, okay, but wait. What about tomorrow night? Now tomorrow night she�s coming over to my house to say goodbye, what about that?
Shawn: It�s not gonna happen.
Cory: What about ER? Now, the doctor on ER, she really left. What about her?
Shawn: ER�s real.
Cory: (Nods happily in agreement/realization) So, you don�t really thing she�s gonna leave, do you?
Shawn: No, I don�t.
Cory: And why not?
Shawn: Because you don�t deserve that kind of pain. (Sips soda)
[SCENE � Matthews� backyard at night. Shawn and Cory and there. Topanga enters]
Topanga: Hi, Cory. Hi, Shawn, thanks for coming.
Shawn: (Oddly happy) Sure, Topanga. Reeeeeeaaally sorry you�re moving. (Walks behind Cory)
Cory: Um, Topanga, I was thinking, Saturday night, maybe you and I, we could go out to dinner, we could see a movie, we could hold each other for five hours?
Topanga: Cory, what are you saying? I came over to say goodbye, that�s hard enough.
Cory: (Desperately hopeful) Topanga, listen, we don�t need to say goodbye cause you�re not going anywhere, you�re not moving.
Topanga: Cory, what are you saying? My parents are in the car waiting for me. We�re leaving for Pittsburgh.
Cory: (Desperate) No, you�re not moving because we�re supposed to be together, like we�ve always talked about. So you can�t move. Because we don�t deserve that kind of pain.
Topanga: Cory, will you just give me a hug and a kiss and say goodbye to me?
Cory: No.
Topanga: (Hugs him, but he doesn�t respond) Goodbye, Cory. I love you. (Kisses him, but he doesn�t kiss her back. Walks away)
Cory: (Staring on in shock) (Shawn walks over) Shawn, what�s happening?
Shawn: It�s not over yet. (Pointing, sound of car starting) That car�s gonna turn around, just wait, just watch. Any second now. (Sound of car accelerating) Uh-huh. Just wait. Okay. (Sound of car driving away) (Pause) What the hell kind of TV show is this?
[Cut to later. Cory is still standing there with Shawn]
Cory: Shawn, do you know that pain everyone keeps talking about?
Shawn: Yeah.
Cory: I think I�m starting to feel it.
[TAG � Matthews� backyard, continued from earlier. Shawn is gone, Eric approaches]
Eric: What�s going on?
Cory: (Choking on the words) Not much.
Eric: It smells good out here. What is that, trees? (Looks around)
Cory: (Really sad) I didn�t even say goodbye, Eric.
Eric: It�s alright, you�ll say goodbye the next time you say hello. (Laughs) Pittsburgh�s not that far, I made the drive last night.
Cory: You really went?
Eric: Oh yeah. Drove there, met a couple girls, told them I drove all the way there from Philly, called me a moron and here I am. Look, I was gonna go out, I dunno, get a pizza, rent some movies, you wanna go?
Cory: (Listlessly) No thanks.
Eric: Aw, come on, it�ll be my treat, we�ll go to Little Tony�s.
Cory: (Verge of tears) Naw, I just think I want to stay here.
Eric: Listen, Cor. I know I�m your older brother and everything, but, uh, I don�t know how to protect you from this one.
Cory: Could you just stay with me?
Eric: Yeah. Yeah, I�m not going anywhere, man.
To be continued�