Inside Degrassi, at Terri's locker
Terri: Maybe I should bring haggis for International Day.
Hazel: Isn't that made from stomach or liver or something even grosser?
Terri: Yeah, but it's my Scottish heritage.
Paige: Terri you are under arrest for wearing last year's jeans. Fashion crime!
(Paige gives her a fashion ticket.)
Hazel: Well I know someone who could use a ticket herself.
Paige: Me? A fashion criminal?
Hazel: Yeah for starting the school year with a mullet, but you guys want a real fashion crime?
(Fareeza walks by wearing a hijab.)
Terri: Do you think they're maybe bald under there?
Ashley: Do you think maybe you're just a bit ignorant?!
Hazel: You're under arrest. Crime: terrorist-chic.
Fareeza: Very funny Hazel.
(Hazel stands in front of Fareeza until she takes the fashion ticket. Fareeza crumples up the paper and throws it on the ground.)
Paige: Woah. Okay Haz, when I'm offended you know you've really gone too far.
Hazel: Well dressed like that what do you expect, right?
In Media Immersion, Spinner and Jimmy are playing hacky sack
Mr. Simpson: (Grabs the hacky sack away from them) Woah. Thank you, it's not even my birthday.
Spinner: Yeah. Sir, can I have that...? Later.
Mr. Simpson: First up a reminder that tomorrow is Grade 9 International Day. So I expect to be dazzled by each and every one of your displays.
Spinner: What if you don't have a culture?
Mr. Simpson: Gavin we've been through this. Everyone has a culture so bring food, dress up, do a play.
Hazel: And what if we do nothing?
Mr. Simpson: Nothing? Thought you would have been into this Hazel, but if not...class participation is 10% of your mark. Okay attendance.
(He starts taking attendance.)
Paige: Haven't you started yet? Oh well if you haven't, maybe I could help you finish it tonight. As in me coming over to your place, finally.
Hazel: Sure. Maybe.
Paige: Hun the complete lack of invite chez vous, paranoia inducing. Are we best friends or not?
Hazel: What do you think?
Mr. Simpson: Michalchuk?
(Paige looks up.)
Mr. Simpson: I know you're here. Talking to Hazel as always.
In sewing class
Liberty: I suck.
JT: Yeah, you might be right about that.
Liberty: That's your hand sewing project? It's perfect.
JT: Yeah. I guess it's not bad.
Toby: I'd rather stick sewing needles in my eyes than do another project.
Liberty: Morton's assigning more today.
Toby: Yeah and they're based on how well we did these.
Sean: I don't even care. This stuff is for girls.
Liberty: And not even true! Just look at JT.
JT: Why Liberty. I'm horrible.
Sean: Doesn't look like it Gay-T.
JT: Uh yeah. No, no that's not mine. This is mine.
(He takes Liberty's pillow and shows it to Sean.)
Sean: You win man. That's the worst.
Mr. Morton: Please have your projects ready. Ms. Santos. It's very nice.
JT: Here take it, pretend it's not mine.
Mr. Morton: Ms. Van Zandt? Absolutely incredible work. Wonderful.
Liberty: Uh thank you sir.
Mr. Morton: Mr. Yorke.
(JT gives it to him.)
Mr. Morton: Perhaps we should send you back to geometry to find out what a square looks like.
In the hallway
Spinner: Last night I asked my mom what my culture was. She pointed to the globe and said I was from Earth.
Paige: It's good to know. I had my doubts.
(Spinner pretends to laugh loudly as him and Jimmy walk by.)
Paige: Okay I don't know why you are so against International Day.
Hazel: Because we're people. Why do we need labels?
Paige: I am wearing full Ukrainian down to my chabote and am I complaining? Of course I did make a little update.
Hazel: You're an inspiration. Really.
Paige: Please! All you have to wear is some cutoff shorts and bring in like roti or jerk-chicken.
Hazel: I eat jerk-chicken all the time, but why would I bring it?
Paige: Well it's Jamaican, isn't it?
Hazel: Jerk-chicken? Totally.
Paige: And you're Jamaican aren't you?
Hazel: Right. Jamaican mon!
Mr. Raditch: (On the PA System) A reminder to grade nine students that tomorrow is International Day.
Outside the school
Liberty: JT! You have to help me. Do you see the project I just got assigned?
JT: Yeah the skirt thingy. Eh piece of cake.
Liberty: A whole skirt, on a machine?!
JT: You can do it Liberty.
Liberty: Oh right. You saw what Morton thought of the pillow I did, aka your project! You got a D. Well I got a D, but you claimed the D.
JT: Look Liberty, I don't care okay and you'll be fine.
Liberty: Probably sew my finger off.
JT: Not my problem.
Liberty: Don't make me tell the guys you're the next Martha Stewart!
JT: You're kidding. You wouldn't.
Liberty: Try me.
JT: Fine I'll do it, but if you tell anyone I'll sew your finger off.
Liberty: Thanks. Now I was thinking a slit up the side might be cute you know, have a really nice plaid fabric there... At the Crescent Moon Caribbean restaurant
Wayne: Welcome sweetness!
Hazel: Hey Wayne!
Wayne: Here for your usual curried goat?
Hazel: No. For school. I want to give my class a taste of the real Jamaica.
Wayne: Go for the gold. You love it.
Hazel: I do, but I'm not sure they will.
Wayne: Ah how's about some jerk-chicken? That's pretty safe.
Hazel: Perfect. How much for like 50 people? Just to give them a taste.
Wayne: Tell you what, since you're such a good customer I'll give you a break.
Hazel: Wow. Thanks.
Wayne: What's this for?
Hazel: Um I'm doing a project on Jamaica. Thought I'd go for the extra points.
Wayne: But you're not from there.
Hazel: I know. It's for geography. I've always liked Jamaica. Hope to visit some day.
(He hands her a Jamaican poster.)
Wayne: Food and decorations. I see an A+ in your future.
Inside the school during International Day
Spinner: This is the Gavin Mason little slice of pride. Russian sausage, polish sausage, and German sausage.
Mr. Simpson: It's certainly a creative look at your heritage. What are the white chunks?
Spinner: Oh those are Chinese water chestnuts, in honour of my sister.
Mr. Simpson: How long did you cook this for?
Spinner: I don't know. Five minutes. Why?
(He spits it out and Jimmy laughs.)
Mr. Raditch: Ms. Michalchuk, I have to compliment you on your Ukrainian outfit. Don't think I've ever seen anything quite like it.
Paige: Well I had to make some modifications just to bring it up to date.
Mr. Raditch: Oh it's definitely up to date.
Paige: Thank you sir! Pierogi?
Mr. Simpson: This is excellent jerk-chicken Hazel.
Hazel: It's my mother's recipe.
Mr. Simpson: You know I live by the Crescent Moon Caribbean restaurant. She'd give those guys a run for their money.
Hazel: Thanks. My mom is from Jamaica so you know, they all kind of learned in the same place.
Mr. Simpson: Yeah mon!
Hazel: Yeah.
(Hazel and Fareeza glare at each other.)
Mr. Raditch: Citizens of the world, that's lunch. Be back in 45 minutes. We'll begin the presentations then.
Outside the school
Fareeza: Hazel Aden. So you're Jamaican?
Hazel: What was your first clue?
Fareeza: Just Aden, not really a common name...maybe in Somalia.
Hazel: Really and what's your last name? Oh right! I don't care.
Fareeza: Funny thing is you sort of look Somalian too.
Hazel: Really? Well, why don't you mind your own business Fareeza before Jamaica declares war on Iraq.
[SCENE_BREAK]
In the sewing room
JT: Anybody out there?
Liberty: Not a soul!
JT: Good. Can you cut me a 6 centimeter strip of that stuff please?
(Liberty starts cutting the fabric.)
JT: No! No, no, no, no! Stop. Stop. Look, just snip and rip.
Liberty: You never stop surprising me JT. You're normally such, how do I put this nicely, a slob!
JT: Oh thanks. First you blackmail me into sewing and then you insult me.
Liberty: I'm not insulting you. I'm impressed. You must like it.
JT: I don't like it Liberty. My mom's a seamstress. I guess I just grew up doing it.
Liberty: Like mother, like son.
JT: You see it's that kind of comment that makes me want to pretend I'm not good at it.
Liberty: Why are guys so weird about this?
JT: I don't know. We just are. Look no more questions, okay? I'm trying to concentrate. Seam ripper.
In the hallway
Jimmy: Spin I can't believe you finished two Sheila specials.
Paige: Yeah after devouring the rest of the world before lunch.
Spinner: I was just demonstrating my appreciation for Degrassi's culinary culture.
(They all stop suddenly.)
Spinner: Woah.
(Fareeza's display has been destroyed and spray painted.)
In Mr. Simpson's class (Fareeza and Mr. Raditch are talking to the police outside the class.=
Mr. Simpson: A hate crime has been committed here. By who we don't know, but we're gonna find out. Until then International Day is on hold. All classes are on hold too.
Terri: But none of us did it.
Mr. Simpson: Are you sure?
Terri: Yeah. None of us are like that.
Ashley: So Ter you didn't make fun of Fareeza's clothing the other day? And what about you Hazel?
Mr. Simpson: Ashley I know you're upset.
Ashley: Just because Fareeza's from Iraq doesn't make her a terrorist.
Spinner: Ash people are scared. I mean, what do you expect?
Jimmy: Spin you can't be serious.
Mr. Simpson: You want to explain Jimmy?
Jimmy: My neighbor had his bank account frozen three times just because his name is Osama. Is that fair?
Terri: Of course not, but what does that have to do with Fareeza's display getting trashed? In Ms. Kwan's class
Sean: It's just some kid trying to get attention.
Toby: Come on Sean! It's hate.
Ms. Kwan: Hate's an interesting word.
Toby: It's like Hitler. He hated Jews. Both my great grandparents died in the holocaust. In Mr. Armstrong's class
Kendra: My parents, they're white. I'm Chinese. We're still a great family. I'm living proof that race doesn't matter.
Mr. Armstrong: Interesting. In the media immersion class
Jimmy: No matter what we say in class, it doesn't change anything.
Ashley: Nice attitude.
Spinner: Okay I don't want to be all racist, but I don't exactly want to get blown out of the sky by some terrorists either.
(Mr. Raditch walks in.)
Mr. Raditch: I need to see Hazel in my office.
Mr. Simpson: Hazel could you come here?
Terri: What's going on?
Paige: I don't know.
In Mr. Raditch's office
Hazel: But I spent the entire lunch with Paige and Jimmy.
Mr. Raditch: And your threat about Jamaica declaring war on Iraq?
Hazel: It was a joke.
Mr. Raditch: Really? It wasn't funny.
(Hazel glares at Fareeza.)
M. Raditch: Don't blame being here on Fareeza. I wanted to know everything that went on and everything pointed toward you.
Hazel: Okay I'll admit, Fareeza is not my favourite person, but I would never do that to her display.
(His phone rings.)
Mr. Raditch: (On the phone) Yes. You do? Tell the police I'll be right there.
(He hangs up.)
Mr. Raditch: The police have caught the culprits it seems.
Fareeza: Who are they?
Mr. Raditch: Two boys in grade 10.
Hazel: So can I go now?
Mr. Raditch: What happened to Fareeza's display was a large example of racism, but smaller things, like words, it's where this stuff starts...like your fashion crime ticket, accusing Fareeza of being a terrorist.
Mr. Raditch: I'd like to apologize to you on behalf of the school and invite you to recreate your display in the foyer.
Fareeza: Thank you.
In the hallway
Emma: I still can't believe that could happen at Degrassi.
JT: I'm just surprised Fareeza did a display on Iraq at all.
Emma: Why?
JT: I mean it's not going to be too popular.
Toby: So what's she supposed to do? Hide who she really is?
Liberty: JT...
JT: Look Liberty I know what you're going to say, okay? So don't.
Liberty: You heard them. It's wrong to hide. It's a natural talent JT. You should be proud. In sewing class
Manny: That skirt is so cute.
Emma: You honestly made that Liberty?
Liberty: Of course.
JT: Did you bring it?
Liberty: I feel terrible about this.
JT: I know, but it's my choice.
Mr. Morton: Okay time to look at your work. Let's start with Mr. Yorke who gave us such an entertaining piece of art last time.
(JT gives him Liberty's pillow.)
Mr. Morton: It's improved. You'll never be a tailor, but you will pass the course.
JT: Thank you sir.
Mr. Morton: Now Ms. Van Zandt I'd been waiting all day. Your work please.
(Liberty stands up and shows him the skirt.)
Mr. Morton: Look at the drapery. Perfectly flat stitching. It's remarkable. Absolutely remarkable. You have a real gift, a true talent, a sewing genius.
Liberty: JT sewed this! He's the genius.
Mr. Morton: What?
JT: What? She's lying.
Liberty: He's lying. I'm all thumbs sir. Compare my blood to that on the pillow if need be. Forensics sir.
Mr. Morton: JT, Liberty we'll sort this mess out after class, shall we?
Sean: JT's a seamstress.
Toby: Could you make me a matching blouse, Mr. Fashion Designer?
In the hallway, Fareeza is putting her display back together
Fareeza: You don't have to help me.
Hazel: Don't you think I should?
Fareeza: No and I'd prefer if you didn't.
Hazel: Fareeza I know how hard it is to be Muslim, especially now.
Fareeza: How? You're Jamaican remember?
Hazel: My name Aden? You said before it sounded Somalian. My name sounds Somalian because it is. That's what I am.
Fareeza: I know.
Hazel: At my last school something happened to me. I got, I got cornered by these girls. One of them held me. The other hit me. Called me a terrorist.
Fareeza: And you sure learned from them. At JT's locker
Toby: Oh Mr. Stitchery.
Sean: You want to make me a nice apron?
JT: Go ahead laugh it up. Really funny.
Emma: Um JT we were wondering if-
JT: Yes Emma. Give your best shot. Come on.
Manny: We were wondering if you would make us skirts like Liberty's.
Emma: We'd be happy to pay you.
Toby: You're serious?
Emma: Liberty's skirt was really great.
Manny: I couldn't believe it. Who knew our own JT had so much talent?
JT: Ladies I'll be happy to oblige, but I will have to measure you.
Manny: Me first.
(JT takes a measuring tape and starts measuring Manny.)
JT: How about $35 each or two for $60?
In media immersion class
Mr. Simpson: Guys. Settle. We're gonna start today a little differently. Hazel has something she wants to show us.
Hazel: I lied to you all yesterday. Some of you I've been lying to longer than that. So let me introduce myself. My name is Hazel Aden and I was born in Mogadishu, Somalia. Not Jamaica and yes I'm a Muslin. These are my parents. My mom came here first with me to flee a civil war. My dad who was fighting in the war came later.
Terri: Fareeza wears that headscarf thing. How come you don't?
Hazel: It's a hijab and I do when I go to mosque, but to take it on full time it's a personal and important decision. Anyway I'm sorry I lied. Unlike you guys I was ashamed of who I am, but not anymore.
(They begin clapping for her.)
Plan: A: Hazel; Q: Who is the prime suspect when a Muslim girl is discriminated against? A: a Muslim girl; Q: Who is Hazel the prime suspect in the case of International Day? A: Muslim; Q: What religion is the girl Hazel taunts? A: terms; Q: What does Hazel have to come to with her own insecurities? A: sewing projects; Q: What do Liberty and J.T. switch in home economics to avoid embarrassment? Summary: Hazel is the prime suspect when a Muslim girl she taunts is discriminated against on International Day, which forces her to come to terms with her own insecurities. Liberty and J.T. switch sewing projects in home economics to avoid embarrassment.