Episode 2

Episode 2 is the second episode of the first series of Heartbreak High.

Short synopsis[]

Principal Deloraine bans Jodie's rap song, and shuts down the school newspaper after Rose publishes its lyrics, which sparks a freedom-of-speech revolt among the students. Nick and Jodie start dating. Danielle gets jealous when Steve flirts with another girl at a party.

Plot[]

Jodie raps in the schoolyard, surrounded by other students. Christina stands in the crowd listening too, while Rose, Chaka and Danielle stand looking displeased at the sight. The boys start to sing along with her, Rivers and Bolton doing a wave with their arms. The crowd starts to jump and sing along with Jodie too. Southgate comes out and is not impressed when Jodie starts singing about the school being on fire. Southgate turns off her music and threatens those still singing with detention. He asks her for an explanation, stating that he heard an incitement to arson. When Nick attempts to stand up for Jodie, Southgate just mocks him. He tells the kids to go back to class and tells Jodie that he never wants hear or see this kind of spectacle again. The crowd boos him as he walks back inside. Nick tells Jodie that Southgate is a Nazi and she snaps at him that she can look after herself.

In class, Rivers mockingly raps ‘Humpty Dumpty. Nick tells him to shut up but he continues. Christina tells them to be quiet as they argue, Nick pretending to hit Rivers. Nick asks her if she saw what happened outside, when she tells him to leave it he continues to argue his point about being able to listen to whatever music they want. Steve attempts to talk to and give a note to Danielle, who is ignoring him. Christina catches him and asks him if he wants to share with the class what he’s saying. Rivers runs up and snatches the note from Steve’s hand and proceeds to read it out in front of the class, Steve chases him and snatches the note back. Christina tries to hide a smile as Rivers reads it out. It’s all compliments towards Danielle. Rivers mockingly tells Steve that what he wrote was beautiful before Christina tells him to sit down again. Christina asks the class about Shakespearean Heroes and calls on Nick, who calls Hamlet ‘a wanker’. The class laughs and Christina smiles as she asks him in what way. Nick says he’s all talk and no action and Christina agrees with him, saying to use a less colloquial term in the exams. The bell goes and Christina asks Nick to stay back to have a word. He complains that it’s recess but she tells him that it won’t take long. She lectures him about his attitude, he doesn’t want to hear it and asks if he can go. Christina just nods.

Out in the hallway, Rose and Danielle are walking together. Danielle talks about a party that happened over the weekend and how some ‘bimbo’ was flirting with Steve. Rose tries to justify, saying he’s a guy but Danielle doesn’t want to hear it. Steve attempts to talk to Danielle, who instead talks through Rose. She says that Steve is dropped and that she never wants to speak to him again. When he questions why, she says that he’s a two-timing jerk and to go away. Con walks with them, not really helping Steve at all. Con and Steve turn back the way they came.

Rose and Danielle walk up to the lockers, Chaka’s there but they instead walk up to Jodie. They begin to be somewhat nice to her before Danielle insults her rap. The girls then call her a liar and a poser. She wants to prove herself and walks away, her shoulder hitting Chaka on her way through.

The teachers all gather in the staff room, all arguing about Jodie’s rap. Southgate is completely against it and Deloraine agrees with him. Graham says that people are against it when something new appears. Yola agrees and when Deloraine asks if Kylie (Minogue) raps, she groans. Graham starts talking about music, Southgate argues that rap doesn’t sound like music and that the kids were chanting ‘burn down the school.’ Deloraine agrees that they have to draw a line at razing the school but Christina argues that the kids were just letting off steam. Southgate isn’t convinced, saying that by stepping in, he’s taken the heat out of the situation. He says that he’s probably saved Yola some work, she’s not impressed. The rap music starts up again, Christina, Graham and Yola all smirk when Southgate and Deloraine stand up to go look through the window.

Jodie stands in the middle of a crowd, rapping again about how the school is being unfair. Southgate walks through the crowd as Jodie raps about burning down the school again. She and Southgate come face to face, she still raps while doing provocative dance moves. Southgate turns off the music again as the crowd boos him. Jodie argues that the lyrics are different but Southgate says they sound the same to him. Nick stands up to Southgate and the crowd cheers. Southgate is surprised that Nick cares so much and asks the students what they’re gonna do to stop him from stopping them. Nick doesn’t give a straight answer and Southgate implies that he’s only doing it for Jodie. Jodie calls Southgate a ‘Nazi’ to his face and he sends her to Deloraine’s office. Jodie implies that Southgates parents are cousins and he orders her to go now. The crowd cheers as she walks off.

In Deloraine’s office, Deloriane scolds Jodie as she argues that it’s just a song. Southgate says that it’s almost an incitement to riot and Deloraine questions whether this behaviour was permissible at her last school. She keeps arguing that it’s just a song as Deloraine and Southgate both say that they don’t allow that kind of music in school. When Deloraine asks her if she knows who Bob Dylan is, she answers, “Who?” Deloraine is not impressed and puts her on probation, with suspension the next time she reoffends. He tells her to see the school counsellor to let out her anger. Southgate tells her to sit back when the principal is talking to her.

Yola offers Jodie a lolly, when she refuses Yola instead questions her about her favourite rapper. Jodie is unconvinced that she did anything wrong, Yola agrees with her but says that Southgate is worried about the subjects she’s rapping about. Jodie attempts to argue but Yola says she’s not stopping her from doing anything. Jodie claims that Southgate is the one with the problem and calls him a ‘Nazi’ again. Yola chuckles and feebly attempts to stand up for Southgate, but Jodie continues to insult him. Yola instead decides to ask her about moving schools and her family life. When she’s claims she’s fine, Yola is not convinced. Jodie says that her mother died last year, her sister lives away and her dad always got his new girlfriend around. She says she can take care of herself.

At Ruby’s, Con, Steve and Nick sit at the counter. Con talks about making a soccer team, but Nick isn’t listening. Con asks Steve what’s going on with him, Steve says he doesn’t know. Con is unsure of what’s going on with his mates. Nick and the boys go and sit down in booths with Danielle and Rose when they walk in. Nick proposes publishing Jodie’s rap in the school paper, much to Rose’s dismay. Rose is reluctant and thinks that it’s all about Jodie, which Nick denies. When he tries to claim that there’s nothing in it for him, Rose jokes that she can see pigs flying. Nick says that it’s the principle of free speech and that he knows about this stuff since he’s Greek. Rose rebuts that she’s Lebanese. Danielle reckons that Southgate did them all a favour and Nick questions what the teachers would do if Rose published something they didn’t like. Rose says they wouldn’t dare and Nick says that there’s only one way to find out.

In the next booth, Steve and Con talk about Danielle. Con attempts to cheer Steve up but Steve is still not happy. Con proposes being a go-between for the two, Steve questions how much he wants. Con at first says he’ll do it for nothing, but then says he’s got special rates for special mates. Steve questions if it doesn’t work, Con says that since he’s a buddy, he’ll only charge expenses. Steve scoffs and says, “They don’t call you Con for nothing.”

In the school computer room, Nick and Rose are printing the school paper. Rose tells him that this is gonna cost him, Nick says that she’s putting a price on free speech. Rose jokes that she better get an invite to the wedding, Nick still denies that it’s about Jodie. Nick begins to read the lyrics aloud and asks Rose if she thinks the lyrics are true. Rose says she wouldn’t be printing it if she didn’t think so. Nick questions why Rose doesn’t like Jodie, Rose denies it saying that just cause she’s got a big mouth, doesn’t mean that she doesn’t like her. Nick compliments Rose’s editorial as they leave the classroom to hand out the paper. Nick takes a copy of the paper to show Jodie, Nick says it was his idea and Rose helped out. Danielle walks past and mocks the paper. Nick begins to sing out the lyrics and does a silly dance, just as Southgate rounds the corner. Nick doesn’t see him and the girls try to hold back their laughter. Nick hands Southgate a copy of the paper and asks what he reckons. Southgate’s smile fades as he reads the article.

In the staff room, all the teachers are reading copies of the paper. Graham reads some of the lyrics aloud as Yola bops her head and raps the last few words. Graham tries to explain that the language is sophisticated, Southgate and Deloraine are not convinced. Southgate thinks it’s a test of their authority and Deloraine agrees with him. Southgate doesn’t want to back down but Yola argues that he’s overreacting. Southgate says that the teachers are the ones dealing with the problem and Yola bites back that he’s losing it. The teachers all begin to argue before Deloraine interjects. He questions Yola about Jodie’s counselling but Yola says it’s too early to tell. Southgate mocks that will they know after the school burns down. Christina tells him to turn the record over and Southgate says that they need to stop it otherwise it’ll snowball. Christina argues that it’ll only snowball because Southgates adding to it. Southgate questions if they should just sit back and let it happen, Christina says that it only started because Jodie wanted attention and to let off some steam. She thinks that they’re overreacting and Deloraine agrees that she has a point, saying that they’re at the point that there is to be no action. Southgate is dumbfounded.

There’s new graffiti on the walls of the school, most of it saying, ‘Burn it down.’ Yola and Christina walk through the school and are disappointed to see the graffiti. The teachers all stand around a bin that had been set on fire, Southgate mocks about how it was ‘just a metaphor’. Deloraine walks past them, he is not impressed.

In Deloraine’s office, he stands in front of Jodie, Nick and Rose. Nick argues that they’re just standing up for their rights. He questions Rose if she stands by what she published. She backs up Jodie and Nick even though she doesn’t like the rap. Jodie gives Deloraine attitude as he tries to tell her that someone took her words literally. She argues that she didn’t start the fire but Deloraine says she’s providing the fuel, leading to him shutting the newspaper down and ordering the three out. They all scoff and shake their heads.

In Christina’s class. Rose is yelling about what happened in Deloraine’s office. Christina tries to calm her down, saying she wants to hear reasoned argument. Con stands up and bangs his hand on the desk, yelling that he won’t take it anymore. Rose is not impressed. Nick starts to argue that this is about all of them and that they’ve got the right to a voice. He asks what they’re gonna do about it, Rivers mockingly says ‘nothing’. Jack chimes in saying that if they can’t say what they think, they’re aren’t really free. Nick agrees and says they need to do something. Rose proposes a petition, Danielle mocks her but Rose still continues with her pitch. Con asks if they can sign more than once, Rivers makes yet another sarcastic comment and Con tells him off. This time, Chaka interjects that they have to fight or they get nothing, Rivers tells her to ‘go home’ (go back to her country basically). Jack sticks up for her, telling him to shut up and listen to her. He tells Jack to ‘go back to wherever’, and Chaka’s temper flares. She berates him for giving up, telling him that he’ll lose it all and he’ll wish that he fought. He mockingly claps at her, pretending to be moved by her speech.

Out in the quad, Con runs up to Danielle and Rose. Rose tries to tell Con about her petition but he ignores her, instead wanting to talk to Danielle. Rose walks away annoyed. Danielle asks him how much Steve is paying him, Con denies any involvement with him. Danielle says she doesn’t want to know and tells Con a bunch of insults to tell Steve. He tries sweet talk her but she doesn’t fall for it and calls him ‘dopey’. He continues to try and talk to her, but she ignores him and walks away.

In the Poulos house, Nick sits with his family at the dining table. Irini questions him about the newspaper and trouble at school. Nick denies it but the family doesn’t believe it, especially George who says they don’t ban a new newspaper for nothing. Nick begins to tell them about Jodie and they chuckle, knowing what’s Nicks like. Nick tells them about Jodie’s rap, the newspaper and the fire. George isn’t surprised that someone caused a fire but he’s shocked that Jodie would write a song like that. Irini agrees and when Nick tries to justify the fire, George gets annoyed and begins to talk in Greek. Nick keeps arguing that they need to take a stand and that he’s not fooling around. George says that he’s always fooling around and he needs to worry about his education. When George tries to get the true motive out of him, Nick clams up and says it doesn’t matter. George loses his temper, demanding for Nick to talk. Irini asks if they can eat, George snaps that he can’t eat, he wants to know.

In the staff room, Deloraine has the teachers gathered. Yola has Rose’s petition in her hand. Southgate believes that they’re giving the students the go-ahead to do anything they want, but Deloraine is concerned that the matter is getting worse. Christina is proud that the topic has stirred up something in the students, the quiet students are finally having opinions. Southgate talks about the graffiti outside but Deloraine shuts him down, saying that there’s always graffiti and vandalism. Yola believes that it’s worth it to get intellectual discussion amongst the students, Graham agrees that it’s put a bomb under them and Southgate attempts a joke about it. Christina questions how they can keep it going, Deloraine is willing to let the students talk to through and is considering reinstating the school paper. Southgate grabs the petition and laughs. The names he read aloud are not real, but still Yola tries to justify it. Deloraine takes the petition back and reads it again, dumbfounded. Southgate ridicules Yola. Deloraine is disappointed that he trusted the signatures and took the petition in good faith. He storms from the room as Southgate smirks.

As Danielle and Jack are talking in the background, Steve questions Con about what he spoke to her about. Con tells him it’s not good news and tells him all the insults that Danielle had said. Steve gets offended and thinks he and Danielle are history. Con suggests that he has an image problem. The rest of the group come up to the two boys, Nick asks the boys how many times they signed the petition, they both say once. Rose asks if they signed their own names, they both joke that they signed Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jason Donovan before confirming that they only signed their names. Nick tells them that someone screwed them up and Deloraine went off, now refusing to talk any further. Rose is upset that the paper is gone. When Jodie questions why she didn’t check the signatures, Rose snaps at her why she didn’t check the signatures. Jodie says it’s not her department and Danielle mocks her. Jodie snaps that she wasn’t the one who put the rap in the paper. When Rose goes to argue again, Jodie snaps again that she didn't mean for this to happen and for them to get off her case. Steve questions Danielle about her insults towards him, she rolls her eyes and ignores him. Nick kneels in front of Con, saying he’s got a job for him. Con immediately knows what he’s asking and chuckles, saying, “sometimes you amaze me.”

Nick, Con and Rose sneak down a corridor to the computer room. Con picks the lock and allows Rose inside, not before giving her a letter and telling her to put it in the paper. Nick peers around a corner, sees someone and quickly grabs Con. They lean against the wall, acting like they’re not doing anything just as Southgate rounds the corner. Southgate questions why they’re there and on the brink of blowing their cover, Southgate humours them, telling them to go. They walk away as Southgate grabs the handle to the computer room and rattles it. Rose turns from the computer as the handle rattles but luckily for her, the door is locked. Southgate walks away and Rose continues to type; ‘BANNED NEWSPAPER’ in bold type sits on the computer screen.

Nick, Jodie and Rose stand out in the quad, handing out copies of the newspaper. Nick threatens strike action as he gives a copy of the paper to Deloraine’s secretary, he explains to Jodie who she is and he knows things will get worse. The teachers are in the staff room, all reading copies of the newspaper. Southgate is furious that the students are accusing him of theft and threatens to sue them for slander. Deloraine wants to keep the situation in-school and says he’s the one with the cassette player. Graham jokes that Jodie implied Southgate’s parents are ‘kissing cousins’, Deloraine warns that it going a bit far. Yola asks if it’s true, making Southgate even more angry. Deloraine questions the list of demands from the students, Southgate is against it but Christina argues that the kids are willing to strike. Deloraine believes they could be bluffing and Southgate urges him to call their bluff. Christina is worried that it will cause things to escalate further.

Cast[]

Starring[]

Guest stars[]

Jon Pollard as Bolton
Daniel Taylor as Brian Neasby
Anthony Macri as Classmate