Degrassi Junior High

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1-04. The Cover-Up

Rick is at his place reading a magazine. His father gives him a hard time about where he got the money for the magazine and questioned whether his older brother was in their apartment. Rick claimed to sell bottles for the money to get it.

Joey shows off at school and runs his skateboard into the bike lock up. He ends up with a black eye and some cuts on his forehead then sent to the principal's office.

Caitlin and Susie notice Rick who was held back and never smiles. Caitlin thinks he is cute, but he always has a tragic look about him. Rick is a loner who never smiles. Caitlin and Susie make a pact to try to make Rick smile.

Voula and Stephanie are in the restroom. Voula and Stephanie are still not friends, but Stephanie keeps trying to make amends. Voula points out that Stephanie's new look on photo day may not go over well with her parents.

Back at home, Joey finds out in horror that his mother cleaned his room and sewed up his torn jacket. Joey complains he has no rights and claims this is child abuse. Joey wanted his torn jacket for photo day and thinks the new jacket his parents bought will make him look like a "broom head".

After hearing Joey complain about his parents ruining his jacket, Rick offers to sell him a jean jacket. Down the hall, Caitlin and Susie try to tell a lame joke to make Rick smile, but fail. In class, Stephanie tries to get advice from Voula who shuns her and tells Stephanie, "It's your problem."

Joey meets Rick after school so they can go to his apartment to see the jacket. Joey is impressed by the disarray of the place and discovers this is because Rick does not have a mother. Rick offers Joey a pop. Joey and Rick talk about motorcycles and Rick's older brother who moved out. Then Rick's father comes home. Joey tries to introduce himself but is brushed off. Rick cautions Joey to leave and says he can pay for the jacket later. Rick's father then beats up on him as Joey get a glance.

Caitlin and Susie still try to make Rick smile with pig noses on their faces making noises, but he still does not crack a smile. Voula and Stephanie are in line for photos. Stephanie is wearing her new look and Voula remarks how she would love to see her mother's face when those pictures come out. Melanie is anxious over a zit and covers it up just before her photo is taken.

The next day in school is photo day. Everyone seems to like Joey's jacket. Rick confronts Joey about paying him $15 for it or giving him the jacket back. Joey promises to pay him after school. He asks one of his friends what he would do if he knew another kids was being beat up by their father. The kid guesses it was Rick they were talking about, but Joey denies it. They continue to talk about it in class and Mr. Raditch sends Joey to the principal's office.

Joey is faced with the dilemma of what to do about Rick. He asks the school receptionist, Doris, about what one should do if they know about child abuse. He does not give any names, but with the cuts and bruises, she assummes Joey is the victim. She calls for the social workers.

Rick meets up with Joey after school to get the money. Rick's bike chain falls off and they walk it to Joey's house. They notice a cool motorcycle parked outside and wonder who it belongs to. When they come in, the Jerimiah's are being questioned by the child welfare worker who assures them he must investigate all claims. He notices the bruises on Joey's face and asked how he got them, but Joey makes it clear that it was an accident and his parents would never hit him. When the social worker ask why he questioned the school secretary about some kid being beat up by his father, he notices Rick who is covered in bruises and seems nervous. Rick excuses himself to leave and the social worker follows him and offers to help him with the bike and his family problem.

The next day at school, Rick runs into Joey asking for the money. Joey swears he did not tell anyone what happened. Rick takes the money and asks him to take care of the jacket. Then he mentions he will be staying at his brother's house. He invites Joey to stop by sometime and maybe his brother will let him ride his Harley. As Caitlin and Susie approach, they see a big smile on Rick's face and are happy for him.

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