Skin 3x07 "JJ"

JJ sits on his bed with what looks like food in his face. All around him trashed things lay. Someone has gone berserk and that someone is JJ. On the wall in JJ’s bedroom he has some sort of map or chart. It’s a chart over his life.

He walks out the door and start walking up the street while the little ugly, and I guess slightly ‘retarded’ boys yells “Gay J, Gay J” after him. This is one of the other moments you’re allowed to punch someone according to the “Elin’s guide book for regular punching”. He walks to the local model shop ‘Modelmania’ where he purchases a lot of models. You know the ‘building’ kind, though I have no doubt that if he could he would buy a real model like Kate Moss or someone. We easily understand that this is a place he visits regular and often since the clerk seems to know about JJ’s life. So when he buys a model he already bough once the clerk asks why, It’s there and then we find out that he is on drugs, the medical kind, and that he is getting into rages. There of his smashed room in the beginning.
Sitting on the stairs outside a Psychiatric support clinic he clearly don’t want to go in but well inside everyone seems to be having some sort of problem. Even the receptionist gets consulting. He gets called into the psychiatrist office and he just ask questions but don’t listen to the answer. JJ asks him questions but the guy doesn’t want to deal with it so he just gives him a new pair of pills to add to his collection. Well outside the office he gets locked on again and starts abusing the dustbin and no one seems to care. Well done he grabs his bag of models before he starts to walk out of there. That’s when he hears Emily’s voice.

Emily: “Hi JJ! What a surprise”
JJ turns around to face her
Emily: “Hi!”
JJ: “Oh, hi Emily what are you… Oh we don’t say!”
Emily: “It’s Okay!”
JJ: “Yes, yes, yes it’s alright. It’s just I don’t expect… I don’t usually see people I know in here.”
Emily: “Why not?”
JJ: “Because normal people don’t come here!”
They start walking towards the exit
Emily: “Yeah right! Well I’ve been having a bit of consulting”
JJ: “Oh, nice!”
Emily: “Yeah, I asked them to help me be a bit more honest to people, you know. Anyway they just give me these” takes out a box of pills it says ‘Stun’ on
JJ: “Snap!” takes out just the same pills from his jacket “Must be good if it can help you calm down AND be more honest.”
Emily: “Yeah. Wasn’t really what I was hoping for! Do you need calming down?”
JJ: “Oh! Believe me I totally do. I get over stimulated just talking to you now. I mean you’re exciting me. Wait that’s not! Buggar, Shit!”
Emily: “It’s alright JJ. It’s hard telling people things about yourself isn’t?”
JJ: “Yeah!”
Emily: “But I’m gonna try. It’s no big deal. They probably wouldn’t care less.”
JJ: “About what?”
Emily: “I want to have sex with girls!”
JJ: “Right!”
Emily: “Yeah! I like girls, I like sex with girls. I like their rosy lips, their hard nipples, bums, soft tights. I like tits and fanny you know. There I’ve said it. And now…”
JJ pass out.
Emily: “Oh fucking hell!”

JJ must have woken up because in the next scene he and Emily sits in the grass talking. He shows her all the pills he has to take. Even his C-Vitamin’s that he only eats because he likes the taste. He convinces Emily to try one and she does. But mixing effervescent tablet with coke isn’t a good combination. This all ends up in Emily almost suffocate but JJ saves the day and our hearts by helping her.

Emily: “JJ, I think you’ve got your hand on my tit!”
JJ: “I know! I mean shit, Sorry!”
Emily: “Well I’ve had a lovely time.”
JJ: “I’ve all screwed this up haven’t I?”
Emily: “Truth is… You’re nice JJ!”
JJ: “I’m unusual!”
Emily: “Yeah?”
JJ: “That’s just code for not normal! I’d give anything to be normal for a whole day.”
Emily: “Hey if you where normal what would you do?”
JJ: “I’d lose my virginity first, several times. Then I’d have a chocolate nut milkshake without having an anaphylactic shock. Then I’d tell Freddie and Cook to stop fighting over Effy before they hate each other forever and not make me take sides. And they’ll listen to me for once and not fucking ruffle my hair. Then I’d tell Effy I love her… and loose my virginity a few more times.”
Emily: “You love Effy?”
JJ: “Did I say that out loud?”
Emily: “Afraid so!”
JJ: “Retard, I’m a retard. Nut job, fat case, Spasso…!”
Emily: “JJ!”
JJ: “Autistic fucking fruit cage mental basket.”
Emily: “JJ, you’re getting locked on… JJ… Look at these.”
To get JJ’s attention Emily flashes her tits which seem to have a very calming effect on JJ. He just sits there.
JJ: “That worked!”
Emily: “Hum… The last guy to see my tits wasn’t quite impressed.”
JJ: “I suppose I should be leaving.”
Emily: “You know J. All those things you want, you don’t ask for them. Why don’t you just ask?”
JJ: ”Can I see your breast again?”
Emily: “No! Let’s start with the easy stuff, yeah?”
JJ: “So where do we start?”
Emily: “We?”

Freddie apparently was first on the list. Outside the door to his house they stand united. JJ rings the door and Freddie’s sister Karen opens. She seems surprised seeing Emily outside then she realizes there is two of them.
She lets them in and follows them up to Freddie’s room. JJ knocks at the door but Freddie is occupied. JJ sees this as a chance to chicken out, but Emily won’t take it so she enters the room anyways finding her sister Katie riding Freddie. Everyone is stunned apart from Karen who just stands there and laughs. JJ and Freddie arguing about Freddie are supposed feelings for Effy. Emily and Katie arguing about… well Katie and Freddie. Then Katie says that Emily and JJ can hook up,
JJ: “No that’s ridiculous, Emily’s gay!”
You can all imagine Katie’s face hearing that. Then she confronts Emily who apparently had promised she wasn’t. It all ends up with Emily getting the hell out of there. JJ and Freddie meet up in the shed.
JJ is looking at the ‘three musketeers’ photo before Freddie walks into the shed.

Freddie: “So what did you want to tell me Jay?”
JJ: “She gone yet?”
Freddie: “It’s none of your business. Right ass you made of it.” He ruffles JJ’s hair “Jesus!”
JJ: “I want… I want things to change Freddie.”
Freddie: “Things have changed. They change all the time.”
JJ: “Doesn’t it matter what I think? Because I think it should matter more you know.”
Freddie: “So…?”
JJ: “We’re supposed to be friends, forever.”
Freddie: “I can’t do it Jay!”
JJ: “Just because of a girl? You don’t even want Effy.”
Freddie: “Don’t tell me what I want.”
JJ: “Then tell me what to do!”
Freddie: “You’ve got to choose mate. Either me or Cook.”
JJ: “What about me? Don’t I count?” Freddie starts to walk out the shed “I’m not the one telling fibs.
Freddie: “Leave it alone Jay!”
JJ: “I’m… the normal one.”

JJ walks out of there still with his bag of models with him. When he gets home there is an empty wine bottle at the food table. In the couch his mom lay, passed out, with his diagnose papers all around her. He picks them up, look at them then he goes to his room.
In there he empties all his pills out on the bed. Just as he’s about to take one of the many pills Cook calls him. JJ there tries to get a conversation with Cook who dismisses him because he’s “Busy”. Though he forget to turn off the phone and JJ hear him fooling around with someone in the background. He assumes Cook’s at Effy’s so that’s where he heads. Outside the ugly kids sits and shout the same thing again. But this time he won’t take it so he almost punches one of the kids but saves it with giving the kid a lollipop through magic.
From Effy’s place ‘Lucille’ by Little Richard comes out, laying like a thick cover over the street. JJ rings the bell but when he presses on it the door creaks open of his push. In he goes looking for Effy… or is it Cook? Anyways he calls Effy’s name but don’t get an answer. Heading upstairs he walks into Effy’s room where she sits half naked on her bed. JJ tries to back out smoothly but tips over a bottle that crashes on the floor. Effy’s shocked and wonder what the hell he’s doing there. JJ says he need’s mango juice after explaining he wanted to see Cook. But Effy hadn’t seen him in days. Effy get dressed then give JJ his mango juice that helps him calm down.

Effy: “So?”
JJ: “I think it must be these new pills they’re giving me. Vivid dreams, it’s a side effect.”
Effy: “Cool! Let’s do a couple now. Get off our faces.”
JJ: “No, no, no. It does other stuff too.”
Effy: “What?”
JJ: “Calms you, makes you tell the truth allegedly!”
Effy: “What’s wrong with that?”
JJ: “Don’t know, don’t know.”
Effy: “Come on JJ don’t be pathetic. It’s easy. Just tell me something true. . . Tell me! Tell me now!”
JJ: “I love you!”
Effy: “Well everybody loves me.”
JJ: “That’s a relief!”
Effy: “With the possible exception of darling ma and dad. They don’t love me so good.”
JJ: “Why’s that?”
Effy: “Cos I won’t let them fuck up their lives in peace. So I’m being a total bitch to both of them.”
JJ: “What did they…?”
Effy: “Oh, she fucked his boss and he behaved like a complete dildo as usual.”
JJ: “Sounds bad!”
Effy: ”It’s well bad JJ. I’m officially of the rails. You should try it!”
JJ: “No I can’t go off the rails. My mom, she needs me to be okay. I have to be okay.”
Effy: “Is that why you take all the pills?”
JJ: “Pretty much! Please leave them alone Effy.”
Effy: “Who?”
JJ: “I don’t mean to be rude but Cook, Freddie and me. They are the only friends I ever had and you basically ruined everything. And I’d like you to stop now please.”
He gets up to leave.
Effy: “I can’t do that Jay!”
JJ: “Why not?”
He walks out the hallway and she yells after him.
Effy: “Thanks for loving me!”
JJ: “No problem!”
Effy: “I’d like to be your friend!”
JJ shakes his head before going out.

JJ walks down a street with hands in his jeans pockets. He takes a halt before a door, a dorm door. Inside he goes almost getting knocked out by a moving youngster. Looking for Cook he soon finds out who the girl on the phone was. Pandora and Cook are making out in the hall in a fair well gesture. JJ hides when Pandora walks towards him. After Panda has passed him he walks into Cooks room who now is getting dressed. JJ and Cook are going to go out, partying their butts off. But first they’re going to get some drugs. But before JJ puts his foot down and tell Cook to listen to him sometimes. Cook who shows he’s the better man between him and Freddie gives JJ a hug and tell him he’s sorry. Changes might be made…
So they head to the dealer to score some drugs. JJ is on look out and when he sees cops, he and Cook runs. Cook on the other hand wasn’t as pleased. I mean no drugs, how the hell is he going to party now? Well JJ has a magic trick in his sleeve. TA-DA some pills called Stun that can make you very ‘fun’. So JJ gives Cook some, a bit more than recommended dose.
In the line outside the club that they’re all going to Effy stands and soon gets company by Naomi.

Naomi: “No Cook?”
Effy: “Why would there be a Cook?”
Naomi: “You’re seeing him aren’t you?”
Effy: “I’m fucking him occasionally. I’m not seeing him!”
Naomi: “There is a distinction?”
Effy: “Yeah...! No Emily? Truth.”
Naomi: “That obvious?”
Effy: “You don’t have to be a genius to work that out… So?”
Naomi: “So… I’m straight!”
Effy: “Sure?”
Naomi: “If I said no would I regret it?”
Effy: “Probably. But not because of me!”
Naomi: “Quit objects of lust!”
Effy: “Making you feel good?”
Naomi: “Not really.”
Effy: “So what you say about going in there and get so monumentally fucked up we forget all about…”
she sees Freddie. Naomi watches to see what Effy looks at.
Naomi: “Noo, Oh my god!”
Effy: “No!”
Naomi: “That’s fucked up!”
Effy: “No!”
Naomi: “You love him!”
Effy: “No!”
Naomi: “Oh yes, you love the lips. Oh my god. Go on lie to me. I wanna see this.”

Saved by the bell whose name is Tomas. He get them, Freddie and Katie to him. Then they see Cook and JJ walking (or more like jumping) down the street towards them. We find out that Emily already is inside. Next we see her on the dance floor, drunk, with a bottle in her hand. Cook creeps up behind her and starts to dance with her while he feels her up. Katie comes and snatches her away from Cook who starts jumping around and into a group of guys. All this JJ is watching from a safe distant. Freddie sees it and asks JJ what and how many Cook has taken. When Cook then gets beaten down by the boy gang Freddie and JJ comes for his rescue like three musketeers once did.
Dragging him to a calmer place of the club Cook sits there, happy because he, Freddie and JJ are together. Freddie gets bad because of that and starts to walk away. That’s when Cook tells him Effy does love Freddie not Cook. Freddie who is not in the mood for the truth gets it anyways, so does Tomas about Cook and Freddie.
JJ and Freddie make up and JJ leaves the club. Outside on the curb Emily sits. She’s been crying, JJ walks up

JJ: “Hello!”
Emily: “Hello!”
JJ: “How you doing? Here!” he puts his jacket on her shoulders. “Here you go! According to the diagnosis I’m liable to social dysfunction. They shouldn’t let me out really!”
Emily: “It’s okay JJ. You did me a favor!”
JJ: “I did?”
Emily: “Katie loves me. I know she does.”
JJ: “Yes defiantly!”
Emily: “Did you do it? Did you ask for stuff?”
JJ: “yeah I had a fair bit of asking!”
Emily: “Then how did it go?”
JJ: “I’d say… bad on the face of it but in another sense you might say it’s too early to say… Yeah too early to say!”
Emily: “I don’t wanna go home tonight. Katie is to…!”
JJ: “Locked on?”
Emily: “Yeah. She’s locked on. I don’t wanna go home. I can’t!”
JJ: “Right! So let’s think!”

We’re back to JJ’s wall with the chart on. Emily is asleep in his bed and JJ stands before the wall in his teddy bear pajamas doing some editing.

Emily: “Please tell me somebody make’s you wear those pajamas?”
JJ: “No, I just like them. They’re 100% Egyptian cotton. It’s good because (something smart he says)”
Emily: “JJ if we’re gonna be friends you can’t wear teddy bears anymore. Get them off!”
JJ: “Right you got it. No teddies. I got some other ones with world war one fighter planes on them.” Emily shakes her head
Emily: “I’m asking for something JJ.”
JJ: “Okay! Yup and I’m saying yes. Possibly a faces approach would…”
Emily: “No! take them off.”
JJ: “Don’t be silly!”
Emily: “Take them off now JJ and get in here.”
JJ starts to undress.
Emily: “This is a once time charity even you understand?”
JJ: “Got you. Because you’re gay!”
Emily: “Yes. I’m gay…! Get on with it”
Down his pants go.
Emily: “In you pop. I’m lots of things JJ and I really like you so this is between friends yeah!”
JJ: “Between friends! I can be quite cute!”
Emily: “Yes, you can.”
And they kiss.

They film their feet’s playing with each others. Later on JJ walks down the stairs saying hello to his mom who’s in the kitchen. When he presents Emily to his mom, the look on her face was priceless. I don’t think I ever have seen a woman so happy to see a girl in her baby boy’s clothes. And her hearing the word ‘friend’ must have been like a whole new world opening up.
Getting breakfast his mom can’t be much happier sitting there seeing JJ and Emily joke around and laughing.

A perfect ending for a adorable, funny and moving episode. I must say I first though I was going to be sick when I found out JJ and Emily was going to end up in bed with each other. But it was so cute and lovable I didn’t even mind it. And I’m even rooting for Emily and Naomi together.