Episode 1

DERRICK is back on Ahpla's campus. He is in the Ahpla Dome shooting baskets
by himself.

DERRICK thinks - Man I miss being here. At least when I was here, I was a
star.

(DERRICK takes a three point shot and makes it.)

DERRICK thinks - For a shot like that, the crowd would go wild!

(DERRICK grabs the ball, dribbles it behind his back and lays it up.)

DERRICK thinks - At least when I was here, I got in the damn game! Shit, I
would pay anything to get into a game now!

(DERRICK takes another shot and misses.)

COACH EDWARDS - That always was your worst shot! And you still don't like to
follow your shot for the rebound huh?

(DERRICK turns around.)

DERRICK - Coach!

(DERRICK jogs over and embraces his old coach.)

DERRICK - How you doin' coach?
COACH EDWARDS - I'm fine Derrick! How are you?
DERRICK - Aw coach, life is good. Real good.
COACH EDWARDS - Oh yeah? How they treating you in Portland?
DERRICK - I can't complain coach. Gets kinda lonely though.
COACH EDWARDS - Well that's to be expected Derrick. It isn't the same level
as college ball. These are grown men with families. Other types of
responsibilities.
DERRICK - You're right coach, and you know, the more I hang around my new
teammates, the more I think I want what they have.
COACH EDWARDS - What do you mean?

(DERRICK shoots another jump shot and it goes in.)

DERRICK - Some of the guys play the game every night and then go home with a
different girl. Either some girl hanging around the locker room, or some
groupie hanging out at the hotel. But then some of the guys have their wives.
They take them to all the games with them. Even when we have away games. To
some of those guys, their wives are their best friends.
COACH EDWARDS - And that's what you want?

(DERRICK pauses.)

DERRICK - That's what I had.

(silence)

COACH EDWARDS - Come here Derrick.

(COACH EDWARDS turns and begins to walk toward his office. DERRICK grabs his
ball and follows.)

DERRICK thinks - What's coach about to do?

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APRIL is visiting KATRICE in her dorm room. They are getting dressed to go
out. APRIL is in front of the mirror and KATRICE is in the bathroom.

APRIL - I still don't really know about this Katrice.
KATRICE - Oh calm down. What's the big deal?
APRIL - What's the big deal?
KATRICE - Yeah, what's the big deal? It's music, it's drinks. It's a dj.
What's the difference?
APRIL - The difference is that girls will be dancing up on girls and guys
will be dancing up on guys. That's the difference.
KATRICE - And that is where you're wrong.

(KATRICE comes out of the bathroom with a towel around her head and another
towel around her waist.)

KATRICE - That is where you're wrong. You may see men dancing with women. You
may see women dancing by themselves. Just don't be surprised if you see two
girls dancing with one another. That's all.
APRIL - Oh, that's all huh?
KATRICE - That's it.
APRIL - Katrice, I know it aint that simple. Everyone in the world knows that
this is gay lesbian night. It aint no heterosexuals up in there!
KATRICE - Don't sleep.

(KATRICE takes her towel off and has on a bra and a thong. APRIL looks her up
and down and then looks back into the mirror where she was fixing her makeup.)

KATRICE - I mean, if you don't wanna go, you don't have to. I just thought
you would like to go out. You never go out. You are such a homebody. Ha ha ha!
APRIL - You want to get me out of the house, so you invite me to Pyramids on
lesbian night?
KATRICE - Why did you agree to go? You could have gone with the other sorors.
They're going to Pharoahs.
APRIL - Why didn't I just stay home!
KATRICE - Oh hush. You don't hear PJ complaining and she's going with us.
APRIL - As a matter of fact, let me call her and see how long she needs to be
ready.

(KATRICE tosses April the cordless phone. APRIL dials.)

PJ - Yo, what's up Katrice.
APRIL - Naw girl, it's April.
PJ - Oh. Hey.
APRIL - How much time you need?
PJ - Probably about twenty minutes.
APRIL - Okay cool. We'll be out front in twenty five.
PJ - Cool.

(They hang up.)

KATRICE - You told her twenty five minutes? Damn, now I gotta hurry!
APRIL - Well hurry up then! Maybe if we get their early, we can leave to go
home early!
KATRICE - Girl be quiet!

(KATRICE pulls up a tight pair of leather pants and runs back into the
bathroom.)

APRIL thinks - If I wasn't so curious to see how this is all gonna look, I
would stay my ass home!

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COACH EDWARDS opens the door for DERRICK and then closes it behind him.

COACH EDWARDS - Have a seat Derrick.

(DERRICK places his ball down and sits down as COACH EDWARDS opens his
closet.)

DERRICK - What's that?

(DERRICK stares at the small box that COACH EDWARDS has just pulled from the
top shelf of his closet.)

COACH EDWARDS - If you be quiet for a second, I can show you.

(The coach sits behind his desk and opens the small box up. The box is full
of paper that start to fall out onto the desk. COACH EDWARDS starts to take
them out and place them in a pile on the desk.)

DERRICK - What in the world?
COACH EDWARDS - Stop being so impatient! That's your problem!

(DERRICK laughs as coach gets to the bottom of the box and pulls out a small
ticket stub.)

COACH EDWARDS - Look at this Derrick. This is a ticket for admission to my
first game playing basketball for Ahpla University.
DERRICK - Wow, are you serious?
COACH EDWARDS - Yep. There was a girl who went to that game, and this is her
ticket. She came up to me after the game and congratulated me on how many
points I had scored. When she walked down those steps, I knew that she was
walking straight for me.
DERRICK - Was she fine coach?
COACH EDWARDS - She was breathtaking. She was the most beautiful girl I had
ever seen. We spoke after the game and went to the coffee shop. I think it's
called the twenty four seven diner now.
DERRICK - Yeah, it is.
COACH EDWARDS - We went there and got coffee, and then we walked and talked
all night. I made a date with her for Friday night. She told me that she
writes poetry and I asked her to write something about the game that she saw
me play. She giggled and agreed to do it.
DERRICK - Uh huh.
COACH EDWARDS - All the next day I was floating on air as I thought about
meeting her again at the diner for coffee and for my poem. Until I ran into
one of my teammates and he asked me if I was ready for the big game on Friday
against Amgis.
DERRICK - Ooooh, Amgis! Ha ha ha!
COACH EDWARDS - Yes! Amgis College! Our biggest rival! The game of the year!
And it was over on their court!
DERRICK - I know you didn't want to miss that game! What did you do?

(COACH EDWARDS picks up a piece of paper that was lying on top of the ticket
stub inside of his box.)

COACH EDWARDS - Listen to this. Your graceful strides reminded me of cool
breezes in the spring time. Breezes that you cannot see, but you know are
there.
Your steps remind me of ice skating in the winter. As you move across the
floor, you glide as if your motion is over ice and air, the two elements that
aid your game.
When you shoot, you make me think of the fall leaves. They fall gracefully.
Not as if pulled by gravity, but as if they were sitting in an invisible
swing and were being guided down to earth by God. Your passion for basketball
is like a hot summer's day. You quench your thirst only by satisfying your
need by your true love...your one true love...basketball. I see seasons in
you. I feel warmth beside you and I see fire in your eyes. Just stare at me
to warm me and I will always cheer for you. I will always cheer for you. All
season long.

(COACH EDWARDS slowly puts the paper back onto his desk.)

DERRICK - Wow, that was nice Coach.
COACH EDWARDS - This is the poem that she gave me that Friday night in the
diner.
DERRICK - Wait, so you went to the diner and not the game?
COACH EDWARDS - Derrick, when you take a step back and look at life, you
figure out what is important. Really important. And that is when you make
your decisions. Be they good or bad. And then a real man, deals with the
consequences of his choices and actions.
DERRICK - Wow.
COACH EDWARDS - Wanna hear the name of that girl? The girl who wrote me that
poem and changed my priorities? Minnie Edwards.
DERRICK - Your wife?
COACH EDWARDS - Yep. I knew when we met that that was it! And at that point,
basketball became less important.

(silence)

COACH EDWARDS - Derrick, I told you that story because I want you to think
about something. All you ever used to talk about was June. And now all you
ever talk about is loneliness. Look Derrick. If she is who you want...
DERRICK - But it's too late now Coach. I mean, I made my bed...
COACH EDWARDS - All these papers are poems Derrick. All of them. She wrote to
me every day. We were married the very next year.
DERRICK - But coach...
COACH EDWARDS - Dammit shut up and listen Derrick! Be still for once and
listen to what your own heart is saying! And whatever it is saying...

(The coach pauses.)

COACH EDWARDS - ...follow it and be a man.

(silence)

(DERRICK slowly stands up and wipes the tears from his eyes. He holds out his
arms to embrace his former coach.)

COACH EDWARDS - It's okay Derrick. It's okay son.
DERRICK crying - I love you coach!
COACH EDWARDS - You just do what you gotta do.

(silence)

(DERRICK turns and leaves the coaches office. COACH EDWARDS sits down and
stares at the pile of papers on his desk. He picks up a picture of him and
his wife that is on his desk.)

COACH EDWARDS - I love you baby.

(As the coach puts the picture down, he notices something on the floor. He
runs around his desk, opens his door and yells down the hall.)

COACH EDWARDS - Derrick! Derrick! You forgot your basketball!
JERREL - Can I help you?
DERRICK - Yes, I was wonderring...
JERREL - Hey wait a minute, your Derrick...you played basketball for Ahpla
last year didn't you?
DERRICK - Yes sir.
JERREL - Wow, it's a pleasure to meet you! I know you play professional
basketball for the Portland Trailblazers now!
DERRICK - Yeah.
JERREL - Man, that must be awesome! I remember you playing here! You're
really talented.

(DERRICK smiles.)

DERRICK - Thanks.
JERREL - Come on back here into my office.

(DERRICK follows JERREL into his office.)

JERREL - So Mister big time basketball player, what can I do for you?

(silence)

DERRICK - I want to come back to Ahpla...and...I need for you to help me do
it!

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The ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha have decided to go to Pharoahs for a sister's
evening out.

SYLVIA - Where are your line sisters?
JUNE - PJ said that they were going out early for drinks. But that they might
meet us over here later.
SYLVIA - Okay cool.

(SYLVIA, JUNE and OCTAVIA walk up to the front door of Pharoahs.)

SYLVIA - Is it crowded yet?
BOUNCER - We're getting there.

(They pay and go inside.)

JUNE - Nice little crowd.
OCTAVIA - Oh there's my friend Jeff from lab. Let me go say hi to him.
SYLVIA - Okay cool.

(OCTAVIA walks away.)

SYLVIA - So what you been up to June? I feel like I haven't seen you in
forever.
JUNE - Oh whatever.
SYLVIA - When's the last time you stayed in your own dorm room? On your own
campus?

(JUNE laughs.)

SYLVIA - I'm startin' to think you go to Amgis!

(They both laugh.)

JUNE - I do be there a lot huh?
SYLVIA - You and Buck are starting to be joined at the hip.
JUNE - He's a good guy. He's my baby.
SYLVIA - He seems very nice. And as long as you're happy, that's what's
important.
JUNE - I am.

(JUNE smiles as OCTAVIA returns.)

OCTAVIA - Jeff's cool. Brilliant mind but he's always tryin' to holla.
JUNE - Did you tell him that you have a man?
OCTAVIA - Girl, he aint tryin' to hear that!
SYLVIA - How is Donte?
OCTAVIA - He's good.
SYLVIA - Cool. Tell him I said hello.
OCTAVIA - I sure will. Come on, let's grab a table.
JUNE - Cool. Let's get one over there so we can see if Shareesa does come.
SYLVIA - She aint coming. Married folk don't go to clubs anymore! Ha ha ha ha.

(They sit at a table where they can see the door.)

JUNE - So Sylvia, you're about to be finished as chapter basileus. How do you
feel?
SYLVIA - I just wanna take a nap!

(They all laugh.)

OCTAVIA - Who do you think the next basileus will be?
SYLVIA - I hope it's the soror sitting next to you.
JUNE - Who? Me?
SYLVIA - Yeah. You're the perfect choice and you're the one that sorors have
been talking about for the job.
JUNE - What? Ahhhh naw! I don't want that job! Ha ha ha ha!
OCTAVIA - Spec, you would be perfect as basileus if you think about it.
JUNE - I thought it would be Katrice.
SYLVIA - She is a little too high strung for me. And she has a quick temper.
JUNE - True.
OCTAVIA - You should think about it June. I think you would do great.
JUNE - Thanks spec, I will.
SYLVIA - You would have to move back to Ahpla from Amgis though!

(The all laugh.)

JUNE - Speaking of Amgis, look who just walked in!

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KATRICE and APRIL pull up in front of the Ivy Tower and PJ is already waiting
for them in the lobby. She walks out to the car.

PJ - What's up sorors!
KATRICE - Hey Peej.
APRIL - What's up girl.

(PJ gets into the back seat and KATRICE drives on.)

PJ - What's up with yall?
KATRICE - Nothin'. Just ready to hang and have a good time. Get my martini on
and get my groove on!
APRIL thinks - Oh God!
PJ - When's the last time you were out April?
KATRICE - Who knows! Her homely ass!
APRIL - Yeah but you like my ass don't you?

(All three laugh very hard.)

PJ - Ha ha ha ha! She got you sands! Ha ha!
KATRICE - Aight aight, good one! Ha ha ha ha!
PJ - But what made you want to come out this time April?
APRIL - Because yall kept beggin'. I was like alright alright already! I'l go.

(They all laugh again as they pull up at Pyramids.)

APRIL - Damn, look at the line! It's mad long!
PJ - Yeah, it's packed! And it's still pretty early.
KATRICE - Good. Let me find a parking spot.
APRIL - A parking spot? You want to wait in this long ass line? It's like
down the block and around the corner!
KATRICE - No it isn't! Quit trying to get out of hanging out! Look, if it'll
make you feel any better, yall get out and wait in line while I park. We can
kill two birds with one stone. Plus, this line moves real fast anyway.
PJ - Good idea.
APRIL - Oh aight.

(KATRICE pulls up to the curb and APRIL and PJ get out. They go stand in
line.)

APRIL thinks - I wonder if some of these chicks are staring at me.
PJ - Hey look, this line does move pretty fast. They just let a bunch of
people in.
APRIL - Oh okay. Cool.

(APRIL looks toward the front.)

APRIL - Yeah. It is moving. So PJ, you don't have a problem coming
here...tonight?
PJ - Why? You have a problem?
APRIL - I mean...kinda. It's lesbian and gay night.

(APRIL whispers so the people in line next to her don't hear her.)

PJ - So what? You aint a lesbian so why you worried? I aint worried because
I'm secure in my sexuality. I just came here to hear some cool music and
chill. Ya know?
APRIL - I guess you're right.
PJ - Yeah girl, don't sweat it. Just have a good time. If a girl asks you to
dance, just kindly say no.
APRIL - Oh God!
PJ - But it isn't that deep. Just relax and have fun. You never have any fun.
Just relax.
APRIL - True true.

(KATRICE walks up.)

KATRICE - Hey. I almost didn't see yall in the line. It moved pretty fast huh?
PJ - Yeah. We should be inside in a few minutes.
APRIL - Did you park far away?
KATRICE - Naw, not really. I was turning the corner and someone was pulling
out. So I got lucky.

(The three get to the front, pay, and go inside. The club is already crowded.)

PJ - Dag, it's packed up in here! There's this many...uh...
KATRICE - Gays and lesbians? Yes.

(KATRICE smiles.)

KATRICE - Come on yall, let's walk around.

(KATRICE, APRIL and PJ begin to walk through the crowd, past the dance floor
and toward the bar.)

APRIL thinks - Dammit! He's cute and he's holding hands with another guy!
Damn!
KATRICE - Hey, do yall want something to drink?
APRIL - Huh?
KATRICE - I said...do yall...want something...to drink!
APRIL - Oh! No! I'm okay!
PJ - Yeah, I'll get something!
KATRICE - Okay wait here! I'll squeeze up to the bar and get something!
PK - Okay!

(KATRICE starts to make her way to the bar.)

APRIL - Do you get the feeling that people are rubbing up on you?
PJ - What did you say?
APRIL - Nevermind!

(APRIL looks around at the crowd and tries not to make eye contact with any
females for too long.)

APRIL thinks - This is cra...oh my God!

(APRIL grabs PJ's arm.)

PJ - What?
APRIL - Oh my God!
PJ - What? Why are you trippin'?
APRIL - Look!

(APRIL points to the dance floor.)

APRIL - Look right there!
PJ - Oh shit! My sands Larry!

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JUNE, OCTAVIA, and SYLVIA are sitting inside Pharoahs and JUNE notices
someone coming in from Amgis College.

JUNE - Speaking of Amgis, look who just walked in!
SYLVIA - Who's that?
JUNE - Those are the Amgis sorors that me and PJ met at their party. And then
at the interest meeting.
SYLVIA - Oh okay. I never met them but they look familiar.
JUNE - Yeah. A few of them were on our yard when we came out and did our
probate show.
OCTAVIA - Oh that's right! I do remember meeting them!
JUNE - Skeeeeeeeeeeeee weeeeeeeeeeeee!

(The Amgis sorors turn around and smile and wave.)

RENEE - Skeeeeeeeeeee weeeeeeeeeeeeee!

(They begin to walk over.)

JUNE - I know her name is Renee. And the other one is Akina. But I can't
remember the names of the other two.

(The Amgis AKAs approach the table and the Ahpla AKAs stand to hug them.)

RENEE - Skee wee sorors! Hey June! How you doin' girl?
JUNE - Good. How are yall?
RENEE - Cool, just hanging out.
JUNE - Us too. We are having a sister's night out! Why don't yall sit down
with us.
RENEE - Cool! Hello sorors. I'm Renee, and this is Holly, Akina and Tracey.
SYLVIA - Hi I'm Sylvia.
OCTAVIA - Hello sorors. I'm Octavia.
HOLLY - I think I met you on the yard that day when your line came out.
OCTAVIA - Yeah, I was saying that yall look familiar.

(The Amgis ladies pull up chairs and they all sit down.)

SYLVIA - We were just preppin' June here to be our next chapter basileus.
HOLLY - Oh congratulations June!
JUNE - Whoa...I said I would think about it! See how sorors are, bout to put
it out there! Ha ha ha!
RENEE - You probably would do a great job.
TRACEY - We actually just had elections and Akina is our new basileus.
OCTAVIA - Congratulations soror!
AKINA - Thank you. June, if you do decide to take it, we should get together
because I want to do more joint projects between our chapters.
SYLVIA - That's a good idea. That would be nice.

(Everyone turns around as they hear a very loud Skee Wee.)

SYLVIA - Surprise surprise! I guess married folk do come out to the club!
SHAREESA - Skee wee sorors!
JUNE - Hey Shareesa! Pull up a chair. These are sorors from Amgis!
SHAREESA - Hello sorors!
JUNE - This is Renee, Holly, Akina and Tracey. Sorors this is one of my
prophytes Shareesa.
RENEE - Nice to meet you soror.
SHAREESA - You too soror.

(They all hug SHAREESA.)

SHAREESA - Wow, so many sorors here! Ha ha ha ha! I feel like it's step
practice!
OCTAVIA - I know!
JUNE - Sisters night out!
SYLVIA - If one more AKA comes through that door, we'll have enough for a
chapter meeting! Ha ha ha ha ha!
OCTAVIA - If one more AKA comes through that door, I'm goin' home! I can't
take much more of yall! Ha ha ha!

(Everyone turns around as they hear an even louder Skee Wee.)

JUNE - Wow! That was a powerful skee wee! Who the heck was that?

(The soror with the loud voice steps through the crowd and up to the table
with her pinky in the air.)

MONA - Skee wee sorors! I'm back!