Episode 13

MIRI visits GINA after he crosses into Phi Beta Sigma fraternity. They are getting re-acquainted with one another.

(MIRI and GINA come face to face and begin to slowly kiss each other.)

GINA thinks - Oh Miri!

MIRI thinks - Oh Gina!

(MIRI holds GINA tighter and draws her closer.)

GINA thinks - Oh...oh...no...no!

(GINA stops and pushes MIRI away.)

MIRI - What? Gina what's the matter?

(GINA backs up but doesn't speak.)

MIRI - Gina...what's wrong?

(She waits a second before she answers.)

GINA - Before we get anything started, I need to find out...

(GINA puts her hands on her hips.)

GINA - ...what's up with you dating Mona when you and I broke up?

MIRI - Huh?

GINA - Did I stutter? What's up with you dating Mona? I never got to ask you this before, and it has always been a sore spot for me.

MIRI - Does it really matter at this point? That was a long time ago.

GINA - It matters to me.

(silence)

MIRI - Fair enough.

GINA - Miri, before you even begin, I want you to understand why this matters to me so much.

MIRI - As long as it matters to you, then it matters to me and that's all I need to know.

GINA - No, I want to let you know how I feel and what I'm sayin'.

MIRI - Okay.

GINA - It ain't so much that I feel that Mona is a soror. Because in my mind and in my opinion, she's not.

(MIRI laughs to himself.)

GINA - But to you, she's an AKA and I'm an AKA. You didn't know how shady and foul she is, and that I don't consider her a soror. Especially with your limited greek knowledge back then. So you went ahead and dated an AKA after knowing that I'm one.

MIRI - Uh huh.

GINA - And that's where I have a problem. I need for you to understand that if you date me, sorors on campus are off limits. Understand?

MIRI - I totally understand, moreso now. And I feel you. Now let me tell you why it was that I dated Mona in the first place.

GINA - Okay, this I gotta hear!

(GINA sits down to listen to MIRI's explanation.)

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KATRICE is in her room on the phone.

KATRICE - I know girl I was trippin'! How you gonna assign the entire chapter to read? Like we ain't got no other classes but his and shit.

(There is a knock on the door.)

KATRICE - Oh, let me go girl, somebody is here. Alright cool.

(KATRICE hangs up and opens the door.)

KATRICE - Hey sands.

PJ - Hey. You busy?

KATRICE - Naw, I gotta read a whole freakin' chapter, but come on in.

PJ - Well I don't want to bother you.

(KATRICE looks at PJ like she is crazy.)

KATRICE - Girl please. Come in.

(PJ walks into the room.)

KATRICE - What's up Peej? Since when do you ask if you're gonna be botherin' me? You usually just barge your way in.

(PJ sits on the bed.)

(silence)

KATRICE - What the hell is the matter with you?

(KATRICE grabs her chair from her desk, turns it around, and sits down.)

KATRICE - What's up?

PJ - I need to talk to you. This is deep.

KATRICE - Okay.

PJ - Katrice I...

(KATRICE anxiously awaits what PJ has to say.)

PJ - I...uh...

KATRICE - Oh God, you're pregnant!

PJ - No it isn't that. Good Lord it isn't that.

KATRICE - Whew! So what's up girl?

PJ - I've been going through something lately...something that I need to talk to you about. Something that I need...I need...help with.

KATRICE - Sure. Anything.

(silence)

KATRICE - Presjina you are really scaring me.

(PJ blurts out.)

PJ - I tried ecstasy.

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SHARONDA is in the Callis Student Union, sitting down in the lounge.

SHARONDA thinks - I can't believe Brandon snubbed me like that! After all I tried to do the help that boy! And now he's frat and he ain't even

appreciative. That is so foul.

(She reaches into her bag and pulls out her cell phone.)

DENICE - Hello?

SHARONDA - What are you doing?

DENICE - Sleeping.

SHARONDA - By yourself?

DENICE - Of course. Shut up.

SHARONDA - Aight call me later, I wanna chat with you.

DENICE - Okay soror.

(They hang up.)

SHARONDA thinks - I know I should let this Brandon thing go, but it's just eating me up inside.

(She looks out the window.)

SHARONDA thinks - Just burns me up. If it wasn't for me trying to help him, he wouldn't even be a Sigma now!

(She sees her soror SALEEMA walking across the yard.)

SHARONDA thinks - Oh there's Saleema. Eh...I don't feel like getting up to speak.

(SHARONDA turns her head so SALEEMA won't see her as she walks past the window.)

SHARONDA thinks - So anyway...I don't even wanna tell anybody else about what happened. And put all of Brandon't business out in the street. Cuz I ain't that kind of person. But if I really was a bitch, I could do that. Man, I'm tellin' you, he should be thanking me instead of being a hater!

(Another student approaches SHARONDA.)

STUDENT - Excuse me, is someone sitting here?

(SHARONDA looks up at him.)

SHARONDA thinks - Uh yeah. My boyfriend just got up to go to the bathroom. But he's coming right back.

STUDENT - Oh okay.

(He walks away.)

SHARONDA thinks - Sheesh.

(SHARONDA glances back out the window toward the main yard.)

SHARONDA thinks - I really don't wanna tell anybody else about this, but I feel like I'm gonna explode if I don't. Dag!

(SHARONDA sees someone else she recognizes just walk onto campus.)

SHARONDA thinks - Oh shoot! There's Mona! Somebody I can talk to!

(SHARONDA grabs her phone and her bag and walks toward the door.)

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PJ admits to her line sister KATRICE that she has tried the ecstasy drug.

PJ - I tried ecstasy.

(KATRICE looks at PJ shocked.)

KATRICE - The drug?

PJ - Yeah.

KATRICE - You did?

PJ - Yeah.

KATRICE - When? Why?

PJ - I don't know why. I was at a party, and I just tried it. I didn't think it was a big deal at all.

KATRICE - Damn PJ! What the hell? That isn't like you at all!

(silence)

KATRICE - I'm sorry PJ. I didn't mean to raise my voice.

(KATRICE runs her fingers through her own hair and sighs.)

KATRICE - Damn, this is serious. Okay, first of all, are you okay?

PJ - Yeah, I'm fine. The problem is that when I took the pill, I felt real good. Like, I liked the way that I felt after I took it. Ya know?

KATRICE - But you have to know that that shit isn't good for you. I mean, that shit will fuck you up. You do know that right?

PJ - That's why I'm here. I know that I can't take it anymore. I know that. But I'm gonna need for you to have my back and help me.

KATRICE - I always got your back sands. No doubt! I forever got your back!

PJ - I know. I know that both you and June do. I just didn't wanna tell June about this. You know how she can be.

KATRICE - Smart move. This will stay between us.

PJ - Thanks.

KATRICE - You don't have to thank me PeeJ. Come on gir!

(PJ smiles.)

KATRICE - So this is what we gotta do. I need for you to get back to the PJ of old. You're talking and looking real timid right now. I need to see that fire again. Where is my sands PJ? Where is Presjina that I know? Ready to scrap in a hot minute!

PJ - Let's go to Mona's crib. Maybe the old PJ will come out!

(They both laugh.)

KATRICE - On the real PJ. I'm so happy that you came to me with this. I hope I can help. I'll be doing a lot of praying and if you ever want to talk or

get away or whatever, you come here.

PJ - Cool.

KATRICE - What else can I do to help?

PJ - I just want to get off the stuff. It hasn't done anything bad to me yet. But I don't wanna be an addict or something. Ya know? Plus, I heard all kinds of crazy stories about people high on e.

KATRICE - How did it make you feel?

PJ - Like I wanted to lick somebody. Makes you real sexual.

KATRICE - Then I definitely don't need any of that shit! I'm horny enough half the time as it is! Ha ha ha ha!

(PJ laughs.)

PJ - Well thanks for being there for me sands.

KATRICE - Always.

(PJ gets up. KATRICE stands up too.)

KATRICE - Hey, call me or come by if you need me. Okay?

PJ - Okay.

(They hug...it's a long hug.)

KATRICE - You know I love you girl.

PJ - I know. I love you too.

(KATRICE walks PJ to the door. She opens it and they hug one more time.)

PJ - Thanks again Katrice.

KATRICE - Stop thanking me. Just call me if you need me.

(PJ smiles as she turns to walk down the hall.)

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MIRI - Okay, first of all, like you said. I didn't really know what kind of person Mona was. I just met her, and didn't really know a lot about her.

GINA - Uh huh.

MIRI - Secondly, I had no idea she didn't do any work to get AKA. I thought she was accepted in the chapter like everybody else.

GINA - Good Lord no!

MIRI - And we started dating, and I started to get to know her. I started to hear people talking bad about her. PJ damn near hates her.

GINA - Yeah.

MIRI - But that was my girl so I was gonna ride with her. Ya know? I wasn't gonna take the word of someone else over that of my girl. So I had to stick up for her. I had to cover her.

GINA - I understand.

MIRI - So in essence, I was the one who got caught up. The rumors of her being shady never stopped, and by the time I got interested in Sigma, I started to realize that she knows nothing about AKA at all. I know more about AKA than she does.

(GINA giggles.)

MIRI - I used to hear her talking about setting people up like it was nothing. She would scheme on people all the time. With no remorse, no

conscience. I was like damn, she is conniving.

GINA - Yeah. Mona Ferguson is no joke.

MIRI - So by the time I made up my mind to pursue Sigma seriously, I knew I had to break it off.

GINA - How'd you do it?

MIRI - How else? With a poem. You know me.

GINA - Genius.

MIRI - But then, the straw that broke the camel's back.

GINA - Ooooh, what happened?

MIRI - When I was on line, Big Brother Smooth Blu...I mean Hayden, told me how she tried to set me up!

GINA - What!

MIRI - She had a copy of that play that I wrote. Remember that?

GINA - God! Do I?

MIRI - Well she showed it to the big brothers and told them that the only reason I wanted to pledge was to expose the secrets of the fraternity later

on through the play.

GINA - Damn!

MIRI - So the big brothers almost kicked me off line!

GINA - Are you serious? I bet you wanted to kill her! I bet you still want to.

MIRI - Nope, not at all.

GINA - What? Why not?

MIRI - Well, I live my life a little different. It's not about revenge. I just pray for her and hope she turns out to be a better person. Ya know?

GINA - Well you're a better person than me. I'd just kick her ass!

(MIRI laughs.)

MIRI - Naw, I ain't tryin' to go there. Not at all.

GINA - Okay. I understand.

MIRI - So you cool with that?

GINA - I'm cool with that.

MIRI - Good. I was worried that you would never forgive me for that.

GINA - Naw Miri, I'll forgive you.

(GINA smiles.)

GINA - Now what I can't forgive is your bad timing.

MIRI - Huh?

GINA - I have to go to the computer lab!

MIRI - Now?

GINA - Yep.

MIRI - Why now?

GINA - Because I got work to do. A lot of work.

MIRI - Aw come on. I haven't seen you in weeks.

GINA - You can wait one more day.

(GINA gets up and starts to put her books in her bag.)

MIRI - Dag Gina, I wanted to chill here for a while.

GINA - You shoulda called me first. But I tell ya what, we can hook up later on this evening. But for now, I gotta go.

MIRI - Okay, okay.

(GINA zips up her bag and throws it over her shoulder.)

GINA - You can walk me to the yard though.

MIRI - It would be my pleasure madam.

(They laugh as they leave together and walk to the yard.)

MIRI - So just call me when you leave here. I'm gonna call Brandon and see if he's home. If so, I'll just chill in his room.

GINA - Okay cool. Talk to ya lata.

(GINA goes into the computer science building and MIRI walks across the yard toward BRANDON's dorm.)

MIRI thinks - Wow, that was weird. I'm glad she felt confortable with what I was sayin' though. Dag, Mona is always messin' something...

(MIRI sees MONA walking toward him.)

MIRI thinks - Speak of the devil's daughter.

(MONA walks up.)

MIRI - Hello Mona.

MONA - My gosh, Phi Beta Sigma huh? Congratulations Miri.

MIRI - Thanks.

MONA - Wow, you look good greek. Welcome to this side of the fence.

(MIRI laughs.)

MONA - You look real good.

MIRI - Thanks. Oh gosh, look at the time. I gotta run. But it was good seeing you. Take care.

(MIRI hurries off. MONA watches him walk away then pulls out her cell phone.)

MONA - Melinda Ferguson please. Yes, it's her daughter. Thank you.

MELINDA FERGUSON - Hi baby.

MONA - Hey mom, you will never guess who I just ran into and is lookin' better than ever!

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PJ is waiting in front of KATRICE's dorm at the shuttle stop.

PJ thinks - That was so damn hard to do!

(PJ looks at her watch.)

PJ thinks - Where the heck is...

GREGG - PJ!

(PJ turns around.)

PJ - Gregg!

GREGG - Hey.

PJ - Uh...hey.

(silence)

GREGG - How you been?

(PJ glances at her watch.)

PJ - Fine. How are you Gregg?

GREGG - Been better.

PJ - Oh.

(silence)

GREGG - PJ I need a huge favor. I mean, I really need your help.

PJ - My help? What for?

(A car pulls up and the passenger window rolls down.)

JOSEPH - Hey PJ! You ready to roll?

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SHARONDA was in the Callis Student Union looking out the window. She just noticed MONA walk onto the yard.

SHARONDA thinks - Oh shoot! There's Mona! Somebody I can talk to!

(SHARONDA grabs her cell phone and her bag and walks toward the door.)

SHARONDA thinks - I know Mona will understand. And luckily she doesn't have a big mouth like everybody else on this campus! At least she can keep a secret!

(SHARONDA walks out of the student union and onto the yard.)

SHARONDA thinks - Now what direction was she walking in?

(SHARONDA looks around.)

SHARONDA thinks - Oh, there she goes.

(SHARONDA starts to walk toward MONA.)

SHARONDA thinks - Oh shoot! She has one of the Sigmas with her! Is that Brandon?

(SHARONDA takes a closer look.)

SHARONDA thinks - Oh, that's Miri. Cool.

(SHARONDA walks toward MONA and MIRI.)

SHARONDA thinks - I'll have to wait until Miri leaves to tell Mona the deal, but it's all good.

(MIRI quickly walks away from MONA.)

SHARONDA thinks - Dag, Miri is leaving! Oh well, I won't get to say hello to him but I can get right into it with Mona.

(MONA suddenly notices SHARONDA as she is approaching. MONA is on her cell phone. MONA waves.)

MONA - Hey mom, you will never guess who I just ran into and is lookin' better than ever!

MELINDA FERGUSON - Who?

MONA - Remember my ex boyfriend Miri?

MELINDA FERGUSON - Oh yes, I remember.

MONA - He just pledged and I ran into him. He is looking real cute.

MELINDA FERGUSON - Well get him back. You know how us Fergusons do.

(MONA laughs as SHARONDA walks up. SHARONDA and MONA hug.)

SHARONDA - Hey girl.

MONA - What's up Ronda. Here, it's my mother.

SHARONDA - Oh cool.

(MONA hands SHARONDA the cell phone.)

SHARONDA - Hi Aunt Mel, it's Sharonda!