Episode 19

PJ is in Pearl Library sitting by herself. She is flipping through a magazine, waiting for someone to meet her.

PJ thinks - I can't wait til this is all over and done with!

(She turns a few pages in her magazine. She's just looking at pictures.)

PJ thinks - I hope she sees me sitting over here on the side.

(She looks around but doesn't see anyone approaching.)

PJ thinks - She should be able to find me. She's smart for her age.

(PJ laughs to herself as she turns a few more pages.)

PJ thinks - Dag, what time is it?

(PJ looks up and sees a familiar face walking by.)

PJ - Hey J!

(JAHANNA looks PJ's way, smiles and walks toward her.)

JAHANNA - Hey Peej!
PJ - What's up girl. How you?
JAHANNA - Stressed! Got crazy exams.
PJ - Don't we all.
JAHANNA - How've you been?
PJ - I'm alright girl. You know how it is.
JAHANNA - Yeah.
PJ - Hey listen, you just made me think of something. I'm curious to know if you had heard anything about an interest meeting that my chapter was supposed
to have recently.
JAHANNA - Yeah I did hear about it but it wasn't you guys it was Mona.
PJ - Yeah! That's it! You didn't go did you?
JAHANNA - Yeah I went. When I saw where the meeting was supposed to be held, I was suspicious. So I wanted to go and actually see if Mona was behind it
and if it was shady.
PJ - Oh my goodness! You have to help me then.
JAHANNA - Help you what?
PJ - I'm trying to prove that Mona had this meeting and once and for all get her taken care of. If you were there, then you can speak as an eyewitness.
JAHANNA - Oh I don't know PJ.
PJ - Why not?

(silence)

PJ - Well why not?
JAHANNA - PJ, the last time I helped you against Mona, it cost me making line.
PJ - Yeah, I remember. But this time will be different, much different. You have to trust me J.

(JAHANNA is looking scared and worried.)

PJ - Jahanna you messed up when you dealt with that situation your own way. Nobody told you to beat the girl down. Now granted, I was your biggest cheerleader when you did…

(JAHANNA smiles.)

PJ - …but that's what messed you up. This time will be different, I promise.
JAHANNA - How are you so sure?
SOROR BERGEN - Hello Presjina, I hope I'm not too late.

(Both PJ and JAHANNA look up at SOROR BERGEN who has just walked up. PJ turns back to JAHANNA.)

PJ - Because this time, it's official.

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In the Phi Beta Sigma frat house at Amgis College, the brothers are having a get together for their neophytes.

BRANDON - Wait…wha…what did you just say?

(SHARONDA smiles as she turns around and sees DENICE approaching.)

SHARONDA - - Find out for yourself…frat.

(SHARONDA walks away.)

DENICE - Here babe.

(DENICE tries to hand BRANDON a cup.)

DENICE - Brandon.

(BRANDON doesn't take the cup and is looking in another direction.)

DENICE - Hey, here's your…hey…

(BRANDON doesn't respond.)

DENICE - Brandon what's wrong?

(BRANDON faces DENICE.)

BRANDON - Denice, Sharonda just told me…

(He pauses.)

BRANDON - …she just told me…
DENICE - What?
BRANDON - …Sharonda just told me that you're not really my girlfriend. That you only told me that while I had amnesia to get me to believe that.
DENICE thinks - Oh shit!

(silence)

BRANDON - Tell me that's not true Denice.

(DENICE is staring back at BRANDON silently.)

BRANDON - Denice.
DENICE - Baby I…
BRANDON - You lied to me?
DENICE - Brandon, I love you! I always have and I always will!
BRANDON - Love? Denice you lied to me! You…

(AHMAD takes his eyes off MIRI who is speaking to everyone and turns toward BRANDON and DENICE.)

AHMAD - Hey, you okay Bran?
BRANDON - Uh…yeah. I'm cool frat.
AHMAD - Okay.
BRANDON - Denice come here.

(BRANDON turns and DENICE follows him toward another room.)

DENICE thinks - Oh God! Oh God! Oh God!

(BRANDON enters the room and stands aside for DENICE to enter also. He then closes the door behind her.)

BRANDON - Explain.
DENICE - Brandon, I've loved you since the first day I laid eyes…
BRANDON - Stop. Stop.
DENICE - But I…
BRANDON - No, I want to hear why you lied to me. Why did you tell me that you…

(BRANDON turns away.)

BRANDON - Tell me why you told me that I am in love with you.

(DENICE pauses.)

DENICE - Because…because you do.
BRANDON - Because I do?

(BRANDON raises his voice.)

BRANDON - How do you know how I feel? Damn, how do I even know how I feel! You made it all up!
DENICE - Brandon wait, first I did it to help you! When you were in the hospital, the doctors were saying that if we told you certain things, it
would help you regain your memory.
BRANDON - So you tell me a lie?
DENICE - Well…the idea was to help you remember what you had learned on line, so the Crescents wouldn't cross without you.

(silence)

(BRANDON turns his back toward DENICE and rubs his head.)

DENICE - When I told you that we were a couple, you started to remember your pledge process.
BRANDON - So when were you gonna tell me the truth?
DENICE - I've been battling that ever since. I hate that I lied to you Brandon, because deep in my heart, I love you.
BRANDON - So this became real convenient for you then huh?

(DENICE approaches BRANDON and places her hand on his shoulder.)

DENICE - I just want you to be happy. I make you happy. You make me happy.

(silence)

DENICE - Brandon.

(BRANDON doesn't respond and still has his back turned toward DENICE.)

DENICE - Baby…

(She tries to place her arms around him but he pulls away.)

BRANDON - Don't call me that. Just…don't.
DENICE - Brandon baby…

(DENICE starts to cry as BRANDON turns to walk out of the room.)

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PJ's guest who she has been waiting on has just arrived.

(PJ stands up and hugs SOROR BERGEN.)

PJ - Soror Bergen! How are you soror?
SOROR BERGEN - Oh I'm just fine for an old lady. Ha ha ha.
PJ - Oh you are far from old Soror Bergen. I hope I look as good as you when I'm that age.

(They laugh.)

PJ - Soror Bergen, I want you to meet my good friend Jahanna. Jahanna this is Mrs. Bergen.
JAHANNA - Hi nice to meet you Mrs. Bergen.
SOROR BERGEN - The pleasure is mine young lady.

(As JAHANNA takes SOROR BERGEN's hand, PJ mouths the words, trust me, to her. JAHANNA looks worried.)

PJ - Please Soror Bergen, sit down.
SOROR BERGEN - Thank you.
PJ - Soror Bergen, I hope it's okay but I've asked my friend Jahanna here to sit with us because she can be helpful in this situation.
SOROR BERGEN - Really?
PJ - Yes, she was actually in attendance at the meeting that I told you about over the phone.
SOROR BERGEN - Oh you were?
JAHANNA - Uh yes maam.
SOROR BERGEN - Then that will be helpful. Okay then.
PJ - Good.

(PJ smiles at JAHANNA. SOROR BERGEN pulls out a pad and a pen.)

SOROR BERGEN - Now, you say PJ that there was a meeting held and advertised as an official Alpha Kappa Alpha interest meeting?
PJ - Yes maam.
SOROR BERGEN - But it was not sanctioned by the chapter.
PJ - No it wasn't.

(SOROR BERGEN writes something down.)

SOROR BERGEN - And you say that Mona was in charge of this meeting.
PJ - Yes.

(SOROR BERGEN writes again. She then turns toward JAHANNA.)

SOROR BERGEN - And you were there? As an interest?
JAHANNA - Uh…yes…maam.
SOROR BERGEN - Spell your name sweetheart.

(JAHANNA hesitates, but PJ motions that it is okay.)

JAHANNA - J…a…h…a…n…n…a.

(SOROR BERGEN writes it down then turns back to PJ.)

SOROR BERGEN - So where was this meeting held on campus?
PJ - In Mona's room.
SOROR BERGEN - In her room?
PJ - Yep.

(SOROR BERGEN places her pen and pad down for a moment.)

SOROR BERGEN - PJ, I'm pretty aware that you and the chapter sorors don't really care for Mona Ferguson too much. And that's okay. Everyone in the sorority won't always get along. But before we go any further with this, let me just say that I hope that this is not an attempt on your part to damage Mona's character.

(SOROR BERGEN turns toward JAHANNA.)

SOROR BERGEN - And I hope that you haven't brought any innocent friends into this either. You mentioned on the phone to me something about having proof. Is Jahanna your proof because that can be classified as hearsay.

(PJ pulls out her tape recorder.)

PJ - No maam, this is my proof.

(She presses play.)

TAPE - PJ - I understand you had a meeting over here. I'm sorry I couldn't attend, I don't remember being notified about it however.
MONA - Should've been on the yard. Fliers were up.
PJ - Fliers were up huh? So you placed fliers on the campus announcing an interest meeting for Alpha Kappa Alpha and didn't notify any of the sorors in the chapter?
MONA - That's not true. Sorors from the chapter did know.
PJ - Who? What sorors?
MONA - Or soror, I should say. Me.

(SOROR BERGEN listens attentively as the tape continues.)

TAPE - PJ - You didn't notify Soror Bergen.
MONA - Because I don't like Soror Bergen. I tell you what Peej. Why don't yall follow the AKA rules and yall hang out with snooty Soror Bergen. Just remember that I do my own thing when I want, how I want.

(PJ stops the tape. SOROR BERGEN puts her pad away and turns toward JAHANNA.)

SOROR BERGEN - Thank you Jahanna for helping out with this matter. If you don't mind, I need to have a few words with PJ in private.
JAHANNA - Oh, okay. Well nice meeting you Mrs. Bergen.
SOROR BERGEN - You too dear.

(JAHANNA gets up to walk out.)

PJ - Jahanna…

(JAHANNA turns around.)

PJ - …thanks.

(JAHANNA smiles and walks away.)

SOROR BERGEN - I want to apologize Presjina for not trusting you. I hope you understand that I must always be cautious of what is told to me.
PJ - Of course.
SOROR BERGEN - Can I have that tape please?
PJ - Sure.

(PJ gives her the tape.)

PJ - What's going to happen now?

(SOROR BERGEN is packing her pad into her bag and grabbing her coat.)

SOROR BERGEN - Well, first I need to get Melinda Ferguson on the phone and chew her out for letting this take place. She should know better.
PJ - Uh huh.

(SOROR BERGEN stands up, PJ stands as well.)

PJ - And about Mona?
SOROR BERGEN - Oh don't worry. Mona Ferguson will be dealt with severely. She'll wish she never crossed…snooty Soror Bergen!

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RONNIE and DERRICK are playing Play Station at the Omega house when DEXTER walks in.

DEXTER - What's up dog.
RONNIE - Bruh! What's up! You're just in time to see me whip Derrick's ass in Madden!
DERRICK - Whatever! Stop stallin' dog boy! Call the play!
RONNIE - You can't rush perfection.
DERRICK - Whatever nigga! Hurry up.

(DEXTER laughs as he walks past them and puts his bag down. He then comes back.)

DEXTER - Who's winnin'?
RONNIE - He's up by two. If I make this field goal, I win.
DERRICK - But you're gonna miss!
RONNIE - No I ain't! I just need one more play to get a little closer…and this…is…the…play!
DERRICK - Ooooooh! Damn! Good pass!
RONNIE - And now the field goal team takes the field!
DEXTER thinks - These dudes are so corny! Ha ha ha!
RONNIE - And here we go! Two seconds to go on the clock! If I make this kick, I win the game!
DERRICK - Stop talking trash and kick the ball!
RONNIE - The home crowd is hushed as the kicker gets in place! And here's the kick! It's up…and it's…it's…
DERRICK - No good! Ha! We win! We win!
RONNIE - Damn!
DERRICK - Ha! Talk trash now!
RONNIE - I didn't feel like playing anyway!

(All three laugh.)

DERRICK - Anyway, take your defeat like a man.
RONNIE - Whatever. Like you aren't a sore loser. Every time you lose play station you pout and have an attitude for the rest of the day.
DERRICK - That's because I'm a born winner. I hate to lose. Coach Edwards used to get on my case about that all the time. Every time we lost, I would get so pissed. I used to yell at some of my teammates if we lost.
RONNIE - I remember one game when you threw the ball because you were pissed.
DERRICK - Oh yeah, that was that game against Morgan State. Man I was pissed like shit because we were winning that game and dumb ass Ricky lost the ball.
RONNIE - Don't get your blood pressure up D.
DERRICK - But wait, remember that one game that we lost to Amgis at the beginning of the season?
RONNIE - Didn't we win that game?
DERRICK - Not the first one. We won the last one. Man I was so mad I didn't speak to anyone for a week.
RONNIE - Damn man.
DERRICK - So yeah, I'll admit I'm a sore loser.
RONNIE - So how'd it feel to lose your girl to Buck?

(Both DERRICK and DEXTER look at RONNIE shocked for asking such a question.)

DEXTER - Shit Ronnie! What kind of question is that?
RONNIE - What? I just keep it real. I mean, we all boys. We can talk.
DERRICK - Naw, it's cool. To be honest with you, I was really hurt over that whole thing because I thought June was getting' with Buck because she knew me and Buck weren't cool with each other. But I had to realize that I didn't lose June to Buck. June left me because I was foul and when she needed me I bounced. So she found someone else and it happened to be him. But if I had done what I had to do in the beginning, he wouldn't have the opportunity to be with her now. Know what I mean?
RONNIE - Yeah, I hear ya.
DEXTER - In other words, you messed up first. And she just moved on.

(DERRICK drinks his soda.)

DERRICK - Yeah, something like that.
DEXTER - Well isn't that hard to swallow now? Like if you see the two of them together?
DERRICK - Hell yeah. Especially because it's my fault that they're together.
DEXTER - So how do you deal with it?
DERRICK - I let Caryn take my mind off of it. She keeps me busy ya know? With lil man walking now and getting into shit, and me playing ball, I just don't
focus on it.
DEXTER - Yeah.
DERRICK - I was fighting it real hard at first. I was really trying to compete with Buck and beat him somehow. But I gave up the ghost man. Ya know?
I just let it go. Let her move on and be happy. I still care about her, so I guess I'll let her be happy.
DEXTER - But what if you try and do that, but no matter what happens, you think you made a mistake?

(silence)

RONNIE - Yo bruh, why you askin' all these questions anyway?

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MIRI is speaking to his frat brothers of Phi Beta Sigma and preparing to tell them of his pilgrimage to Egypt when he recognizes that GINA is no longer there.

MIRI - Before I announce my news, let me have my girl join me. Gina, come stand next to me.

(Everyone starts to look around.)

MIRI - Gina?
HAYDEN - Maybe she's in the bathroom.
SALEEMA - I'll check.

(SALEEMA walks off.)

SETH - Well you got us all in suspense now bruh! You might as well tell us something!
CALVIN - Give us a quick rhyme! Anything!

(Everyone laughs.)

MIRI - Man whatever! Ha ha ha ha!

(SALEEMA comes back.)

SALEEMA - She's not in the bathroom or the kitchen.
MIRI - Where did she go? Hold on everybody.
SETH - What's the big news?

(MIRI pays that question no attention as he digs in his pocket for his cell phone. He is walking out the front door for better reception as he dials.)

GINA - Hi Miri.
MIRI - Hey! Where are you? I was just about to make my big announcement to my frat brothers.
GINA - I'm sorry Miri.
MIRI - Sorry? Gina what's wrong? Are you crying?
GINA - Miri, I love you and I can't stand the thought of you leaving.
MIRI - The thought of me leaving? But I thought…
GINA - Miri I can't go!
MIRI - Why not?
GINA - Miri, you can't just up and expect me to leave the country on a whim!

(silence)

GINA - I had plans Miri. I'm graduating in May and you want me to leave now? I applied to grad school.
MIRI - I know Gina. I know. But you can take classes at the University of Cairo. I checked already. That's what I'm gonna do.
GINA - The University of Cairo? What?
MIRI - Gina I know it sounds crazy…
GINA - No it is crazy Miri! Do you expect me to just…
MIRI - Do you love me?
GINA - What?
MIRI - Do you love me?
GINA - You know I love you! That's why this is killing me! I don't want you to leave me Miri.
MIRI - Baby…come with me.

(silence)

MIRI - Gina just listen to me for a minute. Nobody has ever made me feel the way that you do. I never thought I would fall for someone because I didn't think anyone would be able to understand me. What really makes me tick. You're the only person. Ever.
GINA - Miri…
MIRI - Shhhh. Gina, if I told you that every time the wind blows I know that it's God whispering my name and yours in unison. And that when I look up at the night sky and see the stars, they create a pattern of candles lit on our behalf. If I told you that as hard as I worked for Phi Beta and as much as I love the Sigma bond that now rests in my heart and in the handshake of my brothers, that I would give that up in an instant if faced with losing your hand in mine forever.

(silence)

MIRI - If I told you all that, you wouldn't believe a word of it. Because you know good and well that I'm a poet and that's what I do. I make words sound good. Am I right?

(GINA laughs through her tears.)

GINA - Yeah, you're right.
MIRI - I know. Because I know you. And I know that you know me.

(MIRI smiles.)

MIRI - So instead of me saying something that someone else may consider either poetic or corny, let me say this. Gina, I love you. I won't ever hurt you. Please, please…

(MIRI pauses.)

MIRI - …come with me.

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DEXTER - But what if you try and do that, but no matter what happens, you think you made a mistake?

(silence)

RONNIE - Yo bruh, why you askin' all these questions anyway?
DERRICK - Yeah man, I was about to ask you the same shit. What's up with you?
DEXTER - I'm sayin', I'm just curious.
RONNIE - Naw man, what's the deal?

(silence)

DEXTER - Aight check this out, this stays in this room. Just between the three of us.
RONNIE - Aight cool.
DERRICK - Yeah, most def. What's the deal?

(DEXTER pauses.)

DEXTER - It's Willie.
RONNIE - I knew it! I knew it! Did she let you hit it again? Ha ha ha!
DEXTER - Hell no! Quit bein' stupid!
DERRICK - You like Willie?
RONNIE - Like? This nigga and Willie used to be two peas in a damn pod back in the day.
DERRICK - Oh word? So what happened?
DEXTER - After I pledged, we just grew apart. That's all.
RONNIE - I saw that comin' though. She never wanted you to hang with bruhs. I mean damn, what do you expect? We had just crossed.
DEXTER - Well anyway, the point is that I let her go. Thinking that it was the right thing to do because we had grown apart. But now…
RONNIE - Oh don't tell me you want to get back with her!
DEXTER - What if I did?
RONNIE - Man, don't take backward steps. Never that bruh.
DERRICK - Shut the hell up Ronnie.
RONNIE - Naw hold up. I know you Dex and the only reason you're sayin' this shit is because Willie moved on and got a man now. You weren't sayin this two
months ago.
DERRICK - Oh she got a man now?
RONNIE - Yeah, one of the Alphas. I don't know his name.
DEXTER - Jason.
RONNIE - Yeah, whatever.
DERRICK - So how do you know that you genuinely want her back or if it's jealousy because she got somebody else?
DEXTER - That's what I don't know dude.
RONNIE - It's jealousy. When yall were together, yall had issues. You'd have the same issues if you got back together.
DEXTER - How do you know?
RONNIE - Because you haven't changed. If anything, you're worst. She had issues with you hanging with the bruhs and spendin' all your time over here at the frat house. You still do that now. If she was still your girl, you think she would've been cool with you spending so much time pledging Ty? Or getting ready for the step show? Or going to Amgis when their line starts pledging? Nigga please.

(The room is silent as RONNIE sets up the Madden game to play again.)

RONNIE - My advice is simple dog. She's moved on, you need to move on too.

(silence)

DERRICK - You now Dexter, for once Ronnie may have a point. You might need to move on man.
RONNIE - Dog trust me. Don't go backward like that.
DEXTER thinks - Damn.
DEXTER - Yeah, you guys are right. I hear ya.
RONNIE - Good.

(DEXTER gets up.)

DEXTER - Let me get to some reading before I start watching yall play again.
RONNIE - You don't wanna see another ass whuppin I'm gonna put on Derrick?
DERRICK - Please! Don't forget who won the last time!

(They laugh as DEXTER leaves the room, grabs his bag, and goes upstairs. He goes into a room and closes the door behind him. He grabs the phone and dials.)

DEXTER - Hey Willie. It's Dex.