Episode 20

BRANDON has walked out of the room upset with DENICE for lying to him. He rejoins his frat brothers of Phi Beta Sigma in the main room downstairs.

AHMAD - Man, this suspense is killing me! Where did Miri go?

HAYDEN - I don't know. He gets up to make this big announcement then walks out! Ha ha ha ha ha! Neos kill me.

AHMAD - Hey Calvin, go outside and see if you can get Miri to come back in and fill us in on the big news.

CALVIN - Why don't I ask one of these interested dudes here?

(Everyone laughs except the interested gentlemen.)

HAYDEN - Now now bros, none of that! Way too early! I'll go.

(HAYDEN walks toward the front door and out.)

SETH - There you are! Where you been man?

BRANDON - I was upstairs talking to Denice.

SETH - Oh okay. Everything alright man?

BRANDON - I don't feel too well.

SETH - What's the matter?

(silence)

BRANDON - It may be something I ate. I don't know.

SETH - You want something to drink? Some water or something? Or to lay down?

BRANDON - Naw, thanks. I'll be alright.

SETH - Okay.

(DENICE comes downstairs and rejoins the overall group. She is keeping her eyes away from BRANDON.)

DENICE - Where's Sharonda?

SALEEMA - I think I saw her leave. I'm not sure.

(HAYDEN comes back in with MIRI.)

MIRI - My bad brothers. I had to call Gina real quick. She had to step away.

AHMAD - So what's this big news you were gonna tell us man? You got us on pins and needles.

MIRI - Alright alright. Here's the deal.

(silence)

AHMAD - Hurry up!

(Everyone laughs.)

MIRI - I don't know how to tell yall this.

SALEEMA - Are you and Gina engaged?

CALVIN - Oh shit! Yall are getting married?

(Everyone starts to clap for MIRI.)

MIRI - No no no! Hold up! It ain't that!

SALEEMA - Oh, sorry! Ha ha ha ha ha!

MIRI - Let me just spit it out. Bros and sorors... I've decided to go to...

(BRANDON walks out the front door and closes the door behind him.

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In opening her mail, MONA recognizes that she has received a letter from SOROR BERGEN.

MONA - Oh shoot!
CARYN - What? What is it?

MONA - It's an envelope. A letter from one of my sorors.

CARYN - Oh. Well what's so strange about that?

MONA - Because it's from...

(MONA starts to open the envelope.)

MONA - Soror Bergen!

CARYN - Who's Soror Bergen?

MONA - Um...let me open this in private Caryn. Do you mind me catchin' up to you later?

CARYN - Oh no, that's cool. Must be official AKA business huh? Ha ha ha ha! I need to pick up the baby from the baby sitter anyway. I'll call you tomorrow.

MONA - Yeah do that.

(MONA doesn't even look in CARYN's direction as she is concentrating on the envelope in her hands.)

CARYN - Bye girl.

MONA -Uh yeah. Later.

(CARYN leaves.)

CARYN thinks - I wonder what that was about. Whatever. Mona always tells me anyway. I'll find out later.

(CARYN walks outside and gets into the Mercedes truck. She grabs her cell phone and dials.)

DERRICK - Wassup.

CARYN - Hey. What you doin'?

DERRICK - I was over at Ronnie's place earlier. I'm back at the room now packing my bag up.

CARYN - Packing? Why?

DERRICK - I gotta go to the airport.

CARYN - The airport? Where you going now?

(CARYN starts to whine.)

DERRICK - Don't start!

CARYN - Where you goin'?

DERRICK - I gotta fly to Portland first. But then we got a game in New Jersey.

CARYN - Well what time is your flight?

DERRICK - I'm already late. I gotta run.

CARYN - Well call me when you get there okay?

DERRICK - I always do. What are you up to?

CARYN - Going to get the baby and going home.

DERRICK - Okay. I'll call you from the airport in Portland.

CARYN - Okay.

(They hang up and CARYN arrives at her baby sitter's place. She checks her watch as she rings the bell.)

CARYN thinks - I hope Lil Derrick is good and tired. He should go right to sleep when we get home.

(CARYN rings the bell again.)

CARYN thinks - What's taking so long?

(CARYN turns the knob on the door and it is open. She walks in.)

CARYN - Hello! Diana! It's me Caryn!

DIANA - Caryn! Caryn! Come quick!

CARYN - What's the matter!

(CARYN runs in the bedroom where she heard DIANA's voice.)

DIANA - The baby isn't breathing! Oh my God!

CARYN - What!

(CARYN grabs the baby off the bed and checks him. She quickly grabs him and runs toward the door.)

CARYN - Oh my God! Why didn't you call me!

DIANA - I just came in the room from the bathroom and he was awake when I left him! I'm so sorry!

(CARYN runs as fast as she can to her truck. Her and DIANA jump in and speed off toward Ahpla University hospital. CARYN dials her cell phone.)

BOBBY - Paula?
CARYN - Bobby this is Caryn!

BOBBY - Oh...uh...

CARYN - Meet me at the hospital! It's Lil Derrick! He's not breathing!

BOBBY - What! My son! I'll be right there!

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SEAN has been Medgar Evers for two weeks now. He doesn't answer to SEAN or to the name Centaur any longer. He only answers to Medgar and he speaks as if he is Medgar Evers.

SAIFA - Why don't you move up north? With all the violence going on, you may mess around and get your family killed.

MEDGAR - It may sound funny but I love the South. I don't choose to live anywhere else. There's land here, where a man can raise a cattle, and I'm going to do it some day. There are lakes where a man can sink a hook and fight the bass. There is room here for my children to play and grow, and become good citizens.

(SAIFA smiles.)

RAY - Hey Medgar.

MEDGAR - Yes sir.

RAY - Come over here and sit down. Let me talk to you for a little while.

MEDGAR - Fine. Let's rest a spell.

(MEDGAR and RAY sit down together.)

RAY - Medgar, I need to explain something to you.

MEDGAR - Okay.

RAY - Medgar we have a meeting to go to.

MEDGAR - Really? With the NAACP?
RAY - Uh...no...Sean, with a different chapter.

MEDGAR - Who?
RAY - The brothers from...

MEDGAR - No, I mean who is this Sean person you asked me about?

RAY thinks - Damn, I knew this was going to happen!
RAY - Okay Sean. You can cut the act now.

MEDGAR - Excus...

RAY - Sean, cut it. I have some important things to tal...

MEDGAR - I'm sorry. I don't follow you at all. Who is Sean?

RAY thinks - Damn.

SAIFA - Let me try.

RAY - Be my guest bruh. Good luck!

(RAY gets up and walks away laughing.)

SAIFA - Medgar, do you have plans for this evening?

MEDGAR - No not really. I may go jogging after dinner. I like to run sometimes.

SAIFA - That's great. The plan that I have is to go to a meeting with some like minded brothers.

MEDGAR - Really? That sounds interesting. Like minded brothers?

SAIFA - Yes. They are meeting with me tonight to discuss some ways to keep the brotherhood moving forward in the way that it should.

MEDGAR - Great! Maybe I will postpone my jog tonight and meet with these brothers! Where are they from? Do they represent another chapter of NAACP?

SAIFA - They actually do come from a different chapter.

MEDGAR - Really? What chapter do they come from?

(SAIFA pauses before he answers. He answers in all sincerity and with authority in his voice.)

SAIFA - The grad chapter!

MEDGAR - The gra...grad chapter?

SAIFA - Yes. The grad chapter. The brothers of the local graduate chapter of Iota Phi Theta are meeting with us tonight.

MEDGAR - They are? Why?
SAIFA - They have heard a lot about you and really want to get to know you. They want to know if you are worthy of moving forward with the cause and if you can extend the reach of the organization to others as we look to expand.

MEDGAR - But why me? How could they have heard of Medgar Evers? I'm just a little small town guy trying to register our people to vote and get some other rights.

SAIFA - Well they really haven't heard a lot about you Medgar.

(silence)

SAIFA - They've heard a lot about Sean and are coming to see him.

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BRANDON opens his door and goes into his room.

BRENDON - What's up?

BRANDON - Nothin'

BRENDON - What's wrong with you?

BRANDON - Nothin'

BRENDON - Nigga, what's wrong with you?

(silence)

BRANDON - Man, I just found out that Denice lied to me.

BRENDON - Denice? Lied about what?

BRANDON - Everything man. Everything.

BRENDON - What are you talking about?

BRANDON - She told me all this shit about us loving each other and us going together. I had amnesia so I didn't remember. But I bought it like an idiot.

BRENDON - How did you find that out? She told you?

BRANDON - That's the thing! She didn't even tell me Bren! My soror Sharonda told me!

(silence)

BRANDON - Man, I'm so mad and hurt. I'm pissed!

BRENDON - Oh whatever!

(BRENDON turns back toward the television.)

BRANDON - What?

BRENDON - Oh calm down man. It ain't that big a deal.

BRANDON - It ain't that big of a deal? To hell it ain't!

BRENDON - Brandon, when you were in the hospital, you didn't even remember me. Come on man, I'm sure she told you that to help you regain your memory. She did it to help you.

BRANDON - How? She did it for herself! She got me to be her boyfriend based on a lie.

BRENDON - Are you happy with her?

BRANDON - Hell no!

BRENDON - Not right now, I mean in general stupid!

(BRANDON pauses.)

BRENDON - Of course you're happy with her. Don't be stupid. You and Denice have had chemistry since high school. Of couse your twisted up brain don't remember shit about it...

BRANDON - Shut up!

(BRENDON laughs.)

BRENDON - ...but yall need to stay together Brandon. For real.

(There is a knock on the door.)

BRANDON - Yo man, get that.

BRENDON - It may be Denice.

BRANDON - If it is, I'm not ready to talk just yet. I wanna chill for a minute.

BRENDON - Aight.

(BRENDON gets up and opens the door.)

BRENDON - Oh hey.

DONNA - Wassup. You busy?

(DONNA walks inside. BRENDON grabs her from behind around her waist.)

BRENDON - Hey baby listen, me and Brandon are talking right now. It's kind of a bad time.

DONNA - Aw baby. I miss you though.

BRENDON - I miss you too D. But I need to holla at my brotha. He's going through some issues. You understand don't ya?

DONNA - Yeah I understand.

(DONNA pouts.)

BRENDON - But I tell ya what. I'll make it up to you tomorrow okay?

DONNA - You promise?

BRENDON - Yeah, I promise.

(DONNA smiles.)

DONNA - I like how you make things up to me! So okay!

(BRENDON lets her go and opens the door for her.)

BRENDON - So I'll see you tomorrow then okay?

DONNA - Okay Brendon. See ya.

(DONNA walks into the hallway and blows a kiss back at BRENDON as he closes the door. She turns to walk away and is startled by someone standing there.)

KATRICE - What are you doing coming out of Brendon's room?

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SAIFA - Yes. The brothers of the local graduate chapter of Iota Phi Theta are meeting with us tonight.

MEDGAR - They are? Why?
SAIFA - They have heard a lot about you and really want to get to know you. They want to know if you are worthy of moving forward with the cause and if you can extend the reach of the organization to others as we look to expand.

MEDGAR - But why me? How could they have heard of Medgar Evers? I'm just a little small town guy trying to register our people to vote and get some other rights.

SAIFA - Well they really haven't heard a lot about you Medgar.

(silence)

SAIFA - They've heard a lot about Sean.

(silence)

SAIFA - Come back Sean. We need to speak to you about something serious.

(All of the brothers of Iota gather around SEAN.)

SAIFA - Are you back with us Centaur Sean?

CENTAUR SEAN - Yes Big Brother the Man with the Hoof!

SAIFA - Okay look. We don't have a lot of time. The grad chapter is meeting us tonight to meet with you and to make sure you are ready for membership into Iota Phi Theta.

CENTAUR SEAN thinks - Oh shit!

SAIFA - No matter what happens, stay calm and collected Sean. Do you understand me?
CENTAUR SEAN - Yes Big Brother the Man with the Hoof!

SAM - But it's also important to remember that you have not been pledging all these weeks. So lose the big brother names for now. Call me big brother Sam.

CENTAUR SEAN - Oh ok big brother Sam.

SAM - Yeah, that's it. Calm and relaxed. We don't need to raise any suspicions on their part. Let's make this easy on everyone. If they find out that you have been doing this for so long...

SAIFA - Well let's not get into that. For now, just remember all that you have to remember Sean and do the best you can as they interview and test you.

CENTAUR SEAN thinks - Interview and test?

SAIFA - I see the worry already in your eyes. Don't worry. You'll do fine. And no matter what happens, don't look surprised.

RAY - We're all real proud of you Sean. Honestly. You've done a great job so far and come a long way.

(SEAN has to hide back his smile. There is a knock on the door.)

SAIFA - Okay, that should be them.

(SAIFA checks his watch.)

SAIFA - Yeah, that should be them. Now look Sean. Don't look or act surprised. You are supposed to be interested in Iota but not a pledgee. So relax. Got it?

CENTAUR SEAN - Yep, I got it.

SAIFA - Alright here we go! Good luck. Get the door Ray.

(RAY opens the door and immediately starts to greet brothers of Iota as them come inside. SEAN tries his best to recognize any face that he can. These brothers are much older members of Iota Phi Theta.)

CENTAUR SEAN thinks - Wow, what nice jackets!

(All of the graduate brothers are wearing brown blazers with the Iota Phi Theta crest on the pocket.)

CENTAUR SEAN thinks - I can't wait until I am...

(Suddenly SEAN gets a shocked look on his face.)

CENTAUR SEAN thinks - Oh shit!

BROTHER HILL - Brother Saifa, are we ready to begin?

SAIFA - Yes brother.

BROTHER HILL - Let's place the two initiates together. They need to get to know one another. No better time with the present huh brothers? Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

(All of the older brothers laugh.)

BROTHER HILL - Have them sit together and face us.

(One of the older brothers leads the grad chapter's one pledgee to a chair next to SEAN's. SEAN is looking shocked as he stares into the pledgee's eyes. He tries his best not to smile but he is looking very surprised.)

BROTHER HILL - Sean?

(SEAN doesn't respond.)

BROTHER HILL - His name is Sean isn't it?

(BROTHER HILL leans toward RAY as he asks.)

RAY - Uh...yes sir Brother Hill. His name is Sean.

BROTHER HILL - Well is he hard of hearing? Sean!

(SEAN turns toward the brothers.)

BROTHER HILL - Sean, you are looking rather strange right now. Are you okay?

SEAN - Uh...um...yes...sir.

BROTHER HILL - Do you know our pledgee or something?

(silence)

SEAN - That's the thing sir. I do know him.

RAY thinks - Oh shit!

SAIFA thinks - Shit!

SEAN - I took Dr. Mwatsumi's class last semester. That is where I know him from.

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In opening her mail, MONA recognizes that she has received a letter from SOROR BERGEN.

MONA - Oh shoot!
CARYN - What? What is it?

MONA - It's an envelope. A letter from one of my sorors.

CARYN - Oh. Well what's so strange about that?

MONA - Because it's from...

(MONA starts to open the envelope.)

MONA - ...Soror Bergen!

CARYN - Who's Soror Bergen?

MONA - Um...let me open this in private Caryn. Do you mind me catchin' up to you later?

CARYN - Oh no, that's cool. Must be official AKA business huh? Ha ha ha ha! I need to pick up the baby from the baby sitter anyway. I'll call you tomorrow.

MONA - Yeah do that.

(MONA doesn't even look in CARYNÕs direction as she is concentrating on the envelope in her hands.)

CARYN - Bye girl.

MONA - Uh yeah. Later.

(CARYN leaves.)

MONA thinks - Dag, I wonder what this is about! She's always startin' some drama!

(MONA slowly walks over and sits on her bed. She stares at the envelope in her hand then laughs to herself.)

MONA thinks - What am I nervous about? It's probably nothing.

(MONA starts to open the envelope.)

MONA thinks - It's probably some official AKA business. Ha ha ha ha!

(MONA takes the letter out and begins to read.)

MONA reads - Dear Soror Mona Ferguson,

It has come to my attention through various eyewitnesses that you have conducted official business in the name of our organization that has not been sanctioned. These are serious accusations and will be handled in a serious manner. Under normal circumstances I keep all of my transactions as professional as possible and treat all accusations between two parties open for discussion. Therefore, it would be common practice for me to listen attentively to both sides of any story and rule accordingly. In this case however, there is no need to hear your side of the story because I have heard all from you that I am going to hear.

MONA - What!
MONA reads - I was given an audio tape of your exact words in which you not only admitted to not following protocal in any fashion, but also stated disrespectful words toward the sorority and to my position. It is and has been my opinion that not only do you not respect our organization, what it stands for, and your initiation process, but you do not respect your mother or yourself as sorors. I didn't voice my opinion in the past because of my respect for your mother and my friend Melinda. But I have come to the realization that Melinda doesn't discipline you in any shape, form, or fashion so I must in this manner. From this point on you are not to conduct any activities in the name of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated. You are not to attend any activities sponsored by the chapter on your campus. You are not to participate in any activities sponsored by the chapter. You are not to wear paraphernalia on or off campus. You are not to conduct intake, participate in intake at your chapter or any chapter. You are officially suspended from membership until further...

(MONA drops the letter and grabs her phone.)

SOROR FERGUSON - Hello?

MONA - Mommyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!