Episode 21

MONA reads her suspension letter and calls her mother, SOROR FERGUSON.


(MONA dials.)

SOROR FERGUSON – Hello.
MONA – Mommyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!
SOROR FERGUSON – Mona?
MONA – Mommy I got suspended!
SOROR FERGUSON – What? What are you talking about?

(MONA is sniffing her nose and crying.)

MONA – Mommy, I got a…a…a…letter from…
SOROR FERGUSON – Mona honey slow down. What is bothering you?

(MONA takes a few deep breaths to calm herself down.)

MONA – Mommy, I got a letter from Soror Bergen!
SOROR FERGUSON – You did?
MONA – Yeah! She is suspending me!
SOROR FERGUSON – Suspending you? Well that’s silly. For what?
MONA – I don’t know! I didn’t do anything!
SOROR FERGUSON – Well what does the letter say?
MONA – Hold on, let me grab it.

(MONA picks the letter up off the floor.)

MONA – Hello?
SOROR FERGUSON – Yeah, I’m here honey. What does the letter say?
MONA - 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 circumstance 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. 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 thatMelinda 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 notice. Soror Antoinette Bergen.
SOROR FERGUSON – Mona, what function did you have in the name of Alpha Kappa Alpha that you didn’t get permission to do?
MONA – I don’t know. Maybe she’s talking about my interest meeting.
SOROR FERGUSON – Mona, did the other sorors in the chapter know about your meeting?

(silence)

SOROR FERGUSON – Mona…
MONA – I didn’t tell them.
SOROR FERGUSON – Mona, no wonder everyone is mad at you. Mona honey, you can’t go around doing everything on your own. Now I know you realize that you are gifted and may not have to work as hard as everyone else because you are so talented…
MONA – Uh huh.
SOROR FERGUSON - …but you still need to include sorors. You don’t want them to feel left out. Bad enough they already feel intimidated by you.
MONA – I guess you’re right.
SOROR FERGUSON – Of course I am sweetie. You have always been at the top of your class because you are so brilliant. But that doesn’t mean you need to leave out other little people. If anything, you have to learn to include them more than ever. That will help them with their own self worth. Do you understand honey?
MONA – Yes Mommy.
SOROR FERGUSON – Good. Now let’s fix this situation with Soror Bergen.

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DEXTER has called WILLIE and expressed his true feelings for her.

DEXTER – I’m sorry that I didn’t listen when…
WILLIE – Dex don’t do this please.

(silence)

DEXTER – It’s just that…
WILLIE – Stop! It’s just that I have a boyfriend now! That’s exactly what it is! It’s just that I…
DEXTER – It’s just that I still love you!

(silence)

WILLIE – What?

(silence)

DEXTER – Willie, let me just say this. I’ve wanted to…
WILLIE – No Dexter. No. I’m not gonna let you do this to me.
DEXTER – Do what?
WILLIE – I am not going to let you come to me now and tell me some stuff that you should’ve told me a long time ago. Hell no!
DEXTER – I’m just trying to tell you how I feel. What’s wrong with that.
WILLIE – It’s wrong because you should’ve told me all this stuff back in the day. You know I got somebody now. What the heck?

(silence)

DEXTER – So I’m telling you now. I didn’t know how to say these things back then.
WILLIE – You knew how to say it. You chose not to.
DEXTER – Maybe. Maybe you’re right. But the point is I’m trying to say it now.
WILLIE – I’m not tryin’ to hear it. Hell no.
DEXTER – Willie please! This is hard on me. It was hard enough to admit to myself that my feelings for you had never gone anywhere. Please just let me get this out.
WILLIE thinks – Dammit!

(silence)

DEXTER – You still there?
WILLIE – Yeah Dex. I’m here.
DEXTER – Will you hear me out?

(silence)

DEXTER – That’s all I ask. Just hear me out. You don’t have to say anything, do anything…nothing. Just hear me out.
WILLIE – So you can get it off your chest and be able to then sleep good at night?
DEXTER – No, because I want to tell you how I feel. I have my hopes, but whatever you decide to do with this information is up to you.

(silence)

DEXTER – Willie I was stupid to not pay attention to you when I had the chance. And now I am dying. I’m like a dead guy walking around this campus. I just haven’t fallen down yet. Omega was the most important thing for me, even before I pledged. So you know after I crossed that’s was all that I saw. I never saw my neglect for you at all. Even when you decided to leave me. It wasn’t until…

(silence)

WILLIE – It wasn’t until you saw me with Jason! That was your rude awakening huh? That’s when you all of a sudden wanted me back because of your ego Dex!
DEXTER – Stop finishing sentences for me dammit! That’s the same shit you used to do back in the day! That’s not what I was gonna say!

(WILLIE becomes quiet…quickly.)

DEXTER – This is what I was gonna say…

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MONA is on the phone with her mother, SOROR FERGUSON and they are going to try and rectify the suspension that SOROR BERGEN placed on MONA.



SOROR FERGUSON – Let’s fix this situation with Soror Bergen.
MONA – How? She hates me!
SOROR FERGUSON – No she doesn’t Mona. She has no reason to hate you. She has never had a conversation with you. But we’re gonna change that right now.
MONA – We are?
SOROR FERGUSON – Yes we are. Listen carefully. Antoinette is a dear friend as well as a soror. I know she is probably listening to the younger sorors in the chapter complain about this interest meeting thing. That’s okay. What we will do is call her on a conference call. You and I.
MONA – Oh no! I don’t wanna talk to Soror Bergen!
SOROR FERGUSON – But you will have to. Listen honey.

(MONA listens.)

SOROR FERGUSON – You’re going to have to speak from your heart and tell her how you feel about our organization. And pour it on. Let her know that in no way to you want to be divisive or on your own. But you want to be inclusive and you got a little ahead of yourself.
MONA – Oh okay.
SOROR FERGUSON – Now Mona, you have to mean it. If you don’t mean what you’re gonna say, then there’s no point in saying it.
MONA – Oh I do. I don’t want to be suspended Mom. I do mean it.
SOROR FERGUSON – Okay. Well hold on, I’ll dial her up now.

(MONA waits while her mother clicks over.)

MONA thinks – I’ve gotta sound convincing! Have to sound convincing!
SOROR FERGUSON – Mona honey? You there?
MONA – Yes, I’m still here.
SOROR FERGUSON – Good, her phone is ringing.

(SOROR BERGEN’s phone rings.)

SOROR BERGEN – Hello.
SOROR FERGUSON – Hi Antoinette, it’s Melinda.
SOROR BERGEN – Hello Mel, how are you?
SOROR FERGUSON – Fine. How about yourself?
SOROR BERGEN – I can’t complain. Nobody would listen to me complain anyway.
SOROR FERGUSON – Ha ha ha. Are you busy? I want to talk to you about something.
SOROR BERGEN – Oh no, I’m not busy. What can I do for you?
SOROR FERGUSON – I have my daughter here on the line…
MONA – Hi Soror Bergen.
SOROR BERGEN – Hello Mona.
SOROR FERGUSON - …and she received a letter from you regarding a suspension.
SOROR BERGEN – Yes.
SOROR FERGUSON – She read me the letter and both Mona and I understand and respect your position. I just wanted to know if you would be open to hearing from Mona before this decision is completely finalized. I realize that you don’t have to Antoinette, but if you would be so gracious, it would be greatly appreciated.
MONA – Yes maam. If I could just tell you how I feel, I would appreciate it like Mom is saying.
SOROR BERGEN – Well sure Mona. I try to be fair in all that I do. So of course you may speak on your own behalf and I promise to be open minded as I listen.
SOROR FERGUSON – Thank you Antoinette. Go ahead Mona.
MONA – Thank you Soror Bergen. And thank you Mom.

(MONA pauses before she begins.)

MONA – When I first came to Ahpla University, one of the main things that excited me about my new college experience was to have the opportunity to become a member of my mother’s sorority. The sorority that she is so active in now, but also had a hand in the founding of the chapter here on campus. That has always been a remarkable feat in my mind and I cherish the fact that my mother was involved in such a way. When the opportunity presented itself, I was so eager and so happy. And when I finally completed my process, I was the happiest little AKA walking around campus. I love being an AKA, I love what AKA stands for, and I love representing AKA every day of my life. I know I have had issues with some of the other ladies in the chapter, even some that I came in with. But that is just us being human. Everyone is not going to get along. In the end, I love them all as they do me and I would do anything for my sorors. All of them. June, Katrice, April, Octavia, Sylvia, Max, Shareesa, and Gina. All of them. I would bend over backward for, come to their rescue, whatever.

(MONA pauses.)

MONA – Oh yeah…and PJ.

(MONA continues.)

MONA – If the interest meeting that I had was in violation, I apologize. I just didn’t know. I’m just so excited about being an AKA that I want to share it with every young woman on campus. I’m sorry for my over exuberance.

(MONA changes her tone to a much more subdued one.)

MONA – The bottom line Soror Bergen is this. This suspension letter hurt my heart. It really did and I don’t want to be a nuisance to you or to my chapter. I love Alpha Kappa Alpha and I love you Soror Bergen. If you can somehow dig within your heart to have a change of heart, I would really really be grateful to you…to my mother…to the rest of the chapter…to the founders…and to every woman of Alpha Kappa Alpha who has ever lived!

(silence)

MONA – So what do ya say Soror Bergen?
SOROR BERGEN – No.


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The brothers of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity are meeting with DELL, their Provincial Polemarch. He has come to a decision as to the repercussions of MIKE’s pledging activity.

DELL – We decided to act however necessary in establishing the proper punishment on the chapter.

(DELL reaches into his bag and pulls out another paper and passes it to GREGG.)

GREGG – What’s this?
DELL – Your suspension letter. I want us all to read it togeth…
MIKE – Suspension? We’re getting suspended over this crap?
XAVIER – Suspended? Dell don’t do this man…can’t we work something out?
DELL – I don’t tolerate hazing and you all knew this going in.
XAVIER – Dell, you graduated from Ahpla. How can you do this to us?

(DELL smiles and prepares to answer but GREGG interrupts him.)

GREGG – Because he never made the Kappa line here at Ahpla and went grad. He’s been pissed off at our chapter ever since!
DELL – Oh come on Gregg! Don’t go there!
GREGG – That’s exactly where I’m going! You know that’s what this is about! You don’t have any hard evidence at all and you made it a point to work night and day to get as much information on us as you could, just so you could suspend us!
DELL – That isn’t true! Let’s keep this above the belt!
MIKE – Why should we? You didn’t!
DELL – What?
MIKE – You sat in the car with me and let me ramble on about stuff that you can’t even prove is true! I could’ve just been talking shit to impress you and none of that could have happened! But you sat there and let me ramble on! Was that fair?
DELL – All is fair in love and brotherhood.
MIKE – Oh yeah? Fine!

(MIKE turns toward GREGG.)

MIKE – Yo Nupe, is there any way for us to appeal stuff like this?
GREGG – Of course there is.

(MIKE stands up.)

MIKE – Good! Then that’s what we’re gonna do! We’re not taking this lying down!
DELL – I don’t care what you do! This chapter is through!
MIKE – Not if I have anything to say about it!

(MIKE storms toward the door, opens it, and slams it behind him.)

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DEXTER – Willie I was stupid to not pay attention to you when I had the chance. And now I am dying. I’m like a dead guy walking around this campus. I just haven’t fallen down yet. Omega was the most important thing for me, even before I pledged. So you know after I crossed that’s was all that I saw. I never saw my neglect for you at all. Even when you decided to leave me. It wasn’t until…

(silence)

WILLIE – It wasn’t until you saw me with Jason! That was your rude awakening huh? That’s when you all of a sudden wanted me back because of your ego Dex!
DEXTER – Stop finishing sentences for me dammit! That’s the same shit you used to do back in the day! That’s not what I was gonna say!

(WILLIE becomes quiet…quickly.)

DEXTER – This is what I was gonna say. It wasn’t until I had a dream. Or a nightmare I should say. I had this crazy dream where me and you were on a beach and we were walking. We were just chit chattin’ and holding hands. So then we started to jog and you started to run faster than me. The harder I tried to run, the slower I ran. You were so ahead of me that you let go of my hand. You were looking back at me, smiling. Waving at me. But you wouldn’t slow down and you wouldn’t come back to get me.

(silence)

DEXTER – I just kept running and running. But I was like running in place. Right at the point where you were so far ahead of me I couldn’t see you anymore, I woke up.

(silence)

DEXTER – Dreams aren’t coincidence. We dream about shit that we think about.
So when I…
WILLIE – Meet me in front of the Ahpla Dome.
DEXTER – What?
WILLIE – You heard me. Meet me there in ten minutes.

(CLICK)

WILLIE thinks – I must be crazy! I am so wrong for doing this!

(WILLIE runs to her closet and grabs her coat.)

WILLIE thinks – Why am I doing this? Why is my heart pounding!

(WILLIE goes out the door.)

WILLIE thinks – I’ll tell Dexter that even though I am happy that he has finally arrived at this revelation, I have Jason now and I care about Jason. So please, out of respect for me, don’t speak on this any longer. Yeah, that'll work.

(She is going down in the elevator.)

WILLIE thinks – Why the heck is he doing this now anyway? What the hell was wrong with him before? This is just stupid!

(WILLIE goes out the front door.)

WILLIE thinks – I need to put this mess to rest. I don’t have feelings for Dexter anymore. So this kind of stuff has to stop. It has to!

(WILLIE gets to campus and is walking across the yard toward the Ahpla Dome.)

WILLIE thinks – This boy got me meeting him out here…well actually, seeing him at the Dome was my idea huh? Hee hee hee! I guess it will be kinda good to see Dex.

(WILLIE gets to the arena and looks around for DEXTER.)

WILLIE thinks – He isn’t here yet. I hope he doesn’t make me wait too long. I got things to do. I gotta go see the girls and…
JASON – Willie? Is that you? What are you doing out here in front of the Dome?

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MIKE is sitting in the student lounge in the Callis Student Union.

MIKE thinks – This is some bullshit! I wish I had known that that punk Dell didn’t make line here at Ahpla! Now it all makes sense!

(MIKE turns and looks out the window. He casually twirls a cane that is in his left hand.)

MIKE thinks – That’s exactly what happens when cats don’t pledge! They lose the real meaning behind all of this. They’re so watered down it’s ridiculous! Damn!

(MIKE sees two female students who have been talking get up and walk out. As they exit, he sees BRENDON walk in and speak to them.)

MIKE – Hey Bren!

(BRENDON looks MIKE’s way and walks over.)

BRENDON – Hey Mike! What’s up man!

(MIKE stands up and gives BRENDON a pound.)

BRENDON – I still can’t believe you’re a Kappa now!
MIKE – I know man! Check this out, snap a picture!

(MIKE bends over and pretends to be posing for a picture. He throws the Kappa sign.)

BRENDON – Ha ha ha ha! Aw go head man! You crazy!

(They both sit down.)

BRENDON – Aw man! I must admit, I’m happy for you dude! You just don’t know!
MIKE – Thanks Brendon. It definitely feels good!
BRENDON – I know it does! Tell me all about it, as much as you can at least! Ha ha ha ha!
MIKE – I hear ya. Well, I’m definitely glad I did it. It’s a dream come true fo sho!
BRENDON – I know that’s right!
MIKE – It was a hard road though. Hard journey.
BRENDON – Really?
MIKE – Oh hell yeah. But worth it, most definitely worth it.
BRENDON – Would you do it all over again?
MIKE – Knowing what I know now?

(MIKE thinks about DELL.)

MIKE – Yeah, I would. I would just do a few things differently.
BRENDON – Oh yeah? Like what?
MIKE – I can’t really get into that.
BRENDON – Oh, I understand.
MIKE – Let’s just say you need to know your shit. History is mad important. Know your stuff and never get caught out there.
BRENDON – I know that’s right. I remember back in the day when me and you used to study the history together, we knew all of it. We knew all that stuff.
MIKE – Yeah.

(silence)

BRENDON – It was hard seeing you go on without me. But of course I was happy for you man.
MIKE – Well trust me it was hard going on without you Brendon. You’re my boy.
BRENDON – No doubt Mike. I just can’t wait until I have the opportunity to pursue your fraternity for myself.

(silence)

BRENDON – Mike?
MIKE – Huh?
BRENDON – Did you hear what I said? This is my subtle way of putting it out there properly. Ha ha ha. I was saying I can’t wait until I get the opportunity to puruse Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity incorporated.

(MIKE mumbles to himself.)

MIKE – The opportunity. The opportunity to pursue.

(MIKE starts to laugh.)

BRENDON – What’s so funny?
MIKE – Huh? Nothin’ man. Nothing.

(silence)

MIKE – Listen Brendon…

(MIKE sits forward.)

MIKE - …are you serious about pursuing Kappa?
BRENDON – Hell yeah!
MIKE – Do you wanna get that Phi Nu Pi Brendon? Are you serious?
BRENDON – Yeah Mike, I’m very serious.
MIKE – And would you be willing to do whatever it took?
BRENDON – No doubt.
MIKE – Right now?
BRENDON – Sure man. Of course. I want it just like you did!

(MIKE looks around.)

MIKE – Aight Brendon.

(MIKE stands up.)

MIKE – Come on man, let’s do this!