SEAN and DR. MWATSUMI have been reunited within Iota Phi Theta Fraternity by the brothers of the graduate chapter. BROTHER HILL has left the two alone to get better acquainted.
DR. MWATSUMI Ð Sean, itÕs good to see you.
(The Doctor smiles. SEAN walks toward him with open arms.)
SEAN Ð Dr. Mwatsumi! Oh my God!
(They hug.)
SEAN - How in the worldÉ
DR. MWATSUMI Ð WeÕll catch up later Sean.
SEAN Ð But why didnÕt you tell me?
(DR. MWATSUMI smiles.)
DR. MWATSUMI Ð You werenÕt ready Sean. I needed to do this another way, and it had to be done on my own time so it could fit into my own schedule.
SEAN Ð Well I am glad! So happy!
DR. MWATSUMI Ð For now, we just need to remain calm and focus. This is our night.
SEAN Ð Our night?
(DR. MWATSUMI whispers.)
DR. MWATSUMI Ð On the way over here, I happened to notice a lot of Iota Phi Theta paraphernalia in the back of one of the cars. I believe they are gifts. Gifts for the fraternityÕs two newest members!
SEAN Ð What!
(SEAN screams and DR. MWATSUMI looks around quickly.)
DR. MWATSUMI Ð Sean, calm down! Shhhhh! Calm down!
(SEAN reduces to a whisper.)
SEAN whispers Ð What!
DR. MWATSUMI Ð I saw lots of gifts. What else would those things be for?
(SEAN slowly sits down.)
SEAN Ð DoctorÉI canÕt believe it.
DR. MWATSUMI Ð What Sean?
(SEAN has his head in his hands.)
SEAN Ð This is gonna sound crazy. But we have been pledging for so longÉI forgot the idea of becoming a brother! I really hadÉforgotten about it.
DR. MWATSUMI Ð ThatÕs been my only concern Sean. Ha ha ha ha.
(DR. MWATSUMI places his hand on SEANÕs back.)
DR. MWATSUMI Ð Sean, this could possibly be the day that you and I have spoken about since early last year. When you first came to me in reference to a fraternity, you were a lost soul. Through hard work, patience, and research, here we are.
SEAN Ð Here we are.
DR. MWATSUMI Ð And we are knocking on the door of the brotherhood. The brotherhood of Iota. We are about to embark upon a lifetime commitment that we have dreamed of for a long time. And I am ready to embrace it.
SEAN Ð I am too. I am.
(silence)
SEAN Ð Thank you Doctor for all you have been to me.
DR. MWATSUMI Ð And thank you Sean for always encouraging me and always trying hard to support whatÉ
(The door opens.)
BROTHER HILL Ð Gentlemen, we need to now see you in the other room.
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STACIE and her line sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority have come to visit the two pledgees, BREANNA and THERESA.
(BREANNA sees STACIE JEFFERSON among her line sisters.)
PYRAMID BREANNA Ð Oh God! Oh Jesus!
(BREANNAÕs heart is racing as the telephone rings.)
STACIE Ð Hello?
(silence)
STACIE Ð Hello?
BREANNA Ð Stacie, this is Breanna.
STACIE Ð Hi Breanna, how are you?
BREANNA Ð IÕm fine. UmÉStacie, thereÕs something I have to tell you.
STACIE Ð Oh yeah? WhatÕs up?
(silence)
STACIE Ð What do you have to tell me?
(silence)
STACIE Ð What do you have to tell me? Say something!
(silence)
STACIE Ð Say something!
(silence)
ROBIN Ð Say something! Say something!
(BREANNA looks up. She can make out a dark figure standing over her. She is trying to understand what the person standing over her is saying.)
ROBIN Ð Breanna? Are you alright? Say something!
PYRAMID BREANNA Ð Huh?
ROBIN Ð Pyramid T, give me some water!
PYRAMID THERSA Ð Yes Big Sister Jeopardy!
(THERESA rushes off.)
ROBIN Ð Pledgee Bree, are you okay?
BREANNA Ð UhÉyes Big Sister. I think IÕm okay.
(BREANNA sits up and finally realizes that she is on her back.)
PYRAMID BREANNA Ð What happened?
(THERESA steps in between her big sisters who have gathered around and handed BREANNA a glass of water.)
MARLANA Ð WhatÕs wrong with her? Is she okay?
PENNY Ð Yeah, one minute she was standing there, and the next second I saw her going down.
MARLANA Ð Robin, does she have any health issues?
ROBIN Ð No. They both checked out fine in their physical exams. No health related concerns.
DEBRA Ð Has this ever happened before?
ROBIN Ð No never.
(ROBIN and PYRAMID THERESA are helping PYRAMID BREANNA up.)
MARLANA Ð She mustÕve got nervous seeing my line! Ha ha ha ha!
ROBIN Ð I know I used to! So I ainÕt even mad at that! Ha ha ha ha!
(Everyone laughs except THERESA and BREANNA.)
STACIE Ð SheÕs fine. Breanna is fine. IÕll tell you exactly whatÕs wrong with her.
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BROTHER HILL of Iota Phi Theta Fraternity has just called SEAN and DR. MWATSUMI to return to the brothers in the other room.
BROTHER HILL Ð Gentlemen, we need to now see you in the other room.
(SEAN looks at DR. MWATSUMI who returns a confident look. They get up to follow BROTHER HILL.)
BROTHER HILL Ð How are you two feeling? Did you take a few moments to get to know one another?
SEAN Ð Oh uh, yes sir. We did.
DR. MWATSUMI Ð Yes, Sean is a special young man. Much more than just a student to me now.
BROTHER HILL Ð IÕm sure.
(BROTHER HILL leads them into an auditorium where the lights are very dim.)
BROTHER HILL Ð Watch your step candidates.
SEAN Ð Yes sir.
(As SEAN and DR. MWATSUMI enter, itÕs so dark, they can only see figures of men in the room, but they cannot tell one from the other.)
BROTHER HILL Ð Stop right here.
(A brother approaches them. ItÕs still so dark, SEAN and DR. MWATSUMI canÕt tell who it is.)
SAIFA Ð Sean, itÕs me. Saifa. Are you ready?
SEAN Ð Yes I am.
SAIFA Ð Are you sure?
SEAN- Yes! Very sure!
SAIFA Ð Doctor, how are you feeling sir?
DR. MWATSUMI Ð Good, very good. Anxious.
(They hear a voice from the front of the room.)
VOICE Ð Who lingers there in the distance?
(BROTHER HILL looks at SAIFA.)
SAIFA Ð It is I, Brother Saifa Kennu, director of undergraduate intake presenting one candidate.
BROTHER HILL Ð It is I, Brother Clarence Hill, director of graduate intake presenting one candidate.
VOICE Ð Very good. Then proceed.
(SAIFA turns to face SEAN and DR. MWATSUMI.)
SAIFA Ð Sean, Doctor, we are very proud of you both. Just remain strong and follow my instructions okay?
SEAN Ð Okay.
DR. MWATSUMI Ð Yes.
(SAIFA says a final statement before he leads them forward.)
SAIFA Ð You two entered this room unaware, afraid, and lost. When you leave this same roomÉ
(He pauses as he begins to walk.)
SAIFA - Éyou will leave this room as Iotas!
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BRANDON is sitting alone in his room. He is using his computer and looking up Phi Beta Sigma websites.
BRANDON thinks Ð Oh this one is hot! I gotta keep this one. We have to update ours and we need to get a look just like this!
(BRANDON goes through some of the pages of the website.)
BRANDON Ð Damn, this is tight. These brothers did a great job on this. I gotta send an email to the webmaster. Maybe he can give me some advice on putting ours together.
(There is a knock on the door.)
BRANDON Ð Hold on, IÕm coming!
(BRANDON logs off and gets up to open the door.)
BRANDON thinks Ð I hope this isnÕt Donna again looking for Bren!
(BRANDON opens the door.)
DENICE Ð Hi.
BRANDON thinks Ð Oh shoot!
BRANDON Ð Hi.
(silence)
DENICE Ð Are you busy or something?
BRANDON Ð Oh uh no no. Come in.
(BRANDON steps aside and DENICE comes in.)
BRANDON Ð How you doinÕ?
DENICE Ð Good. How are you?
BRANDON Ð IÕm okay.
DENICE Ð I wanted to talk, if thatÕs okay.
BRANDON Ð Um yeah. Sure.
(They sit down.)
DENICE Ð Brandon, IÕm sorry for lying to you. I know it looks like I lied to take advantage of a situation, but that isnÕt the case at all. I only told you what I told you because I thought it would help you to regain your memory.
BRANDON Ð I understand that part, and I appreciate your concern for me when I was sickÉI think. But what I donÕt understand isÉ
(BRANDON looks away.)
BRANDON Ð When I was better and out of the hospitalÉwhy did you continue with the lie?
(silence)
BRANDON Ð See Denice, I want to believe you. God knows I do. But that part is hard for me to get past. I mean, why didnÕt you come and tell me? If you were so concerned about me getting my memory back, okay fine. But once I got it back, you kept it up so I would be your boyfriend. ThatÕs not cool.
DENICE Ð Brandon I wanted to tell you. Every time I saw you I tried to say something but the words didnÕt come out. I hated the fact that we were living a lie. At the same time, it was almost a dream come true because IÕve loved you for so long.
(silence)
DENICE Ð Brandon, please believe that I would never do anything to hurt you or to put our relationship in jeopardy. Whether that is me being your girl or our friendship in general. We go back too far for that.
(She pauses.)
DENICE Ð And also know that with all of my heart and everything that is in me, I am sincerely sorry.
(Her voice begins to shake.)
DENICE Ð Brandon, I am sorry. And it isnÕt becauseÉ
(Her eyes begin to get watery.)
DENICE Ð It isnÕt because I want you back. Even though I really do. Really I do.
(Tears begin to fall down her face.)
DENICE Ð But I am sorry Brandon because I hurt someone that I love so dearly. I didnÕt want it to happen this way. It wasnÕt supposed to happen this way. You were supposed to just fall in love with me. Just for me. And me for you. That is how I always dreamed about it. But it never came out that way.
(She wipes her cheek but more tears fall.)
DENICE Ð Then all of a sudden you are mine. Out of the clear sky. My dream comes true. I try to tell you the truth and then pray that you still love me and want to be with me. And every timeÉ
(DENICE begins to really cry.)
DENICE - Éever time IÉ
(BRANDON stands up and walks over to DENICE.)
DENICE Ð IÕm sorry Brandon! IÕm so sorry!
BRANDON Ð Come here.
(DENICE stands up and places her face into BRANDONÕs chest as he wraps his arms around her.)
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(ROBIN and PYRAMID THERESA are helping PYRAMID BREANNA up.)
MARLANA Ð She mustÕve got nervous seeing my line! Ha ha ha ha!
ROBIN Ð I know I used to! So I ainÕt even mad at that! Ha ha ha ha!
(Everyone laughs except THERESA and BREANNA.)
STACIE Ð SheÕs fine. Breanna is fine. IÕll tell you exactly whatÕs wrong with her.
PYRAMID BREANNA thinks Ð Oh no! No! No!
PYRAMID BREANNA Ð Big Sister Stacie, that wonÕt be necessÉ
STACIE Ð Pyramid, itÕs okay.
PYRAMID BREANNA Ð ButÉ
STACIE Ð I saidÉ
(STACIE smiles at BREANNA.)
STACIE - ÉitÕs okay.
(STACIE turns toward her sorors.)
STACIE Ð IÕve spoken to Breanna on several occasions actually. And she has expressed to me her interest in Delta. She has a burning desire for the sorority in her heart and she has a good heart.
PYRAMID BREANNA thinks Ð I do?
STACIE Ð As much as she wants to become an active and contributing part of our sorority, I can imagine what a shock like this may do to her. I mean, look at how many sorors just came in. And our line at that!
(There is a knock on the door.)
MARLANA Ð Well she better straighten up then! Had us all worried. She ainÕt nothinÕ but nervous.
STACIE Ð SheÕll be fine.
(ROBIN turns and walks toward the door.)
ROBIN Ð Hey, yall know how it is. At some point, every woman has to face that intimidating soror if she wants to make it in! Ha ha ha ha!
(ROBIN opens the door.)
ROBIN Ð Speak of the devil.
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DENICE has come to talk to BRANDON and apologize for lying to him about their relationship.
(DENICE stands up and places her face into BRANDONÕs chest as he wraps his arms around her.)
DENICE Ð IÕm sorry baby! IÕm sorry!
(DENICE is crying heavily into BRANDONÕs chest.)
BRANDON Ð DeniceÉDÉshhhhhhh. ItÕs okay. ItÕs okay.
DENICE Ð Brandon, IÕll never lie to you again. I love you.
BRANDON Ð I love you too Denice. Here, sit back down.
DENICE Ð DonÕt let me go Brandon.
(They sit down together. BRANDON places his arm around DENICE.)
BRANDON Ð Denice, I know you love me. And you know that I love you too. ItÕs just that when I realized what had happened, I began to question myself. Like, I started to ask myself questions like, do I really feel for Denice the way that I think I do? Or have I just convinced myself of that based on a lie?
DENICE Ð I understand.
(DENICE is looking down.)
BRANDON Ð And I became so upset. I spoke to Brendon about it and he acted like it was no big deal. Because he knows that we both have feelings for one another. So then I thought that maybe he was right. Maybe I was blowing this whole thing out of proportion.
DENICE Ð But I can understand your concern Brandon. I mean, if you have feelings for someone, you want to know in your heart that they are genuine. I would want to know.
BRANDON Ð Yeah.
(silence)
DENICE Ð SoÉ
(DENICE looks up at BRANDON and speaks softly, almost at a whisper.)
DENICE - Édo you think you have real feelings? For me I mean?
(BRANDON looks at her and waits before he answers.)
BRANDON Ð Denice, my feelings for you are real. ThatÕs why IÕve been so upset these last few days. Because I thought I had lost you and I couldnÕt live like that. I donÕt ever want to lose you.
(DENICE starts to cry again.)
DENICE Ð And IÕll never hurt you again Brandon, I promise.
BRANDON Ð Good. Well letÕs forget the whole thing and try and move on okay?
DENICE Ð Okay.
(They hug and to kiss.)
BRANDON Ð I hope this all will be forgotten soon.
DENICE Ð Well actuallyÉ
(DENICEÕs voice is back to normal and she is wiping her face.)
DENICE - Éthere is one more thing I have to do before we close the chapter on this little saga.
BRANDON Ð Oh yeah? WhatÕs that?
(DENICE gets up and grabs her bag.)
BRANDON Ð Hey, where you goinÕ?
(DENICE kisses BRANDON on the cheek and turns to walk out.)
DENICE Ð I got a certain soror that I need to pay a visit to.
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(ROBIN turns and walks toward the door.)
ROBIN Ð Hey, yall know how it is. At some point, every woman has to face that intimidating soror if she wants to make it in! Ha ha ha ha!
(ROBIN opens the door.)
ROBIN Ð Speak of the devil.
CHRISTIAN Ð Hey Robin.
(silence)
ROBIN Ð Come in Chris.
CHRISTIAN Ð Thanks.
(CHRISTIAN comes in.)
PENNY Ð Christian! WhatÕs up soror!
CHRISTIAN Ð Hey everybody!
(All of the sorors approach CHRISTIAN to embrace herÉexcept STACIE. STACIE walks toward PYRAMID BREANNA.)
STACIE Ð Are you okay?
PYRAMID BREANNA Ð YesÉumÉBig Sister Stacie.
STACIE Ð Good. Look, there are some things that you donÕt even know aboutÉ
(STACIE turns and looks toward CHRISTIAN who is smiling and hugging sorors.)
STACIE - Éand now isnÕt the time to go into it.
(STACIE looks at THERESA who is paying attention to every word.)
STACIE Ð You two just be strong. This is going to be a long night.
PYRAMID BREANNA thinks Ð Oh God!
STACIE Ð But trust meÉyouÕre almost sorors. And when this is over BreannaÉ
(STACIE starts to step away as CHRISTIAN approaches the line.)
STACIE - Éyou and I will have to have a sit down.
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