Episode 25

As BOBBY and REGGIE get off the elevator on QUINTON's floor, so do PAULA and JENNIFFER.

PAULA - I know she's here Jenn! Alexis is so predictable, I know she's coming to see her...

(silence)

(BOBBY and PAULA are staring at each other.)

BOBBY - Hey.

PAULA - Hi Bobby.

(silence)

BOBBY - What are you doing here?

PAULA - What are you doing here?

BOBBY - I got a frat meeting over at Quinton's.

PAULA - Well I'm here to get my pledge. I know she's here seeing her man.

(BOBBY turns around and both ALEXIS and QUINTON are gone.)

BOBBY - She'sŠuhŠhere?

PAULA - We're pretty sure she is. This is her safety blanket. Whenever she gets stressed, she runs here.

BOBBY - Oh okay.

(silence)

REGGIE - I'll catch ya inside Bobby.

BOBBY - Yeah man, cool.

JENNIFFER - Uh yeahŠPaula, I'll be waiting by the elevator.

PAULA - Uh no, you don't have to go anywhere soror. We can both check Quinton's crib for Alexis.

(PAULA starts to walk toward QUINTON's room.)

BOBBY - Can we at least talk for a minute Paula?

PAULA - No Bobby. I gotta take care of this and then I gotta run.

BOBBY - Paula please. Just five minutes.

(PAULA walks past BOBBY.)

PAULA - Excuse me.

(PAULA walks right by and knocks on QUINTON's door. As she knocks, JENNNIFFER walks up to the door as well.)

BOBBY thinks - Ain't this a bitch!

QUINTON - Paula? Hey girl. What brings you by? Hi Jenniffer. Yall taking care of my girl?

PAULA - You take care of her more nowadays than we do.

QUINTON - Huh?

PAULA - Quinton we know she's here. We need to talk to her about something that happened.

QUINTON - I'm sorry, she's not here.

(silence)

PAULA - Come on Q. You can't cover for her. You're not a good liar.

QUINTON - No seriously, she ain't here. I wish she was.

(QUINTON flashes a big smile.)

JENNIFFER - You can't even say it with a straight face! Ha ha ha ha ha!

QUINTON - No seriously. Come on in and check.

PAULA thinks - Come in?

QUINTON - Now check this out, keep all this between us okay? I got the frat here and someŠinterested dudesŠyou know how we do.

JENNIFFER - Yeah.

QUINTON - So you didn't see this okay?

PAULA - Okay.

(QUINTON opens the door and PAULA and JENNIFFER look inside.)

PAULA - Is that Donte?

QUINTON - Yeah. Old heads up in here! Ha ha ha ha ha!

(PAULA and JENNIFFER see the backs of five guys as LARRY, DONTE, and REGGIE are questioning them.)

JENNIFFER - Yall may have five this year?

QUINTON - Actually maybe four. I really don't like one of em. The one with the hat.

PAULA - Well don't kill em okay?

QUINTON - Naw, I won't kill em. You know I'm the calm one.

PAULA - Whatever Q! Well I guess we'll see you later okay?

QUINTON - Aight, yall take care.

JENNIFFER - You too.

PAULA - See ya.

(QUINTON smiles as he closes the door.)

QUINTON thinks - That was close.

(QUINTON approaches the five guys from behind them.)

QUINTON - Aight yall, they're gone. You can take that hat off now babe.

(ALEXIS turns around and takes off QUINTON's baseball cap.)

ALEXIS - Are you sure they're gone?

---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------< /i>

BRENDON is falling asleep with the television on when BRANDON comes in the room holding a book.

BRANDON - Bren wake up.

BRENDON - Huh?

BRANDON - Wake up bro!

(BRANDON starts to shake BRENDON.)

BRENDON - Okay okay man! What! What! I'm up!

BRANDON - No you aren't, sit up man!

(BRANDON pulls BRENDON up.)

BRENDON - I am up Brandon! What man?

(BRANDON laughs.)

BRANDON - I got some stuff I need for you to read and learn.

BRENDON - Read and learn?

BRANDON - Yeah man, check this out!

(BRANDON excitedly plops on the bed next to BRENDON and shows him the book.)

BRANDON - It's my history book.

BRENDON - Your what?

BRANDON - My history book for Sigma! This has all the information you'll need man! Man, I'm so excited! Let me show you this one part in the beginning!

BRENDON - Brandon, I don't wanna read that right now.

(BRENDON goes to lie back down.)

BRANDON - Naw man! You gotta learn this stuff! Learning your history is one of the most important aspects of being in a frat! No doubt! You gotta know your shit man! I can't tell you how many times we got in trouble on line because we didn't now our stuff!

(BRANDON laughs.)

BRENDON - Well okay then. I'll learn it tomorrow.

BRANDON - No better time then the present!

(BRANDON opens the book.)

BRANDON - Check this out! Did you know that James Weldon Johnson was a brother?

BRENDON - Who?

BRANDON - You know, the guy who wrote the Black national anthem! Lift every voice and sing, til earth and heavenŠ

(BRANDON starts to sing the Black national anthem.)

BRENDON - Brandon stop.

BRANDON - Šring with the harmonies ofŠ

(BRANDON laughs loud.)

BRANDON - And guess what else!

BRENDON - Brandon stop! I don't want to be a Sigma! I want to be a brother of Kappa Alpha Psi!

------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -

PAULA and JENNIFFER leave QUINTON's room and start to walk back toward the elevator.

JENNIFFER - I can't believe she wasn't here. I really thought we were gonna bust her.

PAULA - Yeah. But by seeing Donte here, I know it's legit. They're definitely bout to have a set up in there. I saw the open pizza box!

(They both laugh as BOBBY walks back up.)

BOBBY - PaulaŠ

PAULA - Bobby I gotta run okay?

(BOBBY turns to JENNIFFER.)

BOBBY - Jenn, can you give us two minutes? Just two. That's all I need.

(JENNIFFER turns to PAULA.)

JENNIFFER - You tell me girl.

(silence)

PAULA - I'll meet you in the lobby in two minutes.

JENNIFFER - Okay.

BOBBY - Thank you.

(JENNIFFER gets on the elevator and goes down.)

PAULA - You got two minutes Bobby.

BOBBY - Good! I'll only use one. Paula, I know you've gotten my phone calls and my emails. And I don't blame you for not trying to hear me out. I know that you knew the kind of brother I was, even when we first met. So you're probably thinking that the shit I'm coming at you with now is some bull. But le me make this real clearŠ

(BOBBY becomes very serious.)

BOBBY - My life is empty right now without you. For real. I have never hurt the way I do now. I can't think without you and I'm lost. In the time that we were together, you became my friend and losing my best friend isn't easy.

PAULA - Bobby was I your best friend when you were fuckin' that freshman?

(silence)

BOBBY - Damn Paula, you ain't gottaŠ

PAULA - No let's keep it real. You wanted some of my time, well you got it. But let's keep it real since you wanna go there. You haven't changed a bit and I was a fool to think you had.

BOBBY - No I have! I really have!

PAULA - Nigga please! Tell that shit to somebody else. I did get your emails but I see through it Bobby for real. I can see through all of it.

BOBBY - Paula listen. I don't know how to get it more across to you that I'm being honest with you now. Paula when I say my life is now upside down, it is! I can't eat, I can't sleep, I can't do shit.

PAULA - That's called guilt Bobby. You're only sorry because your lying ass got caught. If you wanna go play around with freshman and young chicks that will blow up your ego, then fine you go do that. But this sister ain't the one. I'm graduating next year and I got shit to do.

(PAULA starts to walk away.)

BOBBY - No wait!

PAULA - I'm out Bobby.

BOBBY - You promised me two minutes.

(PAULA stops and turns back around. She looks angry but she listens.)

BOBBY - PaulaŠI can't blame you for the way that you feel. But if you give me one more chance, just one more to prove that I've changed and I can give you all the love you need, I swear I'll never hurt you again.

PAULA - Bobby check this out.

(PAULA's tone changes and she is now speaking much softer.)

PAULA - I gave you a chance. You only get one chance with me. I told you when we met that I'm not the one to be cheated on and played with. I'm a strong woman. I don't need a man and I certainly don't need to be lied to by a man. So as I applaud you for making maturity changes in your life, I deeply believe that the changes you've supposedly made are only because of the fact that I caught you. Otherwise, you would be the same ol' Bobby. So in that, I lost interest.

(silence)

PAULA - Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta run.

(BOBBY watches her turn around and walk toward the elevator.)

PAULA thinks - I hope I don't start crying before the elevator comes! Please hurry up elevator!

(QUINTON's door opens and ALEXIS walks out into the hallway.)

------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------

JUNE has revealed to BUCK where she got the rumor about him cheating from. He picks the receiver to make a phone call.

JUNE - No Buck! Wait! Are you calling Renee?

BUCK - Yep! I sure am!

JUNE - Buck no!

(JUNE grabs the phone and hangs it up.)

JUNE - You can't do that Buck! I promised Renee that I wouldn't tell you that she told me that!

BUCK - She shouldn't been talking about stuff that she doesn't know about!

JUNE - Maybe so, but you can't say anything.

BUCK - Like hell I can't!

(BUCK picks the phone back up.)

JUNE - Buck no! Stop!

BUCK - She needs to keep my name out of her conversations and I need to let her know that!

JUNE - Let's just dead this whole thing Buck. It was wrong for me to go and believe that stuff anyway. I know you better than that, I don't even know why I was trippin'. So let's forget the whole thing okay?

BUCK - No I can't forget the whole thing June. You come at me in the library all pissed and actin' crazy, givin' me mad attitude for something I didn't even doŠand then come to find out it's because your soror is filling your head with untrue shit about me?

(BUCK raises his voice which he rarely does.)

BUCK - That's not cool. JUNE - You're right baby it's not cool. But it isn't Renee's fault it's mine. If you should be upset with anyone, it should be me. And you have a right to be.

(BUCK turns away.)

JUNE - Baby when she told me, it wasn't like she was tellin' on you. It was more like she was making me aware of rumors that were out. She even said that she didn't believe it because of the type of person that you are. She knows you wouldn't do something like that.

BUCK - But you believed it.

(silence)

JUNE - Buck I'm sorry.

(BUCK seems to not pay attention as he walks into his bedroom.)

JUNE - Buck don't walk away from me when I'm talking to you. I'm sorry.

(BUCK comes back out putting on a jacket.)

JUNE - Where are you going?

BUCK - Out.

JUNE - Out? Out where?

BUCK - For a walk.

JUNE - Buck we're talking! Don't leave now!

BUCK - June, in case you haven't noticed I am rather upset right now. I really don't wanna talk now because I may say something that I'll regret later. So let me walk and blow off a little steam. When I come back, we can discuss this if you want.

(silence)

JUNE - ButŠ

BUCK - I'll be back.

(BUCK opens the door.)

JUNE - What am I supposed to do? Just stay here?

(BUCK answers as he is leaving.)

BUCK - Yeah. If you want.

------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------

BRANDON is startled by his brother's announcement.

BRANDON - What did you say?

BRENDON - Look, I appreciate all that you've done in trying to help. But I'm sorry man, I don't want to be a Sigma.

(silence)

BRANDON - Brendon, you're making a big mistake man.

BRENDON - Huh? How so? How is following what's in my heart a big mistake?

BRANDON - Because manŠ

(BRANDON stands up and chooses his words carefully as he faces his brother.)

BRANDON - Brendon, because I'm already on this side of the fence, there are certain things that I know. I wish I could tell you but I really can't. And trust me when I tell you man, you don't wanna pledge Kappa.

BRENDON - You're talkin' nonsense man! You're not a Kappa so how can you know stuff about them?

BRANDON - I don't have to be one of them to know about them.

BRENDON - Man please!

BRANDON - Bro I'm tellin' you man! Listen to me. I'm your brother and I wouldn't steer you wrong dude. You know I got your back.

BRENDON - No doubt, I hear you on that. But I don't wanna do something that's not in my heart.

BRANDON - It can be in your heart and it will be. If you'll just embrace Sigma the way it needs to be embraced.

(silence)

(There is a knock on the door.)

BRANDON - That's probably Denice. Hold up man.

BRENDON - Yeah aight.

(BRENDON lays back on the bed and stares at the ceiling.)

BRENDON thinks - Phi Beta Sigma. Phi Beta Sigma fraternity incorporated.

(He closes his eyes.)

BRENDON thinks - Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity incorporated!

(As BRENDON smiles to himself, he hears loud voices from the other room.)

BRANDON - Blue Phi!

SIGMAS - You know!

BRENDON thinks - Oh God.

(BRENDON slowly pulls himself up and walks into the other room. He walks in on a conversation that the brothers of Phi Beta Sigma, BRANDON, AHMAD, and SETH are having.)

BRANDON - Wait wait, what happened?

SETH - Man I'm tellin' you! This dude was all up in Ahmad's face! Like for real man!

BRANDON - Word?

AHMAD - Bruh! All in my grill tryin' to question me man!

BRANDON - Oh shit!

SETH - So this is when it gets really crazy!

(They turn and see BRENDON come in.)

BRANDON - Oh Bren, you remember my line brothers right? Seth and Ahmad?

BRENDON - Yeah sure. What's up.

SETH - Hey man.

AHMAD - Wassup bruh.

(Both SETH and AHMAD are angry and it shows in their acknowledgements toward BRENDON.)

SETH - So anyway, this other Nupe Xavier comes in and punches this cat right Mike in the face!

BRANDON - Another Kappa? Xavier hit Mike?

SETH - Dude, I tell you no lie! Gregg and Xavier come in and Xavier hauls off and punches the neo in the mouth! Me and Ahmad are standing there watching them break themselves up!

BRANDON - What!

(BRANDON laughs but AHMAD is mad.)

AHMAD - Fuck them man! On the real!

BRENDON - Excuse me.

(The room becomes quiet as everyone turns toward BRENDON.)

BRENDON - I didn't mean to be listening to yall's convo, but at the same time it caught my attention. Did you say that a Kappa punched one of his own neos in the face?

AHMAD - Yeah man! That's exactly what happened!

BRENDON thinks - Oh shit!

AHMAD - Those Kappas are full of shit man! I knew I made the right choice dumping their asses!

BRENDON - Huh? You dumped the Kappas?

(AHMAD doesn't know if he should answer BRENDON so he looks to his line brother BRANDON for approval.)

BRANDON - Oh he's cool man. Talk feely.

AHMAD - Okay. Yeah man, I was interested in Kappa for a while. You know. I went to all their shit. I didn't think they were doin' a lot in the community but I was down for whatever they were pushin'. But once I found out some of the behind the scenes shit that they're about, I had to leave them negoroes high and dry!

BRENDON - Really? Would you mind telling me what you went through and what made you change your mind to Sigma? As much as you can tell me I guess.

AHMAD - Yeah man! I ain't got no shame! So I'm gonna tell you like it is!

(BRANDON smiles as BRENDON sits across from AHMAD.)

------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------

BUCK zips up his jacket. He didn't realize it was so windy outside.

BUCK thinks - Damn, it's chilly out here! And I'm out here walkin'! How stupid is this!

(BUCK starts to lightly jog. When he gets to the corner, he jumps and slaps his hand on the street sign.)

BUCK - Two points! And the foul!

(BUCK laughs to himself.)

BUCK thinks - I can't believe she came at me like that! I know she knows me better than that and that kind of stuff usually rolls right off of June. I wonder if there's something goin' on with her.

(BUCK looks at his watch, then continues to walk.)

BUCK thinks - I got too many things to worry about right now with finals coming up then to be stressed out by my girl. Damn.

(His cell phone rings. He takes it off his hip and notices it's JUNE calling. He puts it back.)

BUCK thinks - I ain't ready to talk just yet.

(He imitates performing a cross over dribble, then spins around and mimics passing the ball.)

BUCK thinks - I really need to go to the gym and take a few shots! I'd probably make em all right about now.

(As BUCK continues to walk, he looks up at the sky. He checks his watch again and walks a little faster.)

BUCK thinks - I can't believe Renee played me like this! But that's cool. I'm gonna straighten this shit out in a quick minute fo sho.

(BUCK puts his hands in his pockets to shield them from the windy chill and walks into Ogle Hall, a dorm on Amgis' campus.)

BUCK thinks - Get to the bottom of this shit.

(BUCK takes the elevator up to the eighth floor and gets off. He approaches a door and knocks.)

RENEE - Buck? Hey, I didn't know you were coming by. Come in.

BUCK - I need to talk to you.

RENEE - Sure, let me just log off.

(BUCK waits as RENEE logs off the internet.)

RENEE - Wassup man?

BUCK - I'm pissed off at you!

RENEE - Huh? Why? For what? What did I do?

BUCK - You told June some rumor about me cheating on her?

(silence)

RENEE - Buck it wasn't like that. I was justŠ

BUCK - Renee you almost ruined everything! She started questioning me and getting' suspicious and you know I can't have that! You know if she gets too suspicious she's gonna find out what's goin' on!

RENEE - Yeah you're right. I'm real sorry man. It won't happen again.