Episode 49

MIRI missed GINA's flight and has decided to walk around Amsterdam and get something to eat.

(MIRI sees another cafe and steps inside.)

HOSTESS - Good day, table for one?

MIRI - Yes, thank you.

JARED - Gina, we're so happy you were able to join us!

ANGIE - Yes, truly.

GINA - Thanks, I figured what the hell? I'm never gonna be in Amsterdam again. What's a few hours to eat a nice meal with a very nice couple.

JARED - Well cheers.

GINA - I'm just very appreciative that yall invited me to eat with yall. I've been very sad and I needed a nice pick me up.

ANGIE - Very sad? What's wrong?

GINA - Oh don't worry about it.

JARED - No please, do tell.

GINA - Well...

(GINA pauses.)

GINA - You see, there's this guy...and he's the reason I was even in Africa...and he...he...

(GINA stops in shock.)

GINA - ...he's sitting right there!

(JARED and ANGIE turn around.)

ANGIE - Right there? That's him?

GINA - Yes! Oh my goodness! What in the world is he doing here?

(JARED is still turned around looking at MIRI.)

JARED - I guess he didn't want to let you go so easily.

GINA - Oh gosh!

JARED - It's possible you should go say hello... huh?

ANGIE - No wait.

(ANGIE grabs her menu and gets up.)

ANGIE - Gina hold your menu up in front of your face. Let me go talk to him.

GINA - Angie wait...

(ANGIE walks toward MIRI giggling.)

ANGIE - Good afternoon sir.

MIRI - Good afternoon.

(ANGIE gives MIRI her menu.)

ANGIE - Please check out today's special. It's quite the catch.

MIRI - Thank you.

ANGIE - Can I get you something to drink?

MIRI - Just water please.

ANGIE - Sure. So is this your first time in Amsterdam? What brings you here?

MIRI - Oh you don't wanna know.

ANGIE - Try me.

(ANGIE smiles.)

MIRI - Okay, if you must know. I um... I was following a friend of mine. And her flight was here and I missed her. So now...

(MIRI stops.)

ANGIE - Sounds like a love interest.

(MIRI doesn't answer.)

ANGIE - Well maybe you will see her again real soon.

MIRI - I don't know. Maybe.

ANGIE - As a matter of fact sir, I think you will see her again today.

(MIRI smiles.)

MIRI - Thanks but that's impossible. She's already gone and probably through with me anyway.

ANGIE - Tell ya what sir. You seem like a nice gentleman and I am sure she is a nice lady. If you see her again, today, will you promise to make her happy?

MIRI - Lady, if I ever see her again, I will never ever neglect her again. Ever! Trust me on that. I just wish I could see her right now.

(ANGIE smiles as she waves for GINA to come over.)

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SHARONDA is in her room watching television. There is a knock on the door.

SHARONDA - Come in! It's open!

(MIYA opens the door.)

SHARONDA - Hey cuzz!

MIYA - Hi Rhonda!

(SHARONDA gets up to hug MIYA then she sits back down.)

SHARONDA - What's goin' on?

MIYA - Nothin'. Nothin' at all. Did you hear about some fight at Amgis?

SHARONDA - No, what happened?

MIYA - I don't know but I think it's at the spot that Mona wanted me to meet her at. I overheard someone talking about it downstairs.

SHARONDA - Wow. I'm sure I'll hear about it.

MIYA - You're so much in the know. I wanna be just like you!

(SHARONDA laughs.)

SHARONDA - Well don't say that too fast! I gotta improve my grades a bit if I'm ever gonna get into a top law school.

MIYA - You'll get in. Tell em you're a Ferguson!

(They both laugh.)

SHARONDA - That only seems to have weight around campus. I don't know about the outside world. But speaking of big time Fergusons who move weight, how is Aunt Mel? She still mad at me?

MIYA - She'll get over it. Don't sweat it.

SHARONDA - Okay.

MIYA - So I got this handbook thing...

SHARONDA - Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Let me see that thing.

(MIYA opens her bag and pulls out the small blue book.)

MIYA - It was laying on the ground face down. I thought it may be a poetry book or something because its so small. So I picked it up.

(MIYA hands it to SHARONDA.)

MIYA - I had no idea it was a sorority book. All about Sigma Gamma Rho sorority. Cool huh?

(SHARONDA doesn't answer. She looks at the cover of the book, then looks at the back. There is nothing on the back. She opens it, glances at the first page, then closes it immediately and puts it down.)

SHARONDA - Miya, let me talk to you for a minute.

MIYA - Okay.

SHARONDA - Do you know what this book is?

MIYA - Well I was reading and it seemed like all the rules and regulations and stuff. You know, official type stuff.

SHARONDA - That's exactly right. This is official type stuff for Sigma Gamma Rho.

MIYA - Uh huh.

SHARONDA - So if this is official type stuff for Sigma Gamma Rho, why would anyone else be reading it?

MIYA - Well no one else should read it.

SHARONDA - That's right. So then why did you read it?

MIYA - Because I found it.

SHARONDA - Miya, just because you saw it laying there, doesn't mean you're supposed to disrespect their organization by reading their secret information. All I did was glance at the first page to make sure this book was what I thought it was. Then I placed it down. Now I'm gonna call one of my friends who is an SGRho and let her know to come pick this up. It isn't my business what is in this book.

(silence)

SHARONDA - You said you wanna be just like me right?

MIYA - Yes.

SHARONDA - Okay then, lesson number one. I, as well as most Greeks, respect one another. We respect each other's organizations. I may not agree with them, but I have to respect them because I want them to respect me. You understand?

MIYA - Yes.

SHARONDA - How would you like it if you were a member of Zeta Phi Beta and someone read all of your secret information. You wouldn't like that at all would you?

MIYA - No. No I wouldn't.

SHARONDA - That's right. So I hope you learned something from our little talk. I'm serious. If you want to be like me and become my soror some day, you have to learn some things and grow some. But I know you're a smart girl and you're very sweet. So you won't have any problems. Okay?

(MIYA smiles.)

MIYA - Okay. I didn't mean any harm.

SHARONDA - I know you didn't cousin. I know.

(SHARONDA picks up the phone to call PAULA as MIYA dials on her cell phone.)

ANDY - Hello?

SHARONDA - Paula? Hi this is Sharonda.

ANDY - No this is Andrea, Paula's soror. Paula is on her other phone with her mother.

SHARONDA - Oh hi Andrea. Well I'm her friend Sharonda and maybe you can help me.

ANDY - Sure, what can I do?

SHARONDA - Don't ask me how this happened, but my little cousin found one of your sorority handbooks.

ANDY - What!

SHARONDA - Don't worry, I have it safe and sound here. I was going to tell Paula that she can come by and pick it up.

ANDY - Oh my God! Thanks Sharonda! Thanks a lot!

SHARONDA - I know how important this is. I'm a Zeta, so I know the importance.

ANDY - Yeah! I really appreciate the call. So where do you live?

SHARONDA - Right upstairs. I'm in room nineteen twenty.

ANDY - Okay I'll be right up.

SHARONDA - Okay.

(They hang up.)

SHARONDA - Hey, where you going?

MIYA - I got Mona on the phone finally! I'll be right back!

SHARONDA - Okay.

(MIYA quickly walks out the door and closes it behind her.)

(silence)

SHARONDA thinks - Now...

(SHARONDA grabs the handbook.)

SHARONDA thinks - ...let's see what Sigma Gamma Rho is really about!

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MIRI - Lady, trust me. If I ever see my Gina again, I would treat her like the queen that she is. I promise that. I was a fool and now she's gone. So... well anyway, I didn't mean to go into all that. What is today's special?

(ANGIE just smiles. )

MIRI - Uh... what did you say the special was?

ANGIE - How about this for a special sir?

(GINA walks up and stands next to ANGIE.)

MIRI - Gina!

GINA - Hi Miri!

(MIRI jumps out of his chair.)

MIRI - Oh my God Gina! I thought I missed you! Oh my God!

(GINA smiles.)

GINA - Miri, this is my friend Gina. I joined her and her husband Jared for lunch.

ANGIE - Pleased to meet you.

MIRI - You too! So you work here at the restaurant and... how... so...

GINA - No no, I met them on the flight. She's not a waitress, she was playing with you. Come sit over here Miri. With us.

MIRI - Wait...

(MIRI walks around the table and hugs GINA. He holds her close.)

MIRI - Gina, I am so sorry. You had good reason to leave me in Africa. I neglected you and took you for granted and I am sorry. I will never let that happen again. You are a gift to me, a gift from God and I appreciate you. From the bottom of my heart. I love you Gina.

GINA - I love you too Miri.

(He continues to hold her.)

MIRI - I would've followed you to the end of the earth if I had to.

(GINA smiles.)

GINA - Luckily, you found me.

(They let go of each other and join JARED and ANGIE. JARED stands up to greet MIRI.)

ANGIE - Miri, this is my husband Jared. Jared, this is Miri, Gina's fiancee.

JARED - Charmed.

(JARED smiles as he takes MIRI's hand.)

GINA - Wait, Miri isn't my fiancee. We're not getting married or anything.

MIRI - Actually...

(MIRI bends down on one knee while holding GINA's hand.)

MIRI - Gina I love you. I always will. Will you marry me?

(silence)

GINA whispers - Miri, get up.

MIRI - Will you marry me?

GINA - Miri, I think we need to talk about a few things before we move to that level. Get up off your knee.

(MIRI slowly gets up.)

MIRI - What do you mean talk about a few things?

(ANGIE motions to JARED and they both slip away to leave MIRI and GINA alone to talk.)

GINA - Miri, I love you. And I know emotions are high right now because you thought I left, I thought you didn't care, and now here we are together. But we can't move into marriage just because feelings are high right now.

(silence)

(MIRI sits down, GINA does too.)

GINA - We got some things to work on. Like how we treat one another, what are our future plans, what do we plan to do after graduation, a lot of stuff. I can't promise to marry you just yet. I'm sorry.

(silence)

GINA - But, I can promise to love you and stay with you if you promise to change.

MIRI - Oh I will. I have! I got my wake up call!

GINA - Good. Then let's eat and go back home. Home as in the motherland.

MIRI - Okay.

GINA - And we have a long flight to talk about this marriage thing. Cool?

MIRI - Very cool!

(MIRI and GINA kiss.)

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KATRICE and PJ are talking about KATRICE's ill feelings toward JAHANNA.

KATRICE - PJ, I'd rather not talk about this. Okay?

PJ - Okay my bad. I won't press the issue anymore.

KATRICE - Thanks.

(silence)

PJ - Girl please! I don't care if you'd...

(PJ imitates KATRICE's voice.)

PJ - ...rather not talk about it...I want you to talk about it so talk about it. Jahanna is my girl and I wanna know what's up.

(KATRICE loses her smile.)

KATRICE - Fine PJ. Fine.

(KATRICE slowly runs her fingers through her hair and exhales heavily.)

KATRICE - Okay PJ fine. I'll admit...

(KATRICE pauses.)

KATRICE - There is a reason...a big reason...why I was against Jahanna.

PJ - I knew it. I knew it. Why Katrice? Why don't you like Jahanna?

(KATRICE pauses before she begins.)

KATRICE - Okay, let me tell you why. Remember when...

(There is a knock on the door, then the door opens.)

APRIL - Hey! Wasssssssup!

KATRICE - Don't you know how to knock and wait? I didn't say come in!

APRIL - Oh please! Shut up!

(APRIL comes in the room with OCTAVIA behind her.)

OCTAVIA - What's up ladies.

PJ - Hey.

(PJ looks back at KATRICE. KATRICE leans toward her and whispers quickly.)

KATRICE whispers - I'm not talkin' about Jahanna in front of them.

APRIL - What you got to eat up in here Katrice?

PJ whispers - Why not?

KATRICE whispers - Because what I have to tell you is personal. Very personal. I'm not sayin' it in front of April!

PJ thinks - Dammit!

(OCTAVIA sits down and APRIL comes into the room with a bottle of water that she got out of the kitchen.)

OCTAVIA - So what are yall up to? What yall talking about?

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MIYA is on the phone with her big sister MONA.

MIYA - Mona! Finally! Where the heck are you?

MONA - The police station.

MIYA - The what! You got arrested?

MONA - No silly! Ha ha ha ha ha!

MIYA - Oh! It wouldn't be the first time! Ha ha!

MONA - Oh whatever!

MIYA - So what are you doing there?

MONA - My boyfriend got arrested in the big fight.

MIYA - What! Mike got arrested? Why? What happened?

MONA - Long story, I'll tell ya later. I had to come down and bail him out.

MIYA - Wow, that's sick!

MONA - Yeah. So are you going over to my place?

MIYA - Yeah. I just left Sharonda's so I'm going to your room now.

MONA - Okay. They're bringing Mike out now so let me go. I'll see ya in a few.

MIYA - Okay. Tell Mike not to drop the soap!

MONA - Shut up stupid! Bye!

MIYA - Bye!

(MONA laughs as she hangs up.)

MONA thinks - She is so stupid!

(The officer opens the door. MONA smiles as she sees MIKE step from behind the officer. He stops as soon as he sees her.)

MONA - Hey! You okay?

(silence)

MIKE - Aw hell naw! Hell naw!

MONA - What?

OFFICER - Is there a problem?

MIKE - Hell yeah there's a problem! She...she...

OFFICER - Sir if you have a problem with the person who is bailing you out, you can always go back into the cell and we can refund her her money.

(MONA smiles and crosses her arms, waiting for MIKE's answer.)

(silence)

OFFICER - Sir I don't have all day. Are you leaving or not?

MIKE - Yeah, yeah I'm leaving!

(MIKE walks past MONA and she turns to leave with him.)

MONA - Hey, wait for me.

MIKE - You're kidding right?

(They walk out the door.)

MONA - What's the matter with you?

MIKE - What's the matter with me? Are you serious?

MONA - Yes I'm serious, what's wrong?

(MIKE stops.)

MIKE - Mona, you left me to get arrested! I got locked up because of your ass! I should kill you! And you think I'm happy about walking out of here with you?

MONA - I did it Mike because I was pissed! You were taking Renee's side of the arguement! It aint about Renee, it should be about me and you! I didn't ask questions when you were fighting Quinton did I?

MIKE - You left me hanging!

MONA - And you left me hanging! What's the difference?

(silence)

(MONA quickly loses her smile and steps closer to MIKE.)

MONA - Don't ever embarrass me...especially in front of my sorors.

MIKE - What?

MONA - You heard me. I don't repeat myself.

(MIKE is staring at MONA a little surprised.)

MONA - Now kiss me.

(silence)

MIKE - You know what Mona?

MONA - What?

(MIKE pauses.)

(silence)

MIKE - I like your style.

(MONA smiles. MIKE steps toward MONA and they start to kiss.)

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OCTAVIA - So what are yall up to? What yall talking about?

KATRICE - Nothing important. Just gossip.

APRIL - Shit well tell me! You know I need to know what the deal is on campus!

PJ - Why are you always in the middle of the yard drama?

APRIL - Hey man, I know its a dirty job but somebody's gotta do it.

(KATRICE laughs.)

PJ - So where are you guys coming from? Where yall going?

OCTAVIA - Oh nowhere. We don't have any plans really. Just hanging out. I had a big exam today and I aced it of course.

APRIL - Of course sands!

OCTAVIA - So I'm ready to chill out! Ya know?

(APRIL slaps a high five with OCTAVIA.)

APRIL - My sands is a genius! They don't make exams that she can't ace!

PJ thinks - Shit!

KATRICE - So what yall wanna do?

OCTAVIA - I don't know. You all are the party goers. I'm just taggin' along.

APRIL - Let me make a phone call and see where the party's at.

PJ thinks - Damn, I gotta get these chicks out of here!

PJ - I don't think it's much partyin' goin' on yall. It's kind of a dead night.

OCTAVIA - Really?

PJ - Yeah. I haven't heard too much happenin'.

(APRIL is on the phone.)

PJ - Octavia, it isn't even like you to be tryin' to party. Why don't you go to the library or somethin'?

OCTAVIA - The library? Shut up PJ.

(PJ looks over at APRIL who is talking to someone on the phone, then at KATRICE who is smiling at her.)

PJ whispers - What are you laughing at!

KATRICE whispers - You're just dying to know about me and Jahanna huh?

(KATRICE starts laughing.)

PJ whispers - Yeah I do and I'm about to find out.

(PJ walks over to APRIL.)

PJ - April.

APRIL - Hold on.

(She puts the phone down.)

APRIL - What's up Peej?

PJ - Do me a favor okay? I need a few minutes alone with my sands. Just a few minutes. Would you and Octavia excuse us for a minute?

APRIL - Uh... I guess.

PJ - Like five minutes. That's all.

APRIL - Um... okay.

PJ - Thanks. Five minutes.

(APRIL places the phone back to her ear.)

APRIL - Let me call you right back Larry. Okay cool.

(APRIL hangs up and walks over to OCTAVIA.)

APRIL - Octavia, walk me to the soda machine.

OCTAVIA - The soda machine? You need an escort to the soda machine?

APRIL - Just come on.

(APRIL nods her head toward the door.)

OCTAVIA - Oh... okay. Uh... we'll be right back. Don't start the party without us.

PJ - Oh we won't.

(APRIL and OCTAVIA walk into the hallway. PJ smiles as she closes the door.)

OCTAVIA - What's that all about?

(APRIL looks back at the closed door. She is silent for a moment.)

APRIL - Well I'll be damned. I never would've thought.

OCTAVIA - What?

(APRIL doesn't answer, but starts to walk down the hall.)

OCTAVIA - What? What am I missing?

(silence)

APRIL - You're missing something alright. You are totally out of the loop.

OCTAVIA - Well what? Tell me what's up.

(APRIL smiles.)

APRIL - Sands, let me tell you a little something about Katrice.