Episode 24

The brothers of Alpha Phi Alpha are with their pledgees, FRANK and MARTIN.

QUINTON - Okay lets review. So far I've given you Pharoahs Akhenaton, Thutmose, and Ramses. And we spoke about Imhotep.

(The pledgees are quickly writing, taking notes.

QUINTON - Now let's move on to what I like to call the holy family, Isis, Horus and Osiris.

SPHINXMAN FRANK- Big Brother Riddler of the Sphinx, I have a question.

QUINTON - Go ahead.

SPHINXMAN FRANK - You mentioned a period of time... um, the fifth dynasty. Which ruler was over that part? And was this at Giza or Luxor?

QUINTON - Get it from your line brother, I don't have time to go back. You got an exam on this stuff tomorrow and you still got fourteen kings to go over. Now moving on...

FRANK thinks - Shit! This is too fast.

QUINTON - Now don't confuse gods of the underworld and kings. There is a clear difference and if you get that one question wrong on my exam I'll be pissed. I aint standing up here teaching you all this to waste my time. There's a million other things I can be doing right now. So don't mess this up.

SPHINXMAN - Yes Big Brother.

QUINTON - Okay. Now understand the relationship between Osiris and Isis. Well, I shouldn't say relationship, moreso look at is as a...

(The door opens and JASON walks in.)

SPHINXMEN - Greetings Big Brother Dean Hazin' Jazin'!

(silence)

JASON - Where's the rest of my greeting?

QUINTON - They probably haven't learned it yet.

SPHINXMAN MARTIN - Big Brother Dean, we don't know the full greeting yet and we never want to disrespect you. So until we remember the...

JASON - Stop. You owe me one for this spokesman.

SPHINXMAN MARTIN - Yes Big Brother Dean.

JASON - How many is that that you owe me now?

SPHINXMAN MARTIN - Six.

JASON - And you know what happens if you get to seven right?

SPHINXMAN MARTIN - Yes.

JASON - Okay. Alright, tear out a new piece of paper. Its assignment time.

(They both turn to a fresh page in their notebooks.)

JASON - There are five things that you have to pick up and you only have a short amount of time to do it. I need these things quickly. Here ya go. First you need to pick up a soup ladel and a pot. Make sure you get some herbs and gold ink. Then get 7 packs of noodles and then bring back some xerox copy paper. Make sure you get enough of all items.

SPHINXMEN - Yes.

JASON - Now here's the deal. Once you two leave here, you're marked men. In other words, the big brothers are going to try and block you from what you have to do on this assignment. If you run into big brothers, turn the other way immediately. Because if they see you, your done. They'll take you and hem you up and you'll never get to finish. Do you understand?

SPHINXMEN - Yes.

JASON - Let me be very clear. Big brothers are not your friends and cannot be trusted today. They are on assignment just like you and their assignment is to block you from completing this. Don't let me down.

SPHINXMEN - We won't.

JASON - Okay, you got two hours. Go.

(They quickly start to gather their things to leave. MARTIN raises his hand.)

SPHINXMAN FRANK - Where do we bring the items back to?

JASON - You know where to find me. Yall are wasting time, you are losing precious minutes. You need to hurry. Like I said, the bros are on assignment too. Be careful.

(They get up and look out the door, down the hall, both ways. Then they creep out of the classroom.)

MARTIN whispers - Follow me!

(They hurry down the hall and dip into the woman's restroom.)

FRANK - What are you doing! We don't have time to...

MARTIN - Shut up.

(MARTIN pulls out the list that JASON just gave them and starts to study it.)

FRANK - What are you doing? We only have two hours and we're losing precious time.

MARTIN - Shhhh, hold on.

(silence)

MARTIN - Just like I thought.

FRANK - What? What?

MARTIN - Look...

(MARTIN turns his paper around to show FRANK.)

MARTIN - The items on this list. This is a test. Look, we gotta get a soup ladel, a pot, herbs, ink and xerox paper. You see anything special about this list?

FRANK - I aint got time for twenty questions. What are you getting at?

MARTIN - If you take the first letter of each word, it spells Sphinx. Soup, pot, herbs, ink and xerox.

FRANK - Oh!

MARTIN - And they expect us to run to the grocery store to get some of this and then probably to Kinkos back here near campus to get the paper.

FRANK - Well yeah. How else can we do this?

MARTIN - Well if what Jason said is true about the brothers being on assignment, they're gonna be waiting for us near the grocery store by campus or at least on the way there.

FRANK - Right! So we need to take the back streets and run through the bushes or something huh?

MARTIN - Absolutely not.

FRANK - Huh?

MARTIN - That's what they expect us to do. Nobody would walk there in broad daylight down Main Street. That's too obvious. So they expect us to go the back roads and do it that way, then swing around to Kinkos on the way up. They're gonna be hiding and waiting every step of the way.

FRANK - Damn! What are we gonna do?

(FRANK looks at his watch.)

MARTIN - Simple. No problem at all.

FRANK - Well please share with me Mr. Calm Cool and Collected.

(MARTIN smiles.)

MARTIN - You're funny. You get so nervous. All we gotta do is outsmart them Think one step ahead. Now, like I said, they expect us to go right to the grocery store here to get this stuff, then to Kinkos for the paper and probably the ink.

FRANK - Yeah yeah, hurry up with the explanation.

MARTIN - All we gotta do is flip it and go somewhere completely different to get all our stuff. We can go to a store that they have no idea we are going to go to. We can take our time buying our stuff, chill out, get something to eat, and come back.

(FRANK is looking at MARTIN like he is crazy.)

FRANK - Have you taken one too many smacks to the head? What the hell are you talking about.

(MARTIN smiles as he reaches into his bag and pulls out a set of keys.)

MARTIN - Understand what I'm saying now?

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

MAX is studying for his chemistry exam. He is in TERRANCE's room.

MAX - Damn!

TERRANCE - What's the matter?

(TERRANCE calls out from the other room but MAX doesn't answer.)

TERRANCE - What's wrong?

(TERRANCE walks in to see a very frustrated MAX staring into an open book.)

MAX - I just don't get this shit. I'm just stupid or something. I keep doing this problem over and over but never getting the right answer! I keep plugging in the formula but...

(silence)

MAX - Shit... I'm so gonna fail this exam.

(TERRANCE walks up.)

TERRANCE - I got some chemistry for ya.

(TERRANCE rubs the back of MAX's head.)

TERRANCE - Let's see if we got any chemistry.

(MAX leans his head back and TERRANCE bends over. They share a long romantic kiss.)

TERRANCE - That calm you down?

MAX - Uh... no... you may have to try it again... it didn't quite work.

(They both laugh as they begin to kiss again.)

TERRANCE - What seems to be the problem?

MAX - See, the issue is this...

(MAX turns a few pages back in his notebook.)

MAX - See, this here is the same problem. We did this one in class. But when I try the exact same formula to this problem that I'm working on now... it comes out Wrong. Very wrong!

TERRANCE - Let me see.

(MAX backs up as TERRANCE sits on his lap.)

TERRANCE - Now, let me do the problem.

MAX - Okay Mister Expert!

(MAX strokes TERRANCE's back underneath his t shirt while TERRANCE works on the problem.)

TERRANCE - Um... let me stop because I really don't know what I'm doing.

MAX - See what I mean?

TERRANCE - Yeah but I aint the chem student. You're supposed to know how to do this. Did they explain everything in class?

MAX - Yeah but I missed something. Clearly.

(As TERRANCE gets up, he kisses MIKE on lips.)

TERRANCE - Good luck sweetie.

MAX - Thanks.

(MAX scoots his chair up and starts to study again.)

MAX - Hey, can you get me something to drink?

TERRANCE - Sure baby. What you want?

MAX - Just give me some water.

TERRANCE - Okay.

(TERRANCE goes to get the water, MAX goes back to studying.)

MAX thinks - Okay... if I start here and do it slow...

(TERRANCE comes back with the water.)

TERRANCE - Here ya go.

MAX - Thanks.

(silence)

(silence)

TERRANCE - Um... I got something I want to talk to you about.

MAX - Really? Wassup?

(MAX looks up from his book.)

TERRANCE - I didn't tell you this before, but I am like...

(silence)

TERRRANCE - ...I'm becoming very interested in a fraternity.

MAX - What!

TERRANCE - I have a good source on the inside and I know who is gonna be on the line.

(MAX is quet. He doen't go back to his studying just yet.)

TERRANCE - That's it. So what do you think?

MAX - I'm mad about it. You saw what happened to me when I tried out for Alpha Phi Alpha. Why would you want to return to that? They some assholes!

TERRANCE - Oh, I'm not talking about the Alphas. I got another fratenity in mind.

MAX - It don't matter. They're all the same Terrance! I don't want you to do it.

TERRANCE - But baby, I got an inside scoop! I even know who else is probably gonna be on the line with me!

MAX - You do? How do you know? And what fraternity? Phi Beta Sigma?

TERRANCE - No. Kappa Alpha Psi.

MAX - Who is your source?

TERRANCE - Mike.

(silence)

TERRANCE - Mike's been giving me a good scoop on things.He said I was sure to get in and he told me who else was a sure shot too. It's gonna be Brendon. That would make a great line! Me and Bren stepping out as new Kappas!

MAX - Brendon! The twin? Oh hell naw! Hell naw! Now I'm even more dead set against it!

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

The Alpha Sphinxman pledgees have received their assignment from JASON their dean and are preparing a plan to get it done.

MARTIN - All we gotta do is flip it and go somewhere completely different to get all our stuff. We can go to a store that they have no idea we are going to go to. We can take our time buying our stuff, chill out, get something to eat, and come back.

(FRANK is looking at MARTIN like he is crazy.)

FRANK - Have you taken one too many smacks to the head? What the hell are you talking about.

(MARTIN smiles as he reaches into his bag and pulls out a set of keys.)

MARTIN - Understand what I'm saying now?

FRANK - Oh shit! Who's car keys?

MARTIN - My girl. She slipped them to me today and said I can use her car if I have to. She came through! I was able to shoot her an email and ask her, and then I set up a meeting time and place!

FRANK - Oh shit! You're a genius!

MARTIN - So now that we got two hours, we got plenty of time!

FRANK - Yes! So where do you think we should go?

MARTIN - Like I said, they expect us to go to the grocery store here. I say, we go far out. Like as far as we can go.

FRANK - Hmmmm, well we can hop on the road and go a few towns over.

MARTIN - Exactly! That's exactly what I was thinking. So let's go down to King City.

FRANK - Wow! That's like a twenty five minute drive!

MARTIN - I know, but if we leave now, we can go, stop off at McDonald's and then get the stuff and get back. Remember, we gotta park the car back and then walk back up here to meet Big Brother Dean Hazin' Jazin'.

FRANK - Right. Okay let's get movin'.

(They peek their heads out of the bathroom and see that the classroom that they were in is now empty.)

FRANK - Quinton and Jason left. They probably are headed to the store.

MARTIN - Yeah, let's go.

(They quickly make it to the stairway and run downstairs.)

FRANK - Where's her car?

MARTIN - Down the hill. But she parked it out of the way, just in case.

FRANK - Man, you think of everything!

(They sneak around corners and behind trees until they reach MARTIN's girlfriend's car.)

MARTIN - Here we are! Let's roll.

FRANK - Zoom zoom nigga!

(They get in and start it.)

MARTIN - And look... a full tank of gas!

FRANK - That's what's up!

(They start to drive as FRANK checks his watch.)

FRANK - Man, we got like an hour and a half.

MARTIN - So let's eat first, then go.

FRANK - Cool, well lets go to the drive through and hit the road.

MARTIN - Okay.

(They go to McDonald's and order food. MARTIN reaches into the glove compartment and grabs some money.)

MARTIN - Stash of money, just in case!

FRANK - No stone unturned huh?

MARTIN - No doubt! I owe my girl big time!

(They get their food and hit the road.)

MARTIN - So what you think of what we're going through so far?

FRANK - Well for one thing I am mad sleepy! That one night when they made us stand there, that was crazy! I really haven't caught up on my sleep since then.

MARTIN - Yeah. That was hard.

FRANK - And they really don't let up. I'm tellin' ya.

MARTIN - I know. This is what I thought though. A lot of thinking, a lot of learning, and a lot of other stuff.

(FRANK laughs and MARTIN laughs with him.)

FRANK - Matter of fact, I can barely keep my eyes open now. I might have to take a quick nap.

MARTIN - Do what you gotta do. I can handle the drive.

FRANK - Cool, maybe I can drive back.

MARTIN - Okay.

(FRANK goes to sleep and MARTIN makes the drive there. As he turns of the exit to King City, he wakes FRANK up.)

FRANK - Huh... what...

MARTIN - We're here.

FRANK - Huh? Where?

MARTIN - King City.

FRANK - Huh?

MARTIN - Frank wake up man. We're here to go to the store.

(FRANK looks around and wipes his mouth off.)

FRANK - Oh yeah. Okay good.

MARTIN - Once we get into town, we should be able to find a grocery store.

FRANK - Yeah. Shit I'm tired!

MARTIN - I know man, I was dozin' off coming here.

FRANK - Well I got you on the way back. Let's just zip inside and get this shit. We down to an hour left.

MARTIN - Right.

(They pull into a gas station and ask where the nearest grocery store is. It is only two more lights down the main road.)

FRANK - Oh look, there it is right there!

(They pull into the parking lot and go inside.)

MARTIN - Okay let's split up. I'll get the soup ladel and the pot. You get the herbs and see if they sell ink here. If not, we will have to get that from the Kinkos.

FRANK - Okay.

(FRANK goes looking for the aisle with herbs and spices. Once he finds the aisle he turns into it. He stops in his tracks and quickly spins around out of the aisle. He dips into the next aisle.)

FRANK thinks - What the fuck!

(He slowly peeks his head around the corner of the aisle. Right at the spices section, he sees three guys standing, having a conversation... BOBBY, LARRY and REGGIE.)

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

THERESA has just informed her sorors of Delta Sigma Theta that she no longer wishes to be a member of the sorority.

THERESA - You guys have been great but this whole soror thing just aint me. So thanks guys but you can have all this stuff back.

WILLIE - What!

CAMILLE - You can't quit being a Delta! Are you joking because that's not funny!

THERESA - No, I'm not joking.

CAMIILE - What?

CHRISTIAN - Hold up, how you gonna say you wanna stop being a soror? What kind of shit is that?

GWEN - Wow, now that's a new one!

TIA - I heard of sorors not acting sisterly but never a sister not wanting to be a soror!

WILLIE - Everybody hold up, hold on a minute.

(WILLIE stands up and has her hands raised.)

WILLIE - I think we need to give Theresa a little more respect sorors. Let's hear her out and if she doesn't want to be a member, we can go through the procedures to make that happen for her.

CAMILLE - Make that happen for her? Why would someone want to not be a member of the greatest sorority on earth!

WILLIE - Whatever the reason, if that's what she wants...

CHRISTIAN - Am I hearing things? You're gonna approve Theresa bowing out of DST? Are you crazy?

WILLIE - I think it would be crazy to keep a person that doesn't want to be here. I mean, come on sorors. Its obvious that she doesn't want to be a member. She don't do nothing. She don't come to nothing. She aint enthusiastic about nothing. She aint energetic about nothing.

CAMILLE - Damn Willie, you got something against her?

WILLIE - Naw but I am the one who spoke on your behalf...

(WILLIE looks directly at THERESA.)

WILLIE - ...so its a slap in the face. But whatever. I aint gotta beg nobody to be a member of my sorority if they don't want to be here! Bump that!

THERESA - This aint personal Willie. You always taking things personal. This aint got nothing to do with you and this aint got nothing to do with us. This has all to do with me and how I feel and I wish you for once would respect how other people feel.

WILLIE - Whatever. You just got one excuse after another for how you can't simply step up to the plate and handle your responsibilities. Delta aint no baby sitting service. I know I aint got time and my sorors, my real soror aint got time neither!

GWEN - Willie, don't go there okay? This aint the time to start name calling.

CAMILLE - Yeah damn everybody, calm down.

THERESA - I don't know why I expected someone in here to understand. I should've known that Miss Perfection would feel the way she does!

TIA - Well I think this is crazy. Theresa, you can't quit. This is for life. You just need to work out your issues and I for one am willing to help you pull together whatever help you need.

CAMILLE - I second that emotion.

(THERESA laughs.)

THERESA - I'm no basket case, trust me. No mental problems here. I just came to the realization that this aint for me. Yall get excited about things that Icould care less about. I don't have a lot in common with many of you. I don't see things the same way. I don't care Camille that there were thousands of sorors in Vegas. So what.

CAMILLE - What!

GWEN - But that's what makes DST so wonderful! The fact that we are all free spirits and can think on our own. We're not couped up in some box trying to be something that we're not. Trying to be all pretty and prissy or some other silly nonsense. We can be ourselves and rest in that, that at the end of the day, a Delta is her own woman. A Delta can think for her own and challenge to be different. You don't love or embrace that?

THERESA - Honestly?

WILLIE - Go ahead and say no! You don't give a shit about what she just said. Whatever! I don't care anymore!

(WILLIE sits back down.)

WILLIE - Theresa, if you don't mind, we have a meeting to finish. You can leave your own para right there in the bag. Thanks.

(THERESA gives WILLIE a sarcastic glance as she places the bag down and turns to leave.)

WILLIE - Okay... sorors if you'll just take a moment to look at...

BREANNA - No! Wait a damn minute! This shit is not going down like this! Hell no it aint! Line sister sit down before I kick your ass!

(silence)

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

TERRANCE - Mike's been giving me a good scoop on things.He said I was sure to get in and he told me who else was a sure shot too. It's gonna be Brendon. That would make a great line! Me and Bren stepping out as new Kappas!

MAX - Brendon! The twin? Oh hell naw! Hell naw! Now I'm even more dead set against it!

TERRANCE - What? What you got against Brendon?

MAX - I just don't like him. He's a shifty character, talking to every girl on the yard. The last thing he needs is to be in a frat like that.

TERRANCE - Oh stop, you're being ridiculous now.

MAX - I'm serious. I don't like Brendon and he don't like me. And he knows that I don't like him too.

TERRANCE - Did yall have some kind of run in or interaction that I don't know about?

(silence)

TERRANCE - I mean... what's up?

MAX - Naw, its not even like that.

TERRANCE - Hmph.

MAX - I just think you making a mistake and I aint standing behind your decision.

TERRANCE - See, that's fucked up Max. I would never leave you hanging like that. I care about you so how you could you say that?

MAX - Don't turn this into a guilt trip.

TERRANCE - I aint turning this into anything/ I'm telling the truth. I wouldn't go to you and say that I didn't have your back. What the hell?

MAX - But what if it was a decision that you knew was wrong for me? What if it was something that I was gonna do that you knew was bad for me and would hurt me in the end. Would you stand by and let it happen without warning me or something?

TERRANCE - If it was something you really wanted, of course I would stand behind you.

MAX - Bullshit T! Bullshit!

TERRANCE - Naw, I'm serious.

MAX - You saying that because I just asked you and the discussion is favorable to that kind of answer. Your forget, I'm a psyche major.

TERRANCE - Shut up!

MAX - Look, I gotta study.

TERRANCE - We aint finished yet.

MAX - As far as I'm concerned we are.

TERRANCE - But we're not.

(silence)

TERRANCE - Max, if you expect me to not pursue Kappa because you don;t like Brendon, you're crazy.

(MAX looks up.)

MAX - Then maybe I was crazy.

(He closes his book and starts to pack up his things.)

TERRANCE thinks - Shit.

TERRANCE - What are you doing?

MAX - I'm leaving.

TERRANCE - Max, don't be silly. Don't leave.

MAX - Why not? You aren't even taking my feelings into consideration.

TERRANCE - Look, lets just drop this okay? You have an exam to study for and maybe I picked a bad time to talk about this. We can talk about this later. Next week or something.

(silence)

TERRANCE - Come on, sit back down.

(MAX slowly sits back down.)

TERRANCE - And I won't disturb you. Matter of fact, let me take a walk. You're cool here to study by yourself. Help yourself to what's in the fridge.

MAX - I aint trying to chase you out of your own room.

TERRANCE - It's all good, I'll be right back.

MAX thinks - Whatever.

(TERRANCE grabs his keys and is out the door a few seconds later.)

TERRANCE - That nigga is trippin'! Damn!

(TERRANCE pulls out his cell phone.)

MAX - Hello?

TERRANCE - What you doin'?

MAX - Man!

(TERRANCE laughs.)

MAX - Goodbye!

TERRANCE - What you doin'?

MAX - Studying! Bye!

TERRANCE - Ha ha ha, okay bye.

(He hangs up but dials again.)

LARRY - Hello?

TERRANCE - Hey, wassup its Terrance.

LARRY - What you want? I'm busy right now.

TERRANCE - I need to talk to you.

LARRY - I can't right now, I said I was busy.

TERRANCE - Its about Max.

LARRY - It is? Okay where are you? Do you want to meet up with me to talk or over the phone? What's wrong huh? What's wrong!

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

Because of BREANNA's outburst, the entire room is silenced.

(silence)

(THERESA turns around.)

THERESA - Excuse me?

BREANNA - You heard what the hell I said! You aint givin' up Delta Sigma Theta! You'll give that up over my dead body! And you're gonna be a dead body if you even think about walking out that door!

THERESA - Bree, this aint got nothin' to do with...

(BREANNA leaps out of her chair and her chair topples to the floor. Everyone jumps and is staring in shock at the two.)

BREANNA - I aint playin'! You and I cried for this and worked hard for this and I'll be damned if I let you walk away from it! That's some bull!

WILLIE - Breanna, I understand you're hurt but the best thing...

BREANNA - Shut the hell up Willie!

(WILLIE looks shockingly at BREANNA as do the other sorors that are quiet. BREANNA turns to face THERESA.)

BREANNA - Theresa, don't do this! I know you and I know why you did this! You can't tell me that what we went through... together... was in vain! Don't even try and tell me that lie!

(THERESA is quiet.)

BREANNA - You were born to be a Delta! Your attitude exudes DST from every pour!

WILLIE - Oh brot...

BREANNA - I said shut up!

CAMILLE thinks - Okay I aint messin' with her!

BREANNA - I'm not gonna say this again! Don't make me make this ugly!

THERESA - Bree, listen to me. And hear me. I love you girl, I do. But I don't love Delta.

BREANNA - Yes you do!

THERESA - No, you want me to but I don't.

(silence)

(THERESA starts to leave again.)

BREANNA - No wait!

(BREANNA steps in her way.)

BREANNA - Tell me that the things you said you didn't mean them when you said them. Tell me that when you had my back you didn't mean it. Tell me that when I carried you you didn't appreciate it.

(THERESA is just staring back at her.)

BREANNA - If none of those things meant the words that you said... then walk out of here and I won't ever call you or bother you again. But I know in my heart that you meant those things that you said and you meant to do those things that you did. I saw it in your eyes and I saw it in your heart. The only reason you doing this now is... actually, I have no idea why you're doing this now. But regardless, please... don't do this.

(silence)

(CAMILLE starts to clap slowly.)

GWEN - Stop that, that's aint funny!

CAMILLE - Sorry.

BREANNA - So what's it gonna be? You tell me that all that meant absolutely nothing to you...

(BREANNA folds her arms.)

BREANNA - ...and I will never call you soror... again!

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

BRENDON - Hello?

MAX - You listen to me and you listen good...

BRENDON - Who is this?

MAX - You stay the hell away from Terrance! I don't even want you thinking about dealing with him!

BRENDON - Who the hell is... who is this? Is this Big Brother Kai Kai Psi!

MAX - You keep your hands off Terrance! I know how you roll and I aint playing with you no more!