Episode 3

DERRICK pulls his cell phone out. He just got off a flight so he had it turned off.

(DERRICK dials.)

CANDACE - Hello?

DERRICK - Hey, we just landed.

(silence)

DERRICK - You okay?

CANDACE - Yeah. I'm okay.

DERRICK - Talk to me.

(silence)

DERRICK - I'm sorry I had to leave. I only had one day off.

CANDACE - I know, you told me.

DERRICK - I wish I could've stayed with you... especially now.

CANDACE - It's okay. I know you gotta play.

DERRICK - Yeah but...

(silence)

CANDACE - Derrick, it's okay.

DERRICK - But I hate for you to have to deal with this... you know... alone.

CANDACE - It's not your problem. It's not your issue.

(One of DERRICK's teammates speakes to him.)

DAMON - Yo D you wanna go eat before we go to the arena?

(DERRICK shakes his head to respond.)

DAMON - Aight dog, see ya on the court.

(DERRICK nods as he walks toward the baggage claim.)

DERRICK - I feel like it is my issue Candace. It's something that's bothering you. So it's bothering me.

CANDACE - But it deals with...

(CANDACE pauses.)

CANDACE - It deals with something that occurred in my life before you Derrick. Its not for you to worry about. I...

(She pauses again.)

CANDACE - ...I closed that chapter in my life.

(silence)

DERRICK - Candace listen. It's okay. I understand what your ex boyfriend meant to you and I respect that. I know he was a great guy and maybe he just...

CANDACE - Derrick...

(DERRICK stops.)

DERRICK - Candace I just want you to know that I'm here to talk to you about it. Unfortunately I can't be with you all the time. But I can be with you in spirit and lend my support.

CANDACE - I appreciate that Derrick but you can't do this with me. This is something I have to deal with, and I don't know if I can.

DERRICK - That's what I'm sayin'. You can't deal with this alone, you don't have to. You got me. And you got great friends. And sorors and stuff.

CANDACE - They can't help me with this. You can't either.

DERRICK - Candace... you have to let me in. You need to let me in.

(silence)

DERRICK - You know what I'm sayin'?

CANDACE - No Derrick, you don't know what I'm sayin'. I need for you to back off okay? Just back off!

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THERESA hangs up the phone and goes to answer her door.

(THERESA smiles as she answers the door.)

THERESA - Hi!

BOBBY - Hey, how you?

THERESA - Good, come on in.

(BOBBY walks inside of THERESA's room.)

THERESA - How you doin'?

BOBBY - I'm okay.

(BOBBY plops down on the couch and rubs his face with both his hands.)

THERESA - Are you tired or something? What's wrong?

(THERESA sits next to him, facing him.)

BOBBY - This has been a long week. A real long week.

THERESA - Tell me about it.

BOBBY - You have no idea.

THERESA - What happened?

(BOBBY sits back on the couch and drops his head back. He raises his hands and wipes his face again.)

BOBBY - Damn I don't believe this shit.

THERESA - What?

(BOBBY sits straight up again and drops his hands into his lap.)

BOBBY - We just found out about Caryn's son.

THERESA - Oh shit! I completely forgot! You told me about that! Is it yours?

BOBBY - No.

THERESA - What! I thought you were sure! So it is Derrick's!

BOBBY - Wrong again. It's Nino's son.

THERESA - Stop playin'! That's not funny.

(BOBBY turns to look at THERESA.)

BOBBY - I'm serious. It's Nino's son.

THERESA - What? Nino's? Nino did it with Caryn?

BOBBY - Apparantly.

THERESA - I don't believe it!

BOBBY - Me neither but... I mean, it was a DNA test.

THERESA - Oh my God you're kidding me! Caryn's son is Nino's?

BOBBY - Yep!

THERESA - Holy cow!

(silence)

THERESA - Holy cow! That is crazy!

BOBBY - Yeah, it's crazy alright. I'm kinda sick over it and Candace really lost it up in the doctor's office. I know she's dealing with this really bad. But its weighing on me pretty heavy as well.

THERESA - Damn.

(silence)

THERESA - So how about we order pizza and see what's on HBO?

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DERRICK - Candace you can't deal with this alone, you don't have to. You got me. And you got great friends. And sorors and stuff.

CANDACE - They can't help me with this. You can't either.

DERRICK - Can... you have to let me in. You need to let me in.

(silence)

DERRICK - You know what I'm sayin'?

CANDACE - No Derrick, you don't know what I'm sayin'. I need for you to back off okay? Just back off!

DERRICK - But I'm just tryin' to...

CANDACE - Derrick you don't know what its like to learn that the person you invested your everything in cheated on you! You don't have any idea! He slept with Caryn! He had sex with Caryn! How many other girls did Nino sleep with? Was it a one time thing because he was alone before I got there? You don't have to think about these things but I do! I do!

(CANDACE starts crying.)

CANDACE - You don't understand! Nobody does! Nobody felt the pain of him leaving like I did! People cried at first but I've been crying ever since! And as soon as I think I can move on, this happens! Nino has a son! And it isn't my son! Nino has a son!

DERRICK - I know Candace, I know.

CANDACE - No you don't know! Stop trying to understand this because you can't! You so can't understand this!

DERRICK - Why can't I?

CANDACE - Damn Derrick because you can't! I put all this to rest and it would've been better if I hadn't found out!

DERRICK - But if you dind't know, how would that make anything better?

CANDACE - Because Derrick! It was Caryn! He had sex with Caryn!

(CANDACE is crying harder now.)

CANDACE - I loved him! I came to Ahpla just because of him! And he... he cheated on me!

(DERRICK listens to CANDACE cry.)

DERRICK - Candace baby listen. I mean, you're right. Most of those things that you're talking about I can't relate to. I'll never be able to relate to. But at the same time I can be here for you. You probably can't relate to the issues I had with my father, but I know if I needed to talk to you about it, that you'd have my back. I know you would. And I know I could lean on you if I really had to. And that's what I'm trying to say to you. You got me here, to lean on.

(silence)

DERRICK - Now whatever happened...

(DERRICK says these words carefully.)

DERRICK - ...between Caryn... and Nino, you can't change that and you may never know what happened. But the bottom line Candace...

(He pauses.)

DERRICK - ...the bottom line is that now there's a little baby involved. A baby that everyone has been overlooking from the beginning. A baby who... unfortunately, is Nino's son.

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RONNIE is walking across the yard, just leaving his last class of the day. He sees his frat brother DEXTER so he walks in DEX's direction.

RONNIE - Bruh!

(DEXTER turns around.)

DEXTER - What up dog!

RONNIE - I'm chillin' team! Where you goin'?

DEXTER - Just leavin' class man. Where you goin'?

RONNIE - Same thing. Just leavin' class. I gotta meet Trina at the cafeteria. You tryin' to go over there?

DEXTER - Yeah, that's cool. I'm hungry.

(They start walking toward the Callis Student Union where the caf is.)

RONNIE - So what you been up to dog?

DEXTER - Man, nothin'.

RONNIE - Yo dog, whatever happened to you and Willie? Remember you were tellin' me something about that?

DEXTER - Aw that's dead dog. Dead.

RONNIE - What? How is that?

DEXTER - It's just timing dog. Timing. Our time was back then, its gone now. I had to let that shit go once and for all.

RONNIE - Damn dog, are you sure?

DEXTER - Yeah man. I can't even go there no more.

RONNIE - Not even for the ass man? I know that's some good ass dog.

DEXTER - Not even for the ass.

(They enter the union.)

RONNIE - Damn man, that's too bad. I thought yall were gonna get back together.

DEXTER - Naw man. I gotta be out.

RONNIE - No doubt dog. I aint mad at ya, I'm just like damn.

DEXTER - Yeah.

RONNIE - Yall still cool?

DEXTER - I guess. Me and Willie are always gonna be cool. But I just can't go there anymore. I got too many other things to focus on ya know? So it's like whatever dog.

RONNIE - I feel ya dog.

(RONNIE and DEXTER stand in line to go into the caf. TRINA walks up.)

RONNIE - Hey, wassup.

TRINA - What's crackin' baby? What's up Dex?

DEXTER - Hey.

TRINA - What's goin' on?

RONNIE - Nothin'. Tryin' to get some eats.

TRINA - I hear that, count me in.

RONNIE - Yeah, and tryin' to get Dexter through his heartbreak.

DEXTER - Damn dog, just tell the whole world!

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BOBBY - Yeah, it's crazy alright. I'm kinda sick over it and Candace really lost it up in the doctor's office. I know she's dealing with this really bad. But its weighing on my pretty heavy as well.

THERESA - Damn.

(silence)

THERESA - So how about we order pizza and see what's on HBO?

BOBBY - What?

(THERESA grabs her phone.)

THERESA - Do you like sausage on pizza? I love sausage.

BOBBY - Pizza? What are you talking about? How can you eat at a time like this?

THERESA - Because I'm hungry.

BOBBY - Theresa, I just told you that my line brother, one of my best friends, probably the best brother I've ever met cheated on his girlfriend with one of the hoochiest girls on campus, and you ask me if I want to order pizza and watch HBO?

THERESA - Well yeah, there's nothing you can do about Nino now. I mean, obviously whatever happened happened.

(BOBBY is staring at THERESA, surprised at what she is saying.)

THERESA - What?

BOBBY - I'm sorry if I'm not taking this as casual as you are, but this is big news for me. This is a huge shock for me. None of us were ready to hear that Nino had slept with Caryn.

THERESA - Why is it such a big deal? Because you can't believe Nino ever stepped out on his girl? Boys will be boys.

BOBBY - No, its way bigger than that Theresa! I thought I was gonna be a father. I started to prepare myself to be a daddy. I shouldn't have slept with Caryn myself. I was being selfish and I was cheating on Alexis. But I wanted to be responsible. I pictured me and Little Derrick going to the park and learning how to read. And me being a dad.

THERESA - But you can still do those things. Why can't you do those things now?

BOBBY - Because I looked up to Nino, and now...

(BOBBY pauses.)

BOBBY - Now it's like shit! Is anybody out here doin' the right thing? And what about Nino's family? How is his mom gonna take this news? What about his little brother? He looked up to Nino too. Now what?

THERESA - Is that your problem?

BOBBY - It needs to be.

THERESA - But what about me? What about my needs?

BOBBY - What? Your needs?

THERESA - Yeah, I'm hungry and I thought we were gonna watch a movie or something.

BOBBY - Are you really that insensitive?

(silence)

(THERESA looks at BOBBY as if she is hurt by that question.)

THERESA - I'm sorry.

(THERESA puts the phone down.)

THERESA - I apologize. I was putting myself in front of your feelings. Let's talk about this situation.

BOBBY - I mean, I just can't believe it all. Nino was always on my case about cheating on Alexis. He caused me to think about a lot. When I started to date Paula, I tried to do better, basically because of what Nino told me.

THERESA - You never cheated on Paula?

(silence)

BOBBY - Naw, never. That was because of the kind of man that Nino was. I was trying to be a better man, and I thought that by being a father, I would be a better man.

(silence)

BOBBY - And now its like... all that is just out the window. Damn I just can't believe this shit. Me and Nino both had sex with... and shit, Reggie too!

(BOBBY leans back and puts his hands on the top of his head. He stares at the ceiling as he talks. He exhales.)

BOBBY - This shit is just fucked up. I'm tellin' ya.

(BOBBY takes a deep breath in and exhales slowly again.)

BOBBY - This is just fucked up. I'm shocked, Derrick is shocked, Candace is all devastated and Caryn's hoochie ass runs out laughing. Damn.

(silence)

BOBBY - Little Derrick is probably gonna be all fucked up. He thinks Big Derrick is his father, he saw me a few times and he doesn't know who the hell Nino is. He's gonna be all confused.

(silence)

BOBBY - And it's fucked up because Caryn is such a damn ho. I mean, its like Candace's man slept with a ho. It would be better if it was somebody respectable or something. Like if Nino cheated on her with PJ or Willie or some shit. But Caryn? How does that make Candace feel?

(silence)

(BOBBY sits straight up again and looks at THERESA.)

BOBBY - This whole situation is just messed up. A lot of people are hurt by this. Shocked, hurt, surprised, devastated. Any freakin' thing you can think of. It's just crazy fucked up.

(silence)

(silence)

(silence)

BOBBY - You know what I'm sayin'?

THERESA - Yeah.

(silence)

THERESA - So you want sausage on that pizza? Oh and Too Fast Too Furious is coming on HBO in five minutes so we're just in time!

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RONNIE and DEXTER are talking about DEXTER's past relationship with WILLIE.

DEXTER - Damn dog, just tell the whole world!

(RONNIE laughs.)

RONNIE - My bad team! Ha ha ha, my bad.

TRINA - What happened Dex?

DEXTER - Me and Willie finally called it quits.

TRINA - Oh I'm sorry to hear... wait... you and Willie? I thought yall broke up a long time ago.

DEXTER - Yeah we did, but there were still some feelings there ya know? So we had been talking about maybe hooking stuff back up. But it aint a good idea and we both agree that it aint.

TRINA - Aw, sorry to hear that.

DEXTER - Thanks. It's okay though.

(They get their food and go out to sit down.)

TRINA - So what are you gonna do now Dex?

DEXTER - Do about what?

TRINA - Do about love silly?

DEXTER - What do you mean what am I gonna do about it?

TRINA - Well you don't wanna be by yourself do ya? Ya gotta have somebody. If nothin' else, just to get some ass.

(RONNIE smiles.)

DEXTER - I see why you two are together! Ha ha ha.

RONNIE - That's my baby.

TRINA - Hey man, I just keeps it real. Ya know? No need to lie about it. Shit.

DEXTER - I hear ya.

TRINA - So listen, you open to date somebody else?

DEXTER - Is this someone legit or just some ass?

(TRINA laughs.)

TRINA - Someone for real silly!

DEXTER - Who?

TRINA - My cousin.

DEXTER - Your cousin? Who's your cousin?

RONNIE thinks - Oh God!

TRINA - Her name is Tracina.

DEXTER - She goes to Ahpla?

TRINA - No. She's from back home but she's gonna be visiting me soon. Just hanging out with me. I could hook it up for you. She's gonna need somebody to show her around and I'll have a few exams to take so I can't do it.

DEXTER - Oh yeah?

TRINA - Yep. What you think? You down? Maybe we can even double date or somethin'.

(DEXTER turns to RONNIE.)

DEXTER - What you think dog? You met her cousin... um what's her name?

TRINA - Tracina.

DEXTER - Yeah Tracina. You met her dog?

RONNIE - Yeah, I met her.

DEXTER - So what you think? Should I hook this up?

RONNIE - Yeah, its all good.

DEXTER - Yeah but dog, should I meet her and try to holler?

RONNIE - Yeah, its all good.

DEXTER - I mean, is she cute dog?

TRINA - Of course my cousin is cute!

(DEXTER laughs.)

DEXTER - Is she cute dog?

RONNIE - Yeah, its all good.

TRINA - See, Ronnie thinks she's cute. So what do ya say? Can I hook yall up?

(DEXTER looks back at RONNIE.)

RONNIE - It's... all good dog.

DEXTER - Okay cool. Hook it up.

(TRINA smiles a big smile.)

TRINA - Oh goodie! Goodie! Let me call her right now! I'll be right back!

(TRINA pulls her cell phone out and steps away from the table as she dials.)

DEXTER - Trina is crazy dog. Ha ha ha.

(RONNIE watches TRINA walk away. As soon as she gets far enough he turns to DEXTER.)

RONNIE - Dog! What the hell you do that for?

DEXTER - What?

RONNIE - Go out with her cousin! I was tryin' to tell your ass hell no!

DEXTER - What? You kept sayin' it was all good!

RONNIE - I was trying to say it with some sarcasm! Didn't you see the look on my face!

DEXTER - No man! I didn't see any look! Why did you keep sayin' it was all good?

RONNIE - What was I supposed to say? I didn't wanna get in trouble!

DEXTER - Damn dog!

RONNIE - Shit! You and Tracina! Dammit!

DEXTER - Well what the hell is wrong with Tracina anyway?

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DERRICK - Whatever happened between Caryn... and Nino, you can't change that and you may never know what happened. But the bottom line Candace is that there's a little baby involved. A baby that everyone has been overlooking from the beginning. A baby who... unfortunately, is Nino's son.

(silence)

DERRICK - Unfortunately, he is the son of your deceased ex boyfriend.

(CANDACE is crying silently.)

DERRICK - You feel me?

CANDACE - Yeah.

(CANDACE is sniffling.)

DERRICK - You okay?

CANDACE - Honestly?

DERRICK - Yeah, honestly.

CANDACE - No. No I'm not.

(DERRICK sighs.)

DERRICK - What are you gonna need to be okay? If there's anything that I can do, you name it. I'll do anything within my power to help you get through this.

CANDACE - Thank you Derrick. I didn't mean to yell at you.

DERRICK - Its okay. I know emotions are high.

CANDACE - Yeah.

DERRICK - Well if there's anything that I can do...

CANDACE - Yeah uh... I'm glad you said that actually. Because there is something.

DERRICK - Name it. Anything.

(CANDACE pauses.)

CANDACE - I want you to arrange a meeting between me and Caryn.