Episode 30

CARYN approaches DONNA quickly and forcefully, knocking over her son in the process.

LIL DERRICK - Mommy!

(LIL DERRICK runs from his toys and rushes CARYN to hug her.)

LIL DERRICK - Mommy! Mommy!

(As he approaches her for a hug, she pushes him away and knocks him onto the floor. Instead of hugging him, she rushes toward DONNA and pushes her hard.)

CARYN - You bitch! You told that bitch Candace about me and Nino didn't you! Didn't you!

DONNA - What?

LIL DERRICK - Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! Mommyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

CARYN - Don't play dumb bitch! You told Candace you traitor!

(CARYN pushes DONNA again.)

DONNA - Caryn wait! Chill out!

CARYN - Hell no you traitor!

(MIKE rushes over to try and grab CARYN.)

MONA - Oh my God!

LIL DERRICK - Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

CARYN - I can't believe you would stab me in the back! You! Of all people!

LIL DERRICK - Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

DONNA - Caryn I'm sorry! I didn't mean for this to happen!

CARYN - What the fuck you think was gonna happen bitch!

LIL DERRICK - Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

(MIKE has a good hold on CARYN but she is squirming away and trying to get back at DONNA.)

CARYN - Let me go! Let me go!

DONNA - Caryn I didn't mean for this to happen but you pulled some foul shit! Don't act like I'm the bad guy!

LIL DERRICK - AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAh!

CARYN - You are the fuckin' bad guy because you broke the honor code! You can't be trusted! Who's side are you on anyway!

DONNA - Its not about sides Caryn! That's my point! You made this out to be a way or some shit and you the only person fighting it!

CARYN - Oh yeah? Oh yeah! You think Candace aint fighting me? Look at this shit!

(She gets MIKE to let her go and she rushes to her dresser. She pulls out a letter.)

CARYN - This is the court papers telling me that Derrick no longer has to pay for my baby anymore! How the hell am I supposed to survive now? You think Candace aint have shit to do with this? You think Candace aint up somewhere chillin' with my money?

DONNA - That is ridiculous Caryn! That's not his son! Why should he have to pay for him?

LIL DERRICK - Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

CARYN - Shut up boy!

(silence)

MONA - Look look... everybody just calm down... take it easy.

(silence)

(MONA stands between the two and turns to CARYN.)

MONA - Caryn you fighting a losing battle.

CARYN - Like hell I am!

MONA - Just listen to me!

CARYN - No because she...

MONA - Listen to me!

(silence)

MONA - Derrick wasn't paying child support no more. Period. That aint got nothing to do with Candace alright? Just face the facts. That cow aint givin' you no more milk and no more butter. You better see how much you can squeeze from Bobby.

CARYN - Hmph! Yeah right!

(MONA turns to DONNA.)

MONA - D, I know what Caryn did was... was shady... although I admire the creativity... I wouldn't have even thought of that nasty shit!

(MIKE laughs... DONNA and CARYN don't.)

MONA - But going against your girl was wrong. We supposed to be partners you know what I'm sayin'? It aint about us against them or whatever. Its about us. And you can't be trusted I guess.

DONNA - So its like that?

(DONNA is looking past MONA and looking directly at CARYN.)

CARYN - Get the hell out of my house!

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The ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho, ROS, ALEXIS and CANDACE are hanging out in CANDACE's room.

ROS - I just feel bad. That's all I'm saying.

ALEXIS - And I understand. I hear ya.

CANDACE - Well all I'm saying is it isn't your fault. You did the best you could. What did he want you to do?

ROS - Its not a matter of me doing something else... I don't know.

ALEXIS - See, the thing that is so bad is that you did so well and he did so bad.

ROS - I didn't do all that hot.

ALEXIS - Ros, you got an A.

(CANDACE and ALEXIS laugh.)

ROS - It was a low A.

CANDACE - It was a low A.

(CANDACE tries to sound sophisticated which makes ALEXIS laugh again.)

ROS - I just don't want to talk about that part because I don't want to upset Gary or anything.

ALEXIS - Yeah.

CANDACE - And he failed it? Like totally?

ROS - Well, he got a D. So might as well.

CANDACE - Maybe he's just dumb.

ROS - Candace!

CANDACE - I'm just saying. Just because he's cute and he goes to Ahpla don't make him a super genius.

ROS - He isn't dumb okay. Accounting is not his major but he has to take it in order to graduate. And some people just don't understand numbers like that. I mean, I tried to help him study and he just wasn't getting it. That's all.

ALEXIS - Maybe you can try harder next time.

ROS - From the way he sounded, there might not be a next time.

CANDACE - See, that's what I'm saying. He's blaming you and it isn't your fault. That's foul.

ROS - He's not blaming me at all Candace.

CANDACE - Mmm hmm. I don't like him. I got a bad impression about him when we met.

ROS -Oh shut up.

CANDACE - I'm for real Ros.

ROS - Listen to Miss I got an NBA man over here.

CANDACE - Oh don't even go there. That aint got nothing to do with it.

(ROS smiles but was serious with that comment.)

ALEXIS - So what's the deal now? You're waiting for him to call or something?

ROS - Yeah, we're gonna go overe there and check him out. He does want to go through each exam question to kind of see what he did wrong and why he did so bad. And I wanted you to come through with me. Just for support.

ALEXIS - Yeah, no problem. I got you.

CANDACE - Oh Lawd. Not yall two tag teamin' him!

ROS - Shut up.

ALEXIS - I think we need to support our brothers more often. Hey, at least he's in college, studying hard, and trying to make something of himself. How many young men do we see walking around this campus or the neighborhood past the shuttle stop and they just hangin' out and couldn't care less.

ROS - Gary seems like a great guy. I mean we just are getting to know one another but I really think that...

(ROS' cell phone rings and she stops immediately and rushes to grab it.)

CANDACE - In a hurry huh?

(ROS doesn't even hear that comment and answers.)

ALEXIS - So when did you meet Gary?

CANDACE - A few days ago. I was coming in the dorm and she and him were leaving out. Quick introduction but it seemed to me that he didn't even smile or nothing. He barely acknowledged me and was looking all out in the distance like my presence was distracting him or something.

ALEXIS - He probably had a lot of his mind with this big exam coming up.

CANDACE - That don't mean you can be rude. I mean damn, I'm like best friends with the girl you tryin' to kick it to.

(ROS hangs up.)

ROS - Okay Lex, you ready? That was him.

ALEXIS - Yeah, let's go. How is he?

ROS - Kind of upset.

ALEXIS - Okay.

CANDACE - Well yall take care. The pamperin' committee.

ROS - Hush! You don't boo hoo for Derrick if he has a bad game? If he misses a shot at the buzzer or something? Stop calling the kettle black okay?

(ROS grabs her things. She is clearly defensive.)

CANDACE - Look, all I'm sayin' is...

ROS - Nevermind Candace. Come on Lex.

(ROS opens the door to leave.)

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ROS and ALEXIS have left CANDACE's room. She picks up her phone and dials.

DERRICK - Hey.

CANDACE - Hey. Busy?

DERRICK - Naw, I'm in the airport.

CANDACE - How you doin' babe.

DERRICK - I'm good. How you?

CANDACE - Chillin'. Ros and Alexis just left out of here and I wanted to ask you something.

DERRICK - Okay, hold on one second.

(CANDACE can hear DERRICK in the background.)

DERRICK - Huh? Yeah that's cool. Um get me a chicken sandwich or something. Thanks!

(He comes back.)

DERRICK - Sorry bout that.

CANDACE - What I tell you about airport food?

DERRICK - Shoot, at least its better than hotel food!

CANDACE - Anyway. Ros met this guy and they are semi dating I guess.

DERRICK - Uh huh.

CANDACE - And so they're taking the same class. Accounting. So Ros is doing much better so she is trying to tutor him or something.

DERRICK - Uh huh.

CANDACE - And he didn't pass the last test and she got an A. So he's all pissed off about it and like going off on her.

DERRICK - He went off on her?

CANDACE - Well he didn't necessarily go off on her but...

DERRICK - Wait, hold on...

CANDACE - Okay.

DERRICK - Thanks dog. Aw man you stupid! Ha ha ha ha ha! Yo Flip! You see this dude man? Aw go head! Ha ha ha ha!

(He comes back.)

DERRICK - Ha ha ha, hello?

CANDACE - Yall actin' silly in the airport again?

DERRICK - Yeah. These fools, they act like a bunch of kids. Be running around, chasing each other, I swear! Anyway, go ahead hon.

CANDACE - Oh, so yeah. I don't know. Just seems fishy to me.

DERRICK - Well I was never good in accounting personally and Ahpla has one of the hardest departments on business anywhere, ya know? That shit is no joke. So I know it must be frustrating to meet a nice girl and she is doing so much better. He probably feels dumb and insecure.

CANDACE - So am I making too much out of this?

DERRICK - Probably, knowing you.

CANDACE - What! What's that suppposed to mean Mister!

(DERRICK is talking while he is chewing.)

DERRICK - I'm just saying. Ha ha ha ha!

(There is a knock on CANDACE's door.)

CANDACE - Somebody is at my door. You lucky but you're in trouble.

DERRICK - Oh gosh!

(They both laugh.)

CANDACE - I'll call you back. Eat your airport food.

DERRICK - Okay. Love you.

CANDACE - Love you too.

DERRICK - And calm down.

CANDACE - Shut up.

(They hang up.)

CANDACE thinks - Shoot, I need to probably do some studying myself before I sound like Gary!

(She opens the door.)

CANDACE - Hey Donna, wassup girl?

DONNA - I can't believe you attacked Caryn the way that you did! You totally showed no regard for me and physically asaulted another woman!

CANDACE - What?

(CANDACE looks down the hall because DONNA is being very loud. She quickly invites DONNA inside.)

DONNA - If I had known you were gonna hit up Caryn and just put me out there like that then I never would've told you!

CANDACE - Donna, think about what you told me! Think about what Caryn did!

DONNA - I don't care what she did! Does that make it right for you to beat her up?

CANDACE - Okay granted my emotions got the best of me, but can you blame me? Look at how she treats me! Look at how she treats Nino's son! Look at how she tries to pimp Derrick! And she had me thinking that Nino cheated on me all this time!

DONNA - Nevermind all of that! I aint saying that the girl is foul but you twice as foul for what you did! You played me and you hit her! I really didn't think you would go out like that! I thought you would handle your business but in a more ladylike manner! I guess your true colors came out too!

CANDACE - Now hold up! Don't go accusing me and pointing fingers at me! Don't get mad at me because your girl is a hooch!

DONNA - Whatever! She's still a human being and deserves to be treated with respect!

(DONNA turns to leave.)

DONNA - I don't want to be associated with SGRho anymore! I'm shocked and surprised!

CANDACE - Now wait a minute! One aint got nothing to do with the other!

DONNA - Oh yes it does. In a big way!

(DONNA opens the door to leave.)

CANDACE - I'm not going to beg you to come out for my sorority Donna!

DONNA - You won't have to!

(SLAM)

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XAVIER is in his room using his computer. He is chatting online and writing a paper at the same time.

LIL RED - I got a story to finish and a paper to write.

SWEETEST IVY - All by tomorrow?

LIL RED - Yeah but writing is no big deal for me. I'll knock it out.

SWEETEST IVY - Well go head with your bad self.

LIL RED - LOL

SWEETEST IVY - brb

(He switches screens and continues to work on his paper. His phone rings.)

XAVIER - Hello?

DARLENE - Hi Z its Darlene.

XAVIER - Hey girl wassup?

DARLENE - Listen, I'm down here at the office and I just realized we got a missing piece in the paper.

XAVIER - We do? Where?

DARLENE - Page seven.

XAVIER - How big?

DARLENE - Small copy but you know the paper is due tomorrow.

XAVIER - You need a quick filler?

DARLENE - Could you come up with something?

XAVIER - I should be able to. I gotta find something but I probably can handle it.

SWEETEST IVY - Back

LIL RED - Hold on a second.

SWEETEST IVY - k

DARLENE - Thanks Z, you are a life saver!

XAVIER - No problem. You gonna be down at the office?

DARLENE - Yeah, I aint goin' nowhere!

XAVIER - Okay I'll meet you down there.

DARLENE - Cool! See ya in a few!

XAVIER - Aight.

(They hang up.)

LIL RED - I gotta go down to the newspaper office. One of the editors just called me and we need something written up to fill a space.

SWEETEST IVY - Aren't you arleady backed up with your work and stuff?

LIL RED - Yeah but I can knock this out too.

SWEETEST IVY - You aint no joke.

LIL RED - Plus I think she's feelin' me. She's kinda cute too so I'll go see what its about.

SWEETEST IVY - Look at you!

LIL RED - LOL! So I'll catch ya lata.

SWEETEST IVY - Yall pretty boys kill me! Always thinking somebody want you!

LIL RED - Yo! Yo!

SWEETEST IVY - LOL! Bye boy!

LIL RED - Later

(XAVIER logs off and starts to shut his system down when his phone rings again.)

XAVIER - Hello.

JAY - Z wassup man.

XAVIER - Wassup Jay what's goin' on frat.

JAY - Bruh, they said Eric was guilty in his court case.

XAVIER - What!

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GARY and his boy SLIM from down the hall are chillin' in GARY's room. GARY is in a bad mood because of his accounting exam.

SLIM - Yo, I got a bag in my room. Want me to go get it?

GARY - Naw dude, I'm good.

SLIM - Got damn, I know you in a bad mood you aint tryin' to hit this blunt?

GARY - Naw. I'm straight man, I aint into it today.

SLIM - I'm sayin'.

GARY - Dude, if I fail this class its all over.

SLIM - You aint gonna fail son. You know what I'm sayin'?

GARY - That's easier said.

SLIM - I feel you but damn you can't do nothing about the last test you know what I'm sayin'? That shit is in the past. So you need to focus on the next one and shit.

GARY - Yeah.

(The phone rings.)

GARY - Yeah, you right.

(GARY lazily picks it up.)

GARY - Hello.

ROS - Hey its Ros. We here, at the front desk.

GARY - Okay.

(He hangs up.)

GARY - I'll be right back.

SLIM - Okay.

(SLIM grabs the remote and sits back. GARY gets up and walks into the hall and to the lobby.)

ROS - Hi.

GARY - Hey wassup.

ROS - This is my soror Alexis. Lex this is Gary.

(ALEXIS extends her hand and her student ID at the smae time.)

ALEXIS - Nice to finally meet you. Ros told me all about you.

GARY - Nice to meet you too.

(GARY takes the two IDs and turns to sign them in. ALEXIS looks at ROS because of GARY's attitude. ROS brushes her off and winks at her.)

ROS - So how you feelin'?

GARY - I'm cool. You know what I'm sayin'. I just gotta refocus ya know?

ROS - Exactly. If you refocus, you can slam the next one and be back on track.

(GARY gets quiet as they walk toward his room.)

ROS - You know they drop one exam. The worst one so technically this one won't count for you.

(GARY opens the door.)

GARY - Yeah, I heard that. I guess I aint got no more room to fuck up then huh?

(ALEXIS is kind of taken aback by his language.)

GARY - Yo this is my boy Slim from down the hall. This is Ros and... what was your name again?

ALEXIS - Alexis.

GARY - My bad, Alexis.

(SLIM stands up and extends his hand to both ROS and ALEXIS.)

SLIM - Hi, pleased to meet yall.

ROS - Hi.

ALEXIS - Hi, how you doin'?

SLIM - I'm good. Here, sit down.

(SLIM steps out of the way so the ladies can have a seat.)

ROS - Thanks.

ALEXIS - Do you play basketball? Have I seen you before?

(SLIM laughs.)

SLIM - Naw, I don't ball. Everybody asks me that because of my height. But naw, I don't play.

GARY - Cuz he aint go no skill!

SLIM - Aw shut up nigga.

(They all laugh. GARY tries to laugh but is still in a funk.)

ALEXIS - You still look kinda familiar. Where you from?

SLIM - Connecticut. What about you?

ALEXIS - Philly. So I guess it aint that.

(SLIM slides the stocking cap off his head.)

SLIM - I still look familiar?

ALEXIS - Um... I don't know, I can't place it.

SLIM - I got one of those familiar mugs I guess.

(ALEXIS smiles.)

(silence)

ROS - So you want to go over the test or something?

GARY - Uh yeah. Um its in my room. Come on.

(He gets up and she follows him.)

ROS - I'll be right back Lex.

ALEXIS - Okay.

SLIM - Don't worry, I won't mug her or nothing.

(ROS and ALEXIS laugh.)

SLIM - Shit she might mug me comin' from Philly!

ALEXIS - That's right! You better watch it!

(They both laugh. ROS walks into GARY's room and he closes the door behind her.)

ROS - Gary I'm sorry you didn't do well. I really feel bad. Maybe we weren't focusing on the right things when we were studying.

GARY - It aint that. I just aint good with numbers. It just aint my thing. I didn't come to college to be a numbers cruncher. My other shit is top notch but I don't do numbers. I plan to hire an accountant. I aint tryin' to be one!

(ROS smiles.)

GARY - Anyway, here's the shit.

(He hands it to her.)

ROS - Okay let me see. Okay now look, this one right here. This first one, we went over this one. Remember? This one is like the exact question that we studied. You don't remember us going through this one?

(GARY looks at it.)

GARY - Naw.

ROS - And this one here. See, remember how I was telling you that you have to drop the number in this column and not that one? That's why you got this one wrong.

(He's getting more frustrated.)

ROS - Okay look, let's just sit down and take it slow okay?

GARY - I aint stupid!

(ROS is startled a little.)

ROS - I know that. But like you said, numbers isn't your thing. I can understand that. So let's just...

GARY - Let's just chill on this for a minute okay?

ROS - O... okay. So what you wanna do instead?

(ROS puts the test down. GARY is quiet for a minute.)

ROS - Are you okay?

GARY - Its just that if I fail this class I won't graduate. My father is gonna kick my ass and my gpa is gonna be fucked up.

ROS - Look you won't fail. We just need to refocus and work hard.

(silence)

ROS - Okay?

(silence)

GARY - The next exam...

ROS - Uh huh?

GARY - ...your class gets it before my class does. Like two hours before.

ROS - Yeah? So?

GARY - What I want you to do is bring me your copy of the exam when you finish taking it.

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XAVIER - What!

JAY - That bitch got up on the stand and made E look real bad man! It didn't go in his favor.

XAVIER - Are you serious!

JAY - Bruh, no joke. They took E away in handcuffs man. We got an appeal going right now. I could kill that bitch!

XAVIER - Wait, tell me what went down.

JAY - We was up in the court room and shit was like a dream or something. So when they came back, they reached a verdict mad fast. It was like a set up or something.

XAVIER - How?

JAY - I don't know man but when you know a jury to come back so fast? I didn't trust that shit at all.

XAVIER - Uh huh go ahead.

JAY - So anyway, we was up in there and the verdict came down. We was in shock! Jessica's ass is all smiling and hugging her lawyer! Akina lost it.

XAVIER - She did!

JAY - Bruh, they had to restrain her. Eric's mom flew into professional mode and got the appeal set up mad quick. You're the first person I'm calling.

XAVIER - So frat doesn't even know!

JAY - You're my first call.

XAVIER - Oh my God!

JAY - Yeah man. So if you could start making some phone calls. I don't even know what the next step is.

XAVIER - We gotta do something! He didn't do anything.

JAY - I know. His mother and his lawyer are really on the case. They haven't given him a sentence yet but Jessica's lawyer is a beast. Some bitch but she don't do nothing but lock niggas up.

XAVIER - I can't believe I am hearing this!

JAY - Bruh, I tell you no lie.

XAVIER - Well look man, where are you now?

JAY - My crib.

XAVIER - Okay, I gotta make a stop at my office but we need to rally up the bros and see what we can do.

JAY - Okay. You wanna do that over here?

XAVIER - Yeah, its easier for me to find Gregg and Mike and get them to ride with me then for you to round up your bros.

JAY - Okay.

XAVIER - So let's say at midnight. At your place.

JAY - That works.

XAVIER - Alright man. Yo thanks for calling Jay. Keep your head up brother. We gonna do something.

JAY - Yeah.

(They hang up without another word.)

XAVIER - Oh my God! Jesus!

(He quickly dials.)

GREGG's VOICE MAIL - Yo this is G. Hit me back.

(BEEP)

XAVIER - Hit me up asap! This is an emergency!

(He hangs up and calls MIKE.)

MIKE - Yo what up Z.

XAVIER - Yo where you at! I got an emergency!

MIKE - I'm just hanging out with Mona and crazy ass Caryn. Why? Wassup?

XAVIER - Bro, they found Eric guilty!

MIKE - What!

XAVIER - Frat is meeting up over at Amgis at midnight to talk about what we can do!

MIKE - Oh shit!

XAVIER - You good?

MIKE - Hell yeah! What time!

XAVIER - Meet me in my room at eleven thirty.

MIKE - Okay cool!

XAVIER - Where's Gregg?

MIKE - I don't know! Hit him up!

XAVIER - Okay!

MIKE - Damn! Yo I'll see you then! Shit!

XAVIER - Okay!

(They hang up. He dials GREGG again.)

GREGG's VOICE MAIL - Yo this is G. Hit me...

(XAVIER hangs up.)

(silence)

(XAVIER takes off his backpack and his jacket. He falls to his knees.)

XAVIER - Father I know that you are all wise and all knowing. Your word declares that we are to make our requests known and to approach you boldly. Well I am coming bodly. I am not approaching you humbly. Please Lord look upon your child EricRobinson. I know in my heart of hearts that Eric didn't do what he is accused of. I don't think he could. Please Lord in the name of Jesus, look upon this situation. Lord this isn't right! Lord intervene on his behalf. God show your mighty and awesome power! God step in and make a difference in his life. Eric doesn't deserve this Lord and I know you know his heart. Step in right now in the name of Jesus.

(XAVIER's eyes begin to drop tears.)

XAVIER - Holy Spirit minister to Mrs. Robinson and keep her strong. Move on the defense attorney. Move on the judge, and move on the jury. Even on Jessican Lord God. Step into her life and touch her heart Lord God. She is out to get Eric for whatever reason. Change her mind in the name of Jesus. Lord God please help us. Forgive us for our sins and all the times that we turn our backs on you. But right now I am calling upon your name. I am in the need of prayer and I am coming to you the only way I know how. For my brother. Please God hear my prayer.

(silence)

XAVIER - Amen.

(silence)

(XAVIER opens his eyes. He stays on his knees and slowly wipes his face.)

(silence)

(He stands up, grabs his things and walks out the door.)