Season 1 - Episode 11
The year is 1977. It's a cold, winter night on the campus of Ahpla University. Our story picks up in Spencer Dormitory, where room mates Melinda Center and Valerie Manuel are talking, as Melinda is preparing for a special evening...
Melinda: So…..how do I look?
Melinda spins around, checking herself out in the mirror. She is dressed in a hot pink mini dress and silver thigh high boots. Her afro is pulled back into a large puff in the center of her head and she has on large silver hoop earrings.
Valerie: Foxy! Well I mean as foxy as someone can look wearing a pink dress! (laughs)
Melinda: Whatever girl! You know this pink is the best looking color in this room! Better than all that red and white you got plastered all over the wall! (laughs)
Valerie: Anyway! Don’t be mad at me cause you went the wrong way!
Melinda: You mean you went the wrong way! Alpha Kappa Alpha is the only way!
Melinda throws her pinky up and turns back to look in the mirror.
Valerie: On the real, you look fly, roomie! Joseph is gonna flip when he sees you!
Melinda: For real, Val? You really think so?
Valerie: Yes girl!
Melinda: Well…….it’s our one year anniversary and I want to look extra special for tonight!
Valerie: So what do ya’ll have planned?
Melinda: I don’t know. He won’t tell me. I did want to tell you something though……..uh………well…….just don’t worry about me if I don’t come home tonight, okay?
Valerie: What? Girl! Are you gonna spend the night with him?
Melinda: I think so, Val. I really think I’m ready.
Valerie: But Linda, you’ve never….
Melinda: I know. I waited because I always wanted my first time to be with someone special. I love Joseph and this past year has been the happiest year of my life. He makes me feel so special and I don’t know………I just think the time is right.
Valerie: And does he know about this little plan of yours?
Melinda: No…….I wanted it to be a surprise.
Valerie: Well girl the way you been havin’ that man wait………you might wanna tell him after dinner, or he’s gonna wanna skip the dinner all together!
Both girls laugh as there is a knock on the door.
Valerie: I sure hope that’s not Carsen.
Melinda: Who?
Valerie: Girl, I told you about Carsen. She wants to be a Delta so bad! Her mom is a Delta so she thinks I’m supposed to be impressed because of that.. Whatever! That girl gets on my nerves!
Valerie gets up to open the door and is greeted by Joseph Davenport III. Joseph is dressed in some black bell bottom pants with a matching jacket and a royal purple button down with a butterfly collar. His afro is freshly blown out, and he has a black fist afro pic sticking out the back of it.
Valerie: What’s up bruh!
Joseph: What’s up soror!
Melinda walks out to the door and Joseph’s mouth drops wide open.
Joseph: Melinda! Look at you!
Melinda (blushing): Thanks, Joe.
Joseph: Well, lady…you ready for a night of romance?
Valerie (under her breath): She’s ready for a little more than romance…….
Melinda shoots Valerie a look and then looks back at Joseph and extends her hand towards him.
Melinda: Lead the way!
Joseph: Well let’s go then, mama! See ya later, Val!
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Scene 2
We resume our story at Present Day Ahpla where Laray and Krystalyn are working in the Student Assembly office. Just as they have just gained access to the computer with Mona’s password, suddenly the door swings open. Krystalyn and Laray look up to see Mona standing in the doorway. With a look of shock on her face, Mona looks back and forth between Laray and the computer. Just then she places her left hand on her hip and her look of shock turns to anger.
Mona (in a loud voice): Laray? What are you doing in here this late?! You know assembly officers are only allowed in here during office hours. You better have a good explanation for this!
Laray: Oh uh……..hey Mon……..Ms Ferguson.
Krystalyn looks Mona up and down.
Krystalyn: What’s up Mona.
Mona: I believe I asked you a question, Laray! What are you doing in here? Answer me, now!
Laray: Well uh………
Krystalyn (jumping in): You know what, Mona……..it’s my fault.
Mona: Oh is it?
Laray looks over at Krystalyn with a confused look on her face.
Krystalyn: Yeah……..you know, my computer crashed and I needed to print out something really important for the Zeta meeting and I was hoping we could do it here.
Mona: Doesn’t Ahpla still have computer labs on campus?
Krystalyn: Well yeah……..but………you know how crowded they can be. I was wrong to ask Laray to let me in here. Don’t blame her, though. It was all my idea.
Mona: Laray. Is this true?
Laray looks over at Krystalyn and Krystalyn is nodding her head.
Laray: Um…….yeah it is.
Mona: You know that it is against assembly policy to be in the office this late. It is also against policy to use the office for your own personal or organizational use.
Laray: You’re right.
Mona: Laray, I could have you written up for this, you know. You could be suspended from your office.
Krystalyn: Mona, please. Don’t blame Laray! Really, it’s my fault.
Mona: I know what’s going on here.
Laray: You do?
Mona: Yes, I do. Krystalyn, I think that it’s very nice that you are trying to take up for your line sister. Trust me, I understand. I was and am still very close to my line sisters. We would do anything in the world for each other! But rules are rules and the fact remains that you have broken them! Laray, I won’t write you up for this………but I am going to demand that you two leave immediately and if I ever catch you in here after hours again, I can tell you that I will not be this lenient!
Laray: Okay, no problem. Thanks, Mona. Come on Krys, let’s get out of here.
Laray leans over and turns the computer off, grabs her purse and leaves behind Krystalyn.
Outside, Krystalyn and Laray head towards the parking lot.
Krystalyn: That was close, Laray.
Laray: Yeah, soror, I know. Thanks for havin my back.
Krytalyn: No problem……just know that you owe me one!
Laray (smiling): Of course!
Krystalyn: Okay I gotta get over to the diner so Patrick can stop blowing my cell phone up. You wanna ride with me?
Laray: Nah, I think I’m gonna surprise Nate. His knees have been bothering him lately so I’m gonna go give my man some TLC if you know what I mean…..
Krystalyn: Okay that was a TMI! (laughs)
Laray: Not like that, soror!!! Get your mind out of the gutter!
Krystalyn: Sure, Laray……….tell me anything…….
Laray: Okay well be safe.
Krystalyn: Cool. I’ll see you later back at the room. But hey………did you have a chance to fix the budget in the computer?
Laray: No, I didn’t…..but I did see something interesting in Mona's email that we might be able to use in future......
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Scene 1 Continued
Joseph and Melinda have just finished their anniversary dinner at a local seafood restaurant. After dinner, they have gone back to Joseph’s apartment and are sitting on the couch listening to music and enjoying a glass of wine.
Joseph: So Linda………what did you think of the restaurant I picked out?
Melinda (smiling): Oh Joseph it was perfect! I loved it!
Joseph: And I love to see that smile!
Melinda (blushing): Joseph, this past year has been so wonderful. Our relationship has been just wonderful. Pledging AKA was really hard, but you were always there to encourage me and tell me I could do it. I love you so much. Happy Anniversary, Baby.
Joseph: I love you too, baby. Happy Anniversary.
Joseph leans across the couch to kiss Melinda.
Joseph: I got you a present.
Melinda: Joe! We said we weren’t exchangin' gifts!
Joseph: I know, baby. But when I saw it, I thought of you. It's no big deal. Now, close your eyes and open your hands.
Joseph places a small package in Melinda’s hand.
Melinda (opening her eyes): Joe!
Joseph: Oh girl….. just open it.
Melinda smiles and opens the box with a look of excitement on her face to find a small gold charm bracelet with a snowflake charm hanging off.
Melinda: Oh Joseph! No big deal, huh? This is beautiful!
Joseph: Do you like it?
Melinda: I love it!
Joseph: I figured if I got you a charm bracelet, I could add a charm to it every year on our anniversary. The snowflake is to remind you of the day we met…..
Melinda: Oh you mean the day you clocked me in the head with a snowball? (laughs)
Joseph (laughing): I’m tryin’ to be romantic here!
Melinda: I’m kiddin. Really Joe, I love it. Thank you. This evening was perfect.
Joseph: Yes, it was.
Melinda: It’s not over though.
Joseph: Oh it isn’t?
Melinda: No, it isn’t. You aren’t the only one with some tricks up your sleeve. I have a present for you, too.
Joseph: Really? What is it?
Melinda: Would it be okay if I spent the night at your apartment with you tonight?
Joseph: Sure….you spend the night all the time…….
Melinda: No……..I mean……..I really want to spend the night with you……..
Joseph: Oh. You mean you want to…..well…….okay but………are you sure you’re ready?
Melinda: I’ve never been more ready for anything in my life.
Melinda moves over closer to Joseph, grabbing his chin, lifting his face up to hers. She slowly leans into him, lightly brushing her left breast against his arm. She stops and stares into his eyes and then bends down and begin to kiss him timidly. In between kisses, she whispers to him “Joseph I love you so much. You make me so, so happy…….”She continues to kiss him and her shy, tentative kisses become confident and full of passion. Joseph takes his left hand and begins to caress Melinda all over and Melinda lets out a heavy sigh, softly moaning the words “Ohhhh Joe…” Finally, Joseph stops her, gets up from the couch, takes her by the hand and leads her back towards his bedroom....
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Scene 3
Across campus in the Jewel House, Sheena has come by to drop off Nate’s prescription. She has started to massage Nate’s knee and has begun to move her hand inside of Nate’s shorts. Nathaniel opens his eyes, sits up quickly, and grabs Sheena's hand.
Nathaniel: Sheena. No.
Sheena: But Nate…….
Nathaniel: I can't do this, Sheena.
Sheena (whispering seductively): Your mouth might be sayin' no but from where I'm sittin', the rest of you is sayin' yes…….
Nathaniel: I………I have a girlfriend. This is wrong, Sheena. I shouldn't have let this happen. I'm sorry if I led you on. Please leave.
Sheena: Okay fine. If that's what you really want.
Sheena gets up and walks towards the door. She turns one last time.
Sheena: I hope you feel better, Nate. Give me a call…. if you should change your mind about the massage…..or anything…….
Sheena walks out and Nate leans back on the bed.
Nate thinks: Did I do the right thing? Of course I did. I love Laray. Sleeping with Sheena would have been stupid. I hope she doesn’t tell Natalie. I am so dumb!
Nate reaches for a glass of water and takes one of his pills and lays down to rest. He falls asleep and is awoken 1 hour later by light kisses all over his face. Nate opens his eyes to find his girlfriend, Laray.
Laray: Hi Baby!
Nathaniel: Hey….
Laray: Aww! I thought you’d be happy to see me!
Nathaniel: I am. I’m just sleepy.
Laray: Did you just take your medicine?
Nathaniel: Yeah, I think so. What time is it?
Laray: 10:00
Nathaniel: Oh. Yeah I guess I did fall asleep for awhile.
Laray: What time did Natalie leave?
Nathaniel: Natalie?
Laray: Yeah! You know your twin sister, Natalie! Are you that sleepy? She brought your medicine to you right?
Nathaniel: Oh um, yeah, she did.
Nathaniel thinks: No! Why did I just lie to her?
Laray: That’s cool. Well I missed you today.
Nathaniel: I missed you too, baby.
Nathaniel sits up to give Laray a hug.
Laray: Aww that was sweet! Thanks hon! So…….let me tell you about my day. It was crazy.
Nathaniel: Why, what happened?
Laray: Well…… remember when I told you that I had to go over to the assembly office to take care of some business?
Nathaniel: Yeah
Laray: Well Krystalyn came with me. Tell me why we were in there and Mona walks in and found us in there!
Nathaniel: Okay?
Laray: Nate! You know no one is supposed to be in the assembly office after hours! I could have been in big trouble!
Nathaniel: Why were you over there so late anyway?
Laray (sighing): That’s what I needed to talk to you about that day before convocation.
Laray starts to look sad like she is about to cry.
Nathaniel: Whoa! Baby, what’s wrong? Don’t cry. Just calm down and tell me what is goin’ on.
Laray: I don’t even know where to start, Nate. I have made such a mess!
Nathaniel: Baby, I love you and whatever it is, we’ll get through this together.
Laray: You promise?
Nathaniel: I promise. Now just start at the beginnin and tell me what’s goin on.
Laray lets out a deep sigh and begins to talk.
Laray: Okay…….do you remember this past summer when I told you that the Ahpla was trying out a new pilot program and that as the treasurer, I was getting a credit card in the Student Assembly name?
Nathaniel: Yeah….
Laray: Well……..the credit card came to my house in June. It was supposed to come to school but it came to my house. So no one knew that I had the card. So I called and reported that it had been stolen but really I had it and one day I……..
Laray stops mid sentence as a black bag on the floor catches her eye.
Laray: Nate. Whose bag is that?
Nathaniel: Huh?
Laray: On the floor. Whose duffle bag is that?
Nate looks down to see the black bag that Laray is referring to and realizes that Sheena has left her duffle bag behind.
Nathaniel: Oh uh, I think its Natalie’s. You know how she leaves her stuff all over the place.
Laray, unsatisfied with Nate’s answer reaches down and unzips the bag, revealing some black boy shorts, a lacey see through top, and a can of whipped cream.
Laray: Why would Natalie leave this stuff over here?
Nathaniel: Who knows! Why does my sister do half the stuff she does?
Laray turns the bag around for further inspection and sees 3 initials embroidered into the bag.
Laray: S….R…..D………..Nate………who is S.R.D….
Just then it dawns on Laray whose bag she is holding.
Laray: Sheena….. Davenport!? Nathaniel! What is Sheena’s bag doing in your room? Was she here? I want an explanation for this right now and I want the truth!