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Season 1 - Episode 13
We resume our episode this week in the Ahpla University Administration building where Dr Melinda Ferguson is finishing up her monthly meeting with the Parent's Council.
Melinda: In conclusion, the faculty and staff at Ahpla University are very excited about all that the upcoming academic year has to hold. Under my leadership, we anticipate many new iniatives and programs being put into place this year. We have some new faces on the administrative staff, with fresh energy that has revitalized the rest of the office. Academically, we're are excelling, and we are confident that the incorporation of the new Hospitality and Tourism program should generate even more prospective student interest in the University. This is a good time to be at Ahpla; students, parents, and faculty alike are proud to be associated with the Ahpla name. Thank you.
The Board claps lightly for Melinda.
Melinda: Are there any questions?
Carsen Davenport: Wonderful presentation, Dr. Ferguson, however, I do have one item of business that I'd like to bring to your attention..
Melinda: Certainly, Mrs. Davenport.
Carsen Davenport: The board is a bit concerned about the new Director of Greek life, Ms Mona Ferguson.
Melinda: Go on....
Carsen Davenport: Well you see, the board has been getting several complaints since opening convocation about Ms Ferguson's speech. The students are livid and the parent's are confused. It's causing quite a commotion among the Ahpla family. Are you aware of these concerns, Dr. Ferguson?
Melinda: Well, uh, yes, I've received a few concerns.
Carsen Davenport: And what, Dr. Ferguson has your response been to these concerns?
Melinda: Well, I've assured the parent's the the situation is being handled.
Carsen Davenport: How is it being handled?
Melinda: Well, I have scheduled a meeting with Ms Ferguson to discuss these concerns.
Carsen Davenport: I feel like I should also make you aware that a lot of the parents are expressing some concern over the fact that Ms Ferguson is your daughter. They are starting to think that it's becoming a conflict of interest.
Melinda: Mrs. Davenport,, I can assure you and the rest of the board that Ms Ferguson was hired solely based on her qualifications and although she is my daughter, she is being held to the same, if not higher standard of excellence that I expect my from my entire staff.
Carsen Davenport: That's good to hear, Dr. Ferguson. I'm sure the board echo's my sentiments when I say that we'll all be very delighted to see you uphold this statement. But just as a extra measure of precaution, I'll be monitoring this situation very closely. I'm sure you understand my position. The board is very pleased with your tenure but my first loyalty is to the students and the parents.
Melinda: Absolutely. Very well then, if there are no further questions, I'd like to make a motion that we adjourn the meeting.
Carsen Davenport: Is there a second?
Parent's Council member: Second
Carsen Davenport: All those in favor of adjourning let it be known by saying I.
Unison: I
Carsen Davenport: All those oppose let it be known by saying nay.
SIlence
Carsen Davenport: Meeting adjourned.
Melinda quickly gathers her briefcase and begins making her way back towards her office. As she returns, she appears to be a bit frazzled and she whisks past her assistant, Romona, and into her office. As she sits down to her desk, her cell phone rings. She looks and sees that it is Mona and presses the ignore button on the phone. She lets out a deep sigh and sits down to her desk and closes her eyes. Her cell phone begins to ring again and she picks it up in irritation, expecting it to be Mona again. She is surprised to see that it is Joseph calling instead.
Melinda: Hi Joe.
Joseph: Hey baby!
Silence
Joseph: Baby? You there?
Melinda: Yeah Joe, I'm here. I just had a rough afternoon.
Joseph: What happened?
Melinda: Ehh, I really don't wanna get into it over the phone. What is it that you want, Joe?
Joseph: What is that supposed to mean?
Melinda: Nothin'.
Joseph: Lindy, what it is?
Melinda: How was your surprise weekend getaway?
Joseph: Lindy, I know you are not jealous.
Silence
Joseph: Well if you must know, I had a terrible time. All I did the entire time I was out there was think about you. I miss you, Lindy. Can I see you tonight?
Melinda: When?
Joseph: Whatever time is good for you. You name the time and the place and I'll be there. I love you, Lindy and I don't want to loose you a second time.
Melinda (mumbling): Actually it was more like you gave me up than lost me.
Joseph: What's that?
Melinda: Nothin'. Um....I guess maybe we could meet at our place.
Joseph: Okay, what time?
Melinda: Uh.....is 9:00 too late?
Joseph: 9:00 is perfect. I'll be there. Oh and Linda?
Melinda: Yes, Joe?
Joseph: I love you.....
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Back at the Jewel House, Laray has just discovered Sheena's duffle bag on Nathaniel's bedroom floor.
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!
Nathaniel: I don't know.
Laray: You don't know?
Nathaniel: No. Yes. I don't know. Laray, I'm still sleepy from that medicine. Can we talk about this later?
Laray: No we can't. We can talk about it now! What do you mean you don't know? How would her bag just mysteriously be in your room and you not know how it got here?
Nathaniel:Maybe it's Jovan's.
Laray: Why would Jovan have Sheena's bag?
Silence
Laray: Nate, what is goin' on here?
Nathaniel: Nothin' is goin' on. Stop trippin'. I told you I didn't know how it got here.
Laray: I don't believe you, Nate.
Nathaniel: Well I can't do anything about that. I just told you I didn't know. If you don't believe me, that's your choice.
Nathaniel thinks: Dag. Why did I just lie to her?
Laray: Why are you actin' like this?
Nathaniel: I told you I don't feel good and I'm still sleepy from the medicine but you still won't leave me alone!
Laray: Oh that's what you want? To be left alone?
Silence
Laray: Nate! Do you hear me? You want me to leave you alone?
Silence
Laray: Nate why are you doin' this? Say somethin'!
Nathaniel: Laray, I don't feel good. Just let me go back to sleep, please. I don't want to fight with you but I'm tired and grumpy right now and I'd really like to be left alone.
Laray: Thanks a lot, Nate. You know sometimes you can be so selfish! I really needed you to be here for me tonight. I have a lot on my mind and I was tryin' to talk to you and tell you somethin' personal to me, but of course you couldn't put yourself aside for even one night to be there for me.
Nathaniel stares at Laray in silence.
Nathaniel: Can you turn the light out on your way out?
Laray starts to cry and gets up to run out of the room.
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Across campus, Laci and Joriah have gone back to her dorm room to talk.
Laci: You want somethin' to drink?
Joriah: Nah, I'm straight.
Laci: You sure? I have some water, tea, and soda.
Joriah: Nah, I'm good.......unless you got somethin' a lil stronger I can mix with that soda.
Laci: That bad, huh?
Joriah: Yeah....
Laci: I think I got somethin' in here. I'll look around.
Joriah: Thanks.
Laci: So tell me what's been goin' on.
Joriah: Nitra dumped me.
Laci: I heard.
Joriah: Yeah.......
Laci: Because of me?
Joriah: Well not just because of you but yeah........you were a part of it.
Laci: Joriah, that's crazy. Me and you been friends since 1st grade. We grew up together. I am not someone she needed to be jealous of.
Joriah: I know but it's like things been kinda crazy for the past few months anyway. Ever since I crossed, things have changed.
Laci: Really? How?
Joriah: I don't know. It's like......she thinks I changed or somethin'.
Laci: Well have you?
Joriah: No! Well........I don't think so. I mean you know how it is when you first cross. You just wanna be around your sands all the time experiencing greek life.
Laci: Yeah. But Denitra isn't greek, Joriah.
Joriah: So what are you sayin'?
Laci: I'm sayin' that she may not understand that, Joriah and so you can't be mad at her for wantin' things to be just the way they were. It's an adjustment and maybe you should have worked a little harder to compromise with her until she got used to it.
Joriah: Or maybe I just need a girl who is greek.
Laci: Now what is that supposed to mean? Do you want to be with Nitra or not?
Joriah: Yeah, of course I do. I mean........I don't know. I love her, Laci but maybe we've outgrown each other.
Laci: Well.......maybe...but I can't tell you that. Only you and Denitra can make that decision.
Joriah: Yeah, that's true. Anyway.....enough about me......what's up with you? Who you messin' with these days?
Laci: I'm livin' the single life right now.
Joriah: Oh the single life, huh? Yeah, whatever! I hear how dudes talk about you on campus. Everybody is tryin' to get your attention.
Laci: Yeah, everybody but the one person I wish was tryin' to get my attention.
Joriah: Oh yeah? Who's that?
Laci: It's a secret.
Joriah: What! Girl please! We been friends forever! When we start keepin' secrets?
Laci: You don't know everything about me, Joriah! Now leave me alone. A girl is entitled to have some secrets.
Joriah (laughs): Yeah, alright......dag girl.....I miss this.
Laci: Miss what?
Joriah: This! Remember in high school how we used to sit around in my mama's basement just laughin' and trippin' out all the time?
Laci: Yeah, I remember.....
Joriah: It's so nice to just be able to sit and talk to you. It's nice to just be myself.
Awkward silence
Joriah: Well I guess I better be goin'. Thanks for inviting me over, Laci. I really appreciate it. I feel a lot better than I did earlier.
Laci: Yeah it's nice to see you smilin' again.
Joriah: Well I have you to thank for that.
Silence
Laci: Well, um.....ok, I guess I'll just see you around campus.
Joriah: Yeah, no doubt.
Joriah walks towards the door and turns around.
Joriah: Hey Laci, you know that guy you were talkin' about?
Laci: What guy?
Joriah: The one you said you wish he was tryin' to get your attention...
Laci: Oh yeah. What about it?
Joriah: I bet he does want your attention.
Laci: And what makes you so sure?
Joriah (smiles): I don't know. Just a hunch. Maybe you should tell him how you feel.
Laci: What if he doesn't feel the same way?
Joriah: He does.......
Joriah's cell phone rings and he looks down and sees that it is Denitra.....
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Later that evening, off campus Melinda and Joseph meet up at a secluded cottage they have rented just outside of the city. After a few glasses of wine, they make love by the fireplace. Afterwards, Joseph goes to the kitchen and brings back another glass of wine for Melinda and they lie down in the bedroom to talk.
Melinda: That was amazing.
Joseph: Yes, it was. I told you I missed you.
Melinda (blushing): I missed you, too......
Joseph: So tell me what's been goin' on. What happened today?
Melinda: I feel like all I do lately is complain to you about work.
Joseph: Okay would you rather me complain about my work?
Melinda: What is there to complain about? You're the head of your department at the hospital. Compared to a University President, that's a piece a cake! (starts to laugh)
Joseph: Oh yeah? Wanna trade?
Melinda: Anytime! I could do your job and mine and never break a sweat!
Joseph: Oh you're superwoman now, huh?
Melinda: Always have been!
Joseph: Yeah, you got that right! Wow, Linda, we are quite the power couple, huh?
Melinda: Yeah, I guess we are.
Joseph: We didn't turn out so bad.
Melinda: Those two kids at Ahpla had no idea what was lying ahead for them, huh?
Joseph: No, they didn't.....
Melinda and Joe sit in silence for a moment, both thinking back to their days as students at Ahpla.
Melinda: Carsen cornered me pretty badly today at the Parent's Council meeting.
Joseph: How so?
Melinda: About Mona! What else! She said she's been getting complaints from the parent's about Mona.
Joseph: Well you knew that already....
Melinda: Yeah, exactly. I knew it already. Carsen and I already met about this. She only brought it up at the meeting to try and embarrass me in front of the Council. I feel like she purposely goes out of her way to try and make me look incompetent.
Joseph: I'm sorry.
Melinda: Its not your fault.
Joseph: I know, but......
Melinda: Oh, Joe, you know what......forget I brought it up........really......I don't want to put you in awkward position.
Joseph: I want you to feel like you can talk to me about anything..........even if it is putting me in a.....
Joseph is interrupted by the doorbell ringing at the cottage. He looks over at Melinda whose face is filled with just as much surprise as his. The doorbell rings again and is followed by loud and rapid knock on the door.
Joseph (whispering): Are you expecting someone?
Melinda (whispering): No! No one knows about this place! Did you tell anyone?
Joseph: Of course not!
The doorbell rings again and the knocking gets louder and more intense......
Melinda: Who could it be? Should we answer the door?
Joseph: We have to! Your car is outside!
Melinda: Oh my gosh! Joe! What if it's Carsen!
The doorbell rings again.
Melinda: Well whoever it is.......they clearly aren't going to leave. I guess I have to get it. Go to the bedroom and close the door!
As Joseph begins to slowly tiptoe towards the bedroom, the knocks get louder and the doorbell starts ringing at the same time. Melinda waits for Joseph to close the door and then walks over to the front door. She takes a deep breath, smoothes her hair down, wipes her palms on the front of her shirt and begins to turns the knob slowly to open the door.........
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