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Season 1 - Episode 24
It is fall 1979 and the opening convocation has just ended. Student Assembly President, Melinda Center has just finished giving her opening address.
Joseph: Linda! Linda!
Melinda looks out in the crowd and spots Joseph. She runs down the stairs to meet him. She runs into his arms, giving him a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Joseph: I guess that means you are happy to see me!
Melinda: You bet I am!
Joseph: Your speech was great!
Melinda: Thanks, baby!
Joseph: You ready to get out of here?
Melinda: Um, yeah, I guess so.
Joseph: Great! So can I take the most beautiful Assembly President in the world out to lunch?
Melinda: I would love that!
Joseph and Melinda walk out of the auditorium and begin walking towards the parking lot. There are students and faculty everywhere outside the auditorium. Students and Faculty both stop Melinda to commend on her speech.
Joseph: I see you are Miss Popularity these days!
Melinda: I was always Miss Popularity!
Joseph: Oh is that right?
Melinda(laughing): Yes, that's right!
Joseph: So where you wanna eat?
Melinda: Ehh, the diner is fine.
Joseph: Anything you want!
Melinda: Are you nervous about med school?
Joseph: Nah.....
Melinda: Not even a little bit?
Joseph: Not even a little bit.
Melinda: I'll miss you....
Joseph: I know. I'm gonna miss you, too. But you know you'll be so busy this year. It's your Senior Year. With all the assembly stuff, AKA, and trying to graduate, you won't even have time to miss me! Besides, we'll visit...
Melinda: Yeah, I know.
Joseph: Baby.......stop for a minute.
Melinda stops walking and faces Joseph. Joseph puts his arms around Melinda and pulls her close to him.
Joseph: Hey....now listen to me, good, Mrs. Davenport to be.....we are going to be fine. I love you and I can't wait to marry you. I am not going anywhere. I'm not going to medical school looking for some type of replacement. I'm going down there to get through med school so I can make a good future for us. We will be fine, Linda. Okay?
Melinda: Okay. I know you are right but it's just......I'm gonna really miss you, Joe.....
Joseph: I know. I'm gonna miss you too.
Joseph pulls Melinda close and hugs her tightly. As they pull away from their embrace, they see Carsen standing there watching them with a confused look on her face.
Carsen: Hi Melinda. Joe. Uh......Joe......could we talk for a minute?
Joseph: Well I was sort of in the middle of something. Could it wait?
Carsen: Actually, no it can't. I need to talk to you. Preferably in private.....
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In Present Day Ahpla , Joi is back in her room on campus. She picks up the phone in her room and dials Jovan's number. It goes to his voicemail.
Joi: Hey sweetie. Give me a call back. I'm in my room.
Joi hangs up the phone and dials her friend, Sy'Mone's number.
Sy'Mone: Hello?
Joi: Hey girl!
Sy'Mone: Hey Joi. What's up.
Joi: Nothin' girl.
Sy'Mone: You okay?
Joi: Yeah, why?
Sy'Mone: I don't know. You sound upset.
Joi: Ehh....I just had a long day.
Sy'Mone: I hear that girl. I am really strugglin' in my College Algebra class. My homegirl, Kyra is helpin' me though. Plus with Zeta week comin' up, I been crazy busy!
Joi: Oh yeah....
Sy'Mone: You comin' to the events, right?
Joi: Yeah, I guess.....
Sy'Mone: Girl, what is wrong with you?
Joi: Nothin'.
Sy'Mone: Joi. What is it?
Joi (sighing): I saw Krystalyn today and well I don't know, Joi. I don't think I'll ever be a Zeta.
Sy'Mone: Girl you are crazy! Krystalyn likes you more than she likes me!
Joi: Yeah, probably not after today.
Sy'Mone: What? What happened?
Joi: Uh....
Sy'Mone: Uh what? What the heck happened?
Silence
Sy'Mone: Joi, you alright?
Joi: Yeah....
Sy'Mone: Girl where are you? In your room?
Joi: Yeah.
Sy'Mone: I'm on my way over. I'll see you in a few minutes.
Joi: Sy'Mone, you really don't have to....
Sy'Mone: Bye girl. Open the door for me in 10 minutes!
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Scene 1 Continued....
Joseph pulls Melinda close and hugs her tightly. As they pull away from their embrace, they see Carsen standing there watching them with a confused look on her face.
Carsen: Hi Melinda. Joe. Uh......Joe......could we talk for a minute?
Joseph: Well I was sort of in the middle of something. Could it wait?
Carsen: Actually, no it can't. I need to talk to you. Preferably in private.....
Melinda: Joe, it's fine.
Joseph: No, Linda........we were on the way to lunch....
Melinda: Okay. And we can still go. But.....Carsen looks pretty shaken up. Maybe something is happening with your frat.......I tell you what.......I need to get out of this suit anyway. I'll just run back to my apartment and change real quick and I'll meet you over at the diner in uh.....let's say 30 minutes?
Joseph: Baby, are you sure?
Melinda: I'm positive. Go. Talk. I'll see you in a sec.
Joseph: You're too good to me.
Melinda: I know!
Joseph leans down to kiss Melinda before she waves goodbye to Carsen and turns to walk towards her apartment.
Joseph: What's up Carsen.
Carsen: What's up Carsen? What's up is I been tryin' to call you all summer long! You can't return a phone call?
Joseph: I was busy.
Carsen: I can see that. You and Melinda back together, huh?
Joseph: Yeah, we are. Actually, we got back together the week after graduation.
Carsen: I thought she turned your proposal down.
Joseph: Yeah, but you know.....she was just scared and surprised. Once she had some time to really think about it, she realized she was ready after all.
Carsen: Wow. That's great, Joe. Really happy for you.
Joseph: Thanks, Carsen.
Carsen: Kinda makes what I need to talk to you about a little awkward though.
Joseph: What? Why?
Carsen: Well I'm not gonna beat around the bush. I'm just gonna come out and say it. Joe........I'm pregnant.
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Over at Baldwin Memorial hospital, we join Taylor, Demetrius, Sheena, Nathaniel, Jovan, and Sydney in Dr. Davenport's office.
In Dr. Davenport's office....
Joseph: Everyone come in and close the door. Well.....I don't want to beat around the bush....Natalie is still unconscious. I did have a chance to examine Natalie and what I found was....
Joseph pauses
Nathaniel: What is it, Dr. Davenport? Just say it! Is Natalie okay? Please tell me my sister isn't goin' to die!
Sheena reaches over to hold Nathaniel's hand.
Sheena: Nate, don't say that. Nat is gonna be okay. Right, daddy?
Joseph: Like I was saying, I had the opportunity to examine Natalie and what I found was that she experienced a severe concussion.
Nathaniel: A severe concussion?
Joseph: Yes, Nate. Severe Concussions are caused by a sudden blow or force to the head. Concussions can be mild but in Natalie's case, it was severe enough to knock her unconscious. It seems that there is a small amount of swelling in the brain. Although she hasn't regained her consciousness yet, I have full confidence that Natalie is going to pull through this okay.
Nathaniel: Oh thank God!
Joseph: Of course, Natalie will have to stay in the hospital for a few days to be under observation. Sometimes head trauma can cause a disruption in different brain functions. Sometimes it can cause dizziness, confusion, loss of short term memory, nausea, headache, and blurred vision. We want to keep Natalie here until we know that's back to herself.
Demetrius: Is there a possibility that she won't ever be back to herself?
Joseph: There's always a possibility but I have seen hundreds of cases like this. Natalie is young and in good physical shape. The chances of her fully recovering from this, and quickly is very great.
Sheena: So what do we do now?
Joseph: Well now, we just wait.
Demetrius: Are we allowed to see her?
Joseph: I believe she's being moved to a private room right now but as soon as the nurses have her settled, I believe you could probably visit with her. But only for a few minutes.
Nathaniel: Thank you, Dr. Davenport. Thank you, so much.
Joseph: No problem, Nate. Don't worry. Natalie is going to be fine.
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Scene 2 Continued....
Over in King dormitory, Sy'Mone has just arrived to visit with her friend, Joi.
Joi: Sy'Mone, you really didn't have to come all the way over here!
Sy'Mone: I know I didn't have to. I wanted to. Besides, slow as you are movin' these days, I would have been waitin' a week for you to get to me!
Joi laughs and picks up a pillow to throw at Sy'Mone.
Sy'Mone: So girl, what the heck is goin' on?
Joi: No small talk for you, huh?
Sy'Mone: You think I walked over here for small talk? Now spill it, Joi!
Joi: Well I kinda ran into Krystalyn today and let's just say, it wasn't exactly a pleasant exchange.
Sy'Mone: Where did you run into her?
Joi: The library.
Sy'Mone: Okay.....
Joi: I was kinda with Patrick.
Sy'Mone: Ooh girl! Kinda with Patrick or with him? Two different things!
Joi: Okay fine, I was with Patrick.
Sy'Mone: Okay..... with him doin' what?
Joi: Just talkin'.
Sy'Mone (mocking Joi's voice): Just talkin'! Mmm Hmm........talkin' about what?
Joi: Zeta Phi Beta.
Sy'Mone: What?
Joi: I wanted to know if he had any info on the sorority so I called him to meet me over there and Krystalyn just happened to walk up. She was upset and told me I had no business askin' Patrick about Zeta.
Sy'Mone: Okay Joi, who are you foolin'? Obviously if you need any info about Zeta, you could ask me. So what were you really doin' with Patrick?
Silence
Sy'Mone: Joi...I thought we were girls. Why are you hidin' stuff from me?
Joi: I just don't want to get you involved with my mess, Sy'Mone.
Sy'Mone: What mess? Joi. Is it about the baby?
Silence
Sy'Mone: Joi! You not gonna answer me?
Joi: Sy'Mone, why can't you just mind your own business! I said I didn't want to get you involved. I told you not to even come over here. Why don't you ever listen!
Sy'Mone: Well excuse me, Joi! I thought we were friends!
Joi: Yeah, well, take it from me.....if you know what's good, you'll just forget all about this. Trust me, you don't want to be involved with this situation. I assure you, Sy'Mone. This is one story that is not goin' to have a happy ending.
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Scene 3 Continued...
In the waiting room at Baldwin Memorial Hospital, Demetrius, Nathaniel, Sheena, Sydney, and Taylor are waiting for Natalie to be moved to her private room. Sydney walks over to where Demetrius is sitting and sits down beside him. She begins to lightly rub his back.
Sydney: Demetrius........how you holdin' up?
Demetrius: I'm okay. I'll be better when I can see Nat, though.
Sydney: Awww.........Natalie's a fighter. She'll be fine. You heard what Sheena's dad said.
Demetrius: Yeah, I know. I'm still worried though.
Sydney: Is there anything I can do to help? Are you hungry? You want somethin' to drink, maybe?
Demetrius: No, I'm fine. I just wanna see Nat.
Sheena: Hey Demetrius. Nurse Judy just came by and said we should be able to go see Nat in about 5 minutes.
Demetrius: Okay cool. I'm gonna run down the hall to the bathroom. Where's Nate?
Sheena: He's outside on his cell phone.
Demetrius: Okay I'll go get him on my way back.
Sydney: Want me to walk with you to get Nate?
Demetrius: No, Syd, I'm fine. I'll be back.
Demetrius jumps up and walks out of the waiting room. Sheena looks over at Sydney and rolls her eyes.
Sydney: Sheena, is there a problem?
Sheena: Excuse me?
Sydney: I saw you roll your eyes at me, Sheena. DId I do somethin' to you?
Sheena: I guess I'm just tired of you out here rubbin' all over my soror's boyfriend while she's laid up in a hospital bed!
Sydney: What? Demetrius and I are friends! Excuse me for tryin' to help!
Sheena: Look like you were tryin' to do more than help to me!
Sydney: Oh really? And what you call yourself doing with Nate? Cause last time I checked he was dating Laray.
Sheena: Where is she, then? I thought she said she was comin' over here. I know one thing. If Nate was my man, I would have been here.
Sydney: Well guess what, Sheena? Nate is not your man. He's Laray's man. And her whereabouts is none of your business. Laray is my friend and I will tell her all about what you were doin' up here.
Sheena: And Natalie is my friend and I will tell her about about what......
Nurse Judy: Sheena! Sheena! It's Natalie!
Sheena turns around with a worried look on her face.
Sheena: Judy, what is it? Is somethin' wrong?
Nurse Judy: I have good news! Your friend, Natalie.......she's awake!
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