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Congratulations to the men of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. on their Founder's Day!
November 17, 1911
Season 1 - Episode 30
We resume our episode this week with the ladies of Zeta Phi Beta.
Krystalyn: Okay sorors, make sure you all are ready to report on your projects at the meeting next week.
Laray: I’m always ready!
Krystalyn: Since when?
Sy’Mone: I’ll be ready, Soror Krystalyn!
Krystalyn stops laughing and rolls her eyes at Sy'Mone.
Laray: Krystalyn!
Krystalyn: What?
Laray shakes her head.
Laray: So Sy’Mone, what are you goin’ to be reportin’ on?
Sy’Mone: The Holiday Gift Baskets we’re doin with for the battered women’s shelter.
Laray: Oh wow, Neo. That sounds like a great project for the chapter to adopt. Doesn’t that sound like a great project, Krys?
Krystalyn: Mmm hmm. Well anyway…. Sy’Mone, while you are over here..I’m goin to need your help on something.
Sy’Mone: Oh sure! What is it?
Krystalyn: I told you that I wanted to put together a baby shower for Joi. She’s your friend, right?
Sy’Mone: Joi? Yeah, that’s my girl!
Krystalyn: Great. So you’ll be able to help me pull together a list of people to invite, right?
Sy’Mone: Definitely. Do you already have a date picked out?
Krystalyn: Yeah, I picked out a few different ones. I thought you could find out her schedule better than I could. I thought it would be nice if we could keep it a surprise.
Sy’Mone: She would love that. This is so nice of you, Krystalyn.
Krystalyn: Yeah….I mean Joi seems like a nice girl and I know she doesn’t have a lot of people she hangs around with.
Sy’Mone: She’s gonna be really surprised!
Krystalyn: Great. So you work on getting a date and a list together. I’ll work on food and Laray said she would take care of the decorations. Oh, and I’ll probably ask Patrick if he can come and record it for us.
Sy’Mone looks away and down at the ground and goes silent. Suddenly, there is a loud knock at the door.
Nathaniel: Laray! Laray, you there? I need to talk to you. Now!
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Across campus, the brothers of Iota Phi Theta have gathered for an informal meeting.
KaShawn: Alright frat, we need to talk about whether or not we are gonna coach a team for the Diversity Step Show. Brian called me about this again. He needs an answer as soon as possible.
Shakir: I mean, can we coach one of the sorority teams?
KaShawn: No Shakir, we cannot. It’s gotta be one of the fraternities.
Russell: Could you explain to me exactly what we would be doing?
KaShawn: Okay neo, well basically each year the Alpha’s throw what they call the Diversity Step. The Pan Hel Frats and Sororities coach a team and the teams consist of people from the white fraternities and sororities. Basically we teach them a step routine to compete in the show.
Russell: Wow.
Malik: What’s up neo? You ain’t feelin’ it?
Russell: No, I’m not. Stepping is a part of the African American Tradition. Why would we teach them something that comes out of our culture? Why would the Alpha’s even have that kind of a program?
Shakir: Cause all the white fraternity brothers and sorority sisters pay $10 a head to come out and see it, that’s why!
Russell: So to make a few dollars, we’re willing to cheapen our culture and history? That’s just like the Delta’s with that white girl in their chapter. I’d be so pissed if we had a white boy in the chapter.
Malik: You talkin’ bout Taylor? That girl is mad cool, though.
Shakir: She fine, too…….
KaShawn: Um, okay frat….let’s get back to business. I didn’t call this meeting to have a political debate. I just need to know what to tell Brian.
Malik: I’m with it.
Russell: I’m definitely not with it.
Shakir: You know I’m with it! Except I still think we should be coaching one of the sororities!
Malik: Shakir, shut up! That’s why you always in trouble with Karissa now.
Shakir: Oh please. Karissa has no idea what I do when we not together. Besides, I’m doin’ this for her.
KaShawn: Excuse me?
Shakir: Frat, you know I love Karissa. That’s my heart. I’m gonna marry that girl just as soon as we graduate. So for now, I figured I’d just sweep around a lil bit. You know……that way when we get married, I’ve got it all out of my system.
KaShawn: I guess so man. If you say so. All I know is Karissa seems like a good girl. You gonna mess around and loose her if you don’t watch yourself.
Shakir: I’m good, frat. I got this. What about you? I ain’t heard about you messin’ with nothing on campus.
KaShawn: I have……well, I had a girlfriend.
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Scene 1 Continued...
Laray, with a surprised look on her face jumps up to answer the door. She finds Nathaniel standing on the other side with an annoyed look on his face.
Laray: Nate!
Nathaniel stares at Laray in silence.
Laray: Nate, what is it? What’s wrong? Oh my gosh! Is it Natalie?
Nathaniel: Natalie's fine.
Laray: Then what is it? What’s wrong?
Nathaniel: Can we talk in private?
Laray: Sure. Um…let me get my jacket and we can go outside and sit on one of the benches.
Laray walks back in and shrugs her shoulders and Sy’Mone and Krystalyn, who are sitting in silence. She retrieves her line jacket and then walks back out to the door.
Laray: Krys, I’ll be back in a few.
Krystalyn: Okay, soror. I’ll be here.
Laray: Nate, are you mad at me?
Nathaniel: Let’s just go outside.
Nathaniel and Laray walk outside in silence. Nathaniel walks a half a step ahead of Laray and is clearly upset about something. Outside, they find a quiet bench and sit down beside each other.
Laray: Nate, what is it?
Nathaniel: You called Sheena?
Silence
Nathaniel: Don’t go silent on me now. Did you or did you not call Sheena?
Laray: I did.
Nathaniel: May I ask why?
Laray: Because I wanted to talk to her.
Nathaniel: About what?
Laray: I wanted to talk to her about you. I know she likes you, Nate and I told her to stay away from you.
Nathaniel: Do you not trust me?
Laray: What? Of course I do!
Nathaniel: Well you are sure ain’t actin’ like it.
Laray: Nate, you know that girl is after you!
Nathaniel: So what? You think I'm after her?
Silence
Nathaniel: Laray? You can't answer that question?
Silence
Nathaniel: Wow. Well I tell you what.....when you figure out an answer to that, you know where to find me.
Nathaniel gets up and leaves Laray sitting alone.
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Off campus at the home of Joseph and Carsen Davenport, Carsen has just poured herself a glass of wine. As she sits down on the couch, the telephone rings and she looks to see that it is her longtime friend and soror, Valerie Edwards.
Carsen: Hello?
Valerie: DIVA!
Carsen: Oh hey, Val.
Valerie: Oh hey, Val? That’s all I get. Alright now…don’t make me put you back on line and really greet me!
Carsen giggles slightly.
Valerie: Well that was a little better! Dag!
Carsen: I’m sorry, soror. I guess I’m not really feeling too up in spirits today.
Valerie: What’s up soror? Is something wrong?
Carsen: Yeah. I don’t know. You know what…..forget about it, Val. It’s nothin’. I’m just in a funk, I guess. You know how it is. So how are you doin’?
Valerie: I’m fine! You know I’m still on this weight loss plan!
Carsen: Oh yeah, how’s that going?
Valerie: It’s good! I lost seventeen pounds so far!
Carsen: Go ahead, girl!
Valerie: Yeah! I’m happy! Clothes fitting better and everything. But it ain’t easy, girl! I almost attacked this girl in my office for an egg roll the other day!
Laughter
Carsen: I know but I’m proud of you!
Valerie: Thanks!
Silence
Valerie: Carsen…
Carsen: Yeah, I’m here.
Valerie: Soror, what is going on? You got me worried.
Carsen: It’s nothing.
Valerie: It’s something. I know you.
Carsen: Val, have you ever wondered if your husband was having an affair?
Valerie: What? Girl, no!
Carsen: I think Joe might be havin’ an affair, Val.
Silence
Carsen: Val, are you there?
Valerie: Yeah, I’m here.
Carsen: Did you hear what I said?
Valerie: Yeah, I did. What, uh, makes you think that?
Carsen: You know what, Val. I’m being silly. I’m sorry I brought it up. Just forget I said anything, okay?
Valerie: Carsen, it’s not silly. It must be valid if you brought it up. Let’s talk about this. You know you can trust me.
Carsen: Oh you know what, Val? Joseph just pulled up in the driveway. I’ll talk to you later, soror.
Valerie: You gonna be okay?
Carsen: Of course. I’m fine. I’ll call you next week.
Valerie: Okay. Hey……if you need me…
Carsen: I know. I know, Val. Thanks. Talk with you later. Bye.
Carsen hangs up the phone, as her husband is coming into the kitchen through the garage door.
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Scene 2 Continued...
Malik: Shawn you got a girl?
KaShawn: I don’t really wanna get into right now.
Shakir: That’s cool.
KaShawn: So what are we doin’ frat? We definitely coaching a team or not? Seems like everybody is cool with it but Russell.
Russell: Alright well if I’m the only one against it, then go ahead and tell him we’ll do it.
KaShawn: Okay, cool. I’ll call him tonight. Alright ya’ll, I gotta get outta here. I’ll email the agenda for the meeting.
Shakir: What’s up frat? You really not gonna tell us about your girl.
Russell: Right….I wanna know too.
Shakir: See…….even Russ wants to know. You can’t disappoint the neo!
KaShawn: Man there’s nothin’ to tell. I met a nice girl and I really liked her. I really like her…but I don’t know. She’s done with me now, though.
Malik: What happened?
KaShawn: I was just bein’ dumb. It was one thing she wanted me to do that I wouldn’t. And now when I think about it, it wasn’t even that big of a deal. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll try to talk to her again. If I do, I will definitely bring her around to meet ya’ll.
Shakir: That’s cool frat.
KaShawn: Alright ya’ll. I’m outta here for real. Take it easy.
KaShawn gathers his things and walks out to the car. He sits in the driver’s side and begins to think about Taylor.
KaShawn thinks: Maybe I should call her….nah…..she probably doesn’t want to talk to me.
Kashawn takes out his cell phone and finds Taylor’s number.
Kashawn thinks: What the heck……..here goes nothing.
KaShawn dials Taylor’s number and it begins to ring.
Voicemail: Hi you’ve reached Taylor. Leave a message.
KaShawn: Taylor, hi. It’s me, KaShawn. Baby, I know I messed up but………I miss you. I wanna do this thing the right way. I hope you aren’t avoiding my calls. This might be a mistake but I’m just gonna come over. I hope you get this message soon. I’m on my way to see you and finally make things right. Love you, baby. See you in a few minutes.
KaShawn starts up his car and starts to drive toward Taylor’s apartment building with a smile on his face in anticipation of their reunion.Over at Taylor’s apartment…….
DeVaughn: T, who is it?
Taylor looking down at her phone.
Taylor: Oh it was no one. I can call them back tomorrow.
DeVaughn: Cool. Then why don’t you get back over here and get in this bed?
Taylor: Anything you say…..
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Scene 3 Continued...
Joseph: Hey Carsen.
Carsen: Hi, Joe.
Joseph: How was your day?
Carsen: Oh my day was fine. Why don’t you take your jacket off and relax for a bit?
Joseph: Oh…..you know, I got some work to do.
Carsen: Joe, I never see you. You don’t have 10 minutes to sit down with your wife over a glass of wine?
Joseph: Okay, fine.
Joe takes a seat at the dining room table. Carsen gets up to fix him a glass of wine, and comes back and sits across from him.
Carsen: So tell me about your day.
Joseph: Paperwork, paperwork, and more paperwork.
Carsen: Well……..that’s what happens when you’re in charge.
Joseph: Yeah, tell me about it.
Silence
Joseph: This is a good wine.
Carsen: Oh yeah, um, it’s new. I got it at the wine store last week.
Silence
Joseph: Has Sheena been by today?
Carsen: No, you know she wanted to help Natalie get settled.
Joseph: I see.
Silence
Joseph: Okay well I think I’m gonna head back to my office. Like I said I have some work I need to get to.
Carsen: Okay. I guess I’ll get dinner started.
Joseph: I’m not really hungry. I can fix myself a sandwich later on.
Carsen: Wait….Joe….
Joseph: Yes, Carsen, what is it?
Carsen: Never mind.
Joseph turns to leave the kitchen and as he is leaving, a bunch of papers fall out of his jacket pocket. As he turns to gather them, Carsen helps him by picking up some of them. She comes across a print out receipt from a flower company for two dozen long stemmed pink roses. She smiles in excitement at the thought that her husband is surprising her by having flowers delivered to her the next day. As she is standing, her smile quickly disappears when she realizes the delivery confirmation date was the day before.
Carsen: Joe…..
Joseph: Yes, Carsen, what is it?
Carsen: There’s a flower receipt here.
Joseph looks up from the floor in surprise and stares at Carsen in silence.
Carsen: Joe……are ……you having an affair?