Season 1 - Episode 41

We resume our episode this week on the campus of Ahpla University in the Student Activities Center, where a group of ladies, along with the ladies of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority have gathered for Joi's surprise baby shower.

Krystalyn (hanging up cell phone): Okay everyone! That was Sy'Mone. Her and Joi just pulled up. Everyone hide and Laray, turn off the lights!

Laray runs over and turns out the lights. All of the girls began to hide in anticipation of Joi's arrival.

Krystalyn: Shh! Shh! Everyone be quiet!

Sy'Mone and Joi walk up towards the door.

Joi: Sy'Mone, it looks dark in there! I don't think we should go in.

Sy'Mone: No, it's okay. We had a meeting in here last night and I left somethin'. I just need to get it real quick before we head out to eat.

Joi: Okay, if you say so. But I still don't understand why I couldn't wait for you in the car.

Sy'Mone: Girl! Just come on!

Sy'Mone goes to open the door and everyone jumps up and turns on the lights.

Surprise!

Joi walks in and looks around and realizes the party is for her and begins to cry out of surprise.

Joi: Oh.......Oh you all....

Joi turns to Sy'Mone and gives her a playful punch in the arm.

Joi: Sy'Mone! You kept this from me!

Sy'Mone: Yeah! And it was hard!

Krystalyn runs up and grabs Joi by the hand.

Krystalyn: Surprise Joi! I'm so glad you are surprised. Come in and sit down so we can get started! We have so much planned for you!

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Across campus, we join Denitra who is preparing to leave for Joi's baby shower.

Denitra goes to open the door to leave and is surprised to find Joriah standing on the other side.

Denitra: And what do you want?

Joriah: That's some way to greet me.

Denitra: Look, I'm late for somethin', so for real, Joriah...what do you want?

Joriah: You know what? Forget you, Nitra. I came over here to see why you were callin' me the other night, but on the real, I don't even have time to deal with this crap.

Denitra: You don't have time to deal with my crap? I called you 5 days ago, Joriah. Clearly, it wasn't that big of a deal to you or you would have called me back by now.

Joriah: I been busy.

Denitra: Yeah, well me too. I gotta go.

Joriah: Denitra, look. Wait. I'm sorry. You're right. I should have called you back that day.

Denitra: No you should have just picked up the phone. What was so important that you couldn't pick up? You must have been on a date.

Silence

Denitra: Yeah, just like I thought.

Joriah: Nitra, we broke up so why does it matter if I was on a date?

Denitra: It doesn't.

Silence

Joriah: Look, I came all the way over here to see what was goin' on. Are you goin' to tell me or not?

Denitra sighs loudly.

Denitra: I guess. Come in. We need to talk in private.

Denitra turns to go back into her room, and Joriah follows her and closes the door behind him.

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Scene 1 Continued...

Krystalyn runs up and grabs Joi by the hand.

Krystalyn: Surprise Joi! I'm so glad you are surprised. Come in and sit down so we can get started! We have so much planned for you!

Joi: Oh Krystalyn! Are you behind all of this? I am so surprised! I can't believe you went to all this trouble for me!

Krystalyn: Oh stop it! Of course we did! Now get in here and sit down so we can wait on you hand and foot!

Joi moves around the room greeting her guests and checking out the gifts and food tables before she finds a seat in the corner. Krystalyn comes over and brings Joi a plate before sitting beside her.

Krystalyn: So.....are you pleased?

Joi: Am I? Krystalyn! I'm so.....overwhelmed! Why would you do all of this for me?

Krystalyn: I mean, why not? I always looked at you as a little sister. I just wanted to make sure you have everything you need for the new baby!

Joi: Krystalyn, I truly cannot explain to you how much this means to me.

Krystalyn: Don't mention it, Joi. I mean we all pitched in.

Joi: I really don't deserve any of this.

Krystalyn: Oh girl, please! Just stop it!

Joi: You know Krystalyn, I really need to tell you somethin'.......it's been really weighing so heavy on me the whole time I been pregnant. And now with all of this, I just feel so.......I think I need to be honest with you about somethin'.

Krystalyn: Joi, what is it? You can talk to me about anything. I mean I threw you this shower and extended to you an invitation into my sisterhood. I really do love you as a little sister, Joi. And I want you know that you can talk to me about anything that's on your mind.

Joi: I don't know if you're still gonna feel the same way about me after I tell you this.

Krystalyn: Oh Joi! Will you stop bein' so dramatic! It can't be that bad. Whatever it is, I'm sure we'll laugh and get over it.

Joi: Well.......I don't even know how to start but...

Laray: Hey Krystalyn! Patrick called and said he's runnin' late, but he should be here in the next ten minutes!

Joi: Pa.....P......Patrick? Patrick is comin'?

Krystalyn: Oh yeah. I asked him to come and video your shower for you. Actually, I invited Jovan so I think he should be gettin' here soon. As a matter of fact, let me go call him. Let's talk later, okay? Or do you need to really talk now?

Joi: Um, no, that's fine. We can talk another day.

Krystalyn: Okay great. Don't move, mommy! I'll be right back as soon as our men arrive!

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Off campus, Joseph Davenport has just arrived at a restaurant to meet up with Melinda Ferguson for dinner.

Joseph: Hey baby.

Melinda: Hey Joe.

Joseph: How was your day?

Melinda: Exhausting! Yours?

Joseph: Same thing. I had a very long day.

Melinda: Aww, you want to talk about it?

Joseph: Um, yeah but not right now. Right now, I'm just happy to be here with you.

Joseph reaches underneath the table and grabs Melinda by the hand. Melinda blushes at the touch of Joseph's hand and begins to look around nervously.

Joseph: Baby, what's wrong? You know no one that we know is here. It's safe.

Melinda: I know, baby but we both have pretty high profile positions in the community so I don't know....you never know who might know you, even if you don't know them...

Joseph: Yeah, you're right.

Melinda: We have to start being more careful, Joe.

Joseph: Yeah I know. But really, Linda, I'm tired of being careful.

Melinda: What is that supposed to mean, Joe? You want to end this or something?

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Scene 2 Continued...

Joriah: Look, I came all the way over here to see what was goin' on. Are you goin' to tell me or not?

Denitra sighs loudly.

Denitra: I guess. Come in. We need to talk in private.

Denitra turns to go back into her room, and Joriah follows her and closes the door behind him.

Joriah goes over and sits on Denitra's bed.

Joriah: So what's up? What's so important?

Silence

Joriah: Uh, Nitra...

Denitra: Just give me a minute, okay!

Silence

Denitra: Um........I don't know how to ask you really......

Joriah: Ask me what? Is this about Dashia?

Denitra: Dashia? What about her?

Joriah: I know it got back to you that we been hangin' out. But really, if you and I are over, you shouldn't care who I'm hangin' out with.

Denitra: You been seein' Dashia?

Joriah: You didn't know?

Denitra: No, I didn't.

Silence

Denitra: Well if you are seein' Dashia, then you already know what I wanted.

Joriah: What? What are you talkin' about?

Denitra: The......the line.

Joriah: The AKA line?

Denitra: Yeah.

Joriah: Well yeah, I heard they were doin' a line this semester but...that's all I know. Why?

Denitra: You know what? This was a bad idea. Never mind. I'm sorry I wasted your time.

Joriah: Denitra, what's goin' on? Are you goin' on line?

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Scene 3 Continued..

Melinda: We have to start being more careful, Joe.

Joseph: Yeah I know. But really, Linda, I'm tired of being careful.

Melinda: What is that supposed to mean, Joe? You want to end this or something?

Joseph: Linda, no! What are you talking about baby? You know I want to be with you.

Melinda: But you said you were...

Joseph: I know what I said. And I meant it. I told you, Linda. I'm ready to do this thing for real. Why won't you just let me come clean with Carsen about what is going on so we can move on with our lives together?

Melinda: Joe, get real. This is not a soap opera or a movie. This is not going to be some fairytale ride off together into the sunset type of ending. Either way it goes at this point, someone is going to get hurt. Carsen......me.....Joe, you have children. I'm the president of the University where your daughter attends school. How do you think she's going to feel knowing that her University President broke up her parent's marriage?

Joseph: But you aren't breaking it up, Linda. Truth be told, Carsen and I have been over for a very long time. I told you, Carsen is no angel. She had an affair once that pretty much destroyed us. Honestly, we haven't been the same since then. I think we always kinda knew that once Sheena went off to college, we were gonna go our separate ways. For whatever reason, we haven't. But with or without you, my marriage to Carsen is over, Melinda.

Melinda: Joseph, I understand all of that, but honestly, I Just don't see how any of this can work.

Joseph: I know, Melinda. But I love you and I promise if you just give me a little time, I'll find a way.

Joseph's cell phone rings. He looks down and sees that it is Carsen calling.

Joseph: It's Carsen.

Melinda: Do you need to take it?

Joseph: I guess. I really don't want to, though. That was part of the problem I had today. Sheena saw my car the other day when we left it at the coffee shop and the hostess told her I left with some woman. Naturally she assumed it was her mom until she talked to her and realized it wasn't. So Carsen was throwing a fit about it today.

Joseph looks down and sees his phone has gone to voicemail and then it begins to ring again.

Melinda: Is it Carsen again?

Joseph: Yeah. But you know what? I'm here with you. I'll just talk to her later.

Joseph presses the ignore button and puts his phone back into his jacket.

Outside the restaurant, a car is parked underneath the tree; far enough away to not be noticed, but still close enough to see clearly into the restaurant.

Inside the car, Carsen picks up her cell phone and dials Joseph's number. She watches him take out his phone and look to see who it is and press the ignore button, just before he goes back to talking with Melinda....

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