Episode 1

We begin this week’s episode with THERESA. She has just opened her door and JASON is standing there.

THERESA - What the hell are you doing here?

JASON - I need to talk to you.

THERESA - Get away from me before I call the police!

JASON - Theresa, I am not trying to hurt you or to get you to stop hating me. I am here to thank you.

THERESA - Thank me? For what?

JASON - If you let me inside to talk, I can explain.

THERESA - Hell no! How do I know we won’t go inside and you beat me to a pulp?

JASON - Fine, let’s talk out here then. It’s a nice evening. We can sit right out here. I promise, I won’t do anything crazy. I just need to talk to you.

(THERESA hesitates.)

THERESA - Why should I believe you?

JASON - Why shouldn’t you?

(THERESA hesitates.)

JASON - If you really didn’t want to know what I had to say you would have closed the door by now.

THERESA - Alright fine. I am coming outside. I’ll be right back. I am going to get my keys.

(THERESA goes back in and closes the door. JASON sits on the step and waits.)

THERESA thinks - Yeah, I am getting my keys all right. And my mase!

JASON thinks - I hope I am doing the right thing.

(THERESA approaches the door and gets ready to open it. She takes a deep breath.)

THERESA thinks - I hope I am doing the right thing.

(THERESA opens the door and sees JASON sitting there. She comes out and closes the door behind her. She doesn’t sit down, she stands there.)

THERESA - Now what do you have to talk to me about?

JASON - Theresa, I realize that you don’t like me. And you have plenty reason not to. But I need to tell you something that happened to me. Something that changed me and drove me.

(silence)

JASON - And I need to apologize.

(THERESA looks away. JASON notices but keeps talking.)

JASON - When I met you , I really liked you. I liked you a lot. You are pretty and very smart. But I knew how you felt about greeks. I knew that if I told you that I wanted to be an alpha, you would drop me quick. So I couldn’t tell you. I couldn’t tell you how I watched the bros stepping on the yard and wanted to be like them. I couldn’t tell you how I would over hear girls talking about how good Nino steps and how I wanted you to say that about me. I wanted you to be my girlfriend but I couldn’t share any of this with you.

(THERESA is still looking away.)

THERESA - What do you mean you couldn’t share any of this with me? That is bull. How do you expect me to be your girl and not care about the things that you care about? Maybe I would have been supportive!

JASON - Theresa that is so untrue and you know it. You know good and well that you would not have been trying to hear me talk about pledging a fraternity. You would have been negative about it from the start and that is what I didn’t need. Negative energy.

(THERESA looks at JASON with a cold look. JASON sees her, then looks away and continues talking.)

JASON - When I found out about that letter that you sent to the brotherhood, I had also found out from Nino that I didn’t make line. I thought it had to do with the fact that I lied about being in the library. If that had been the reason, then so be it. I got caught in a lie and this was the consequence. But the e mail was not me. It was not from me and it was something that I would not have done on my own. So I wasn’t making line but it wasn’t my fault.

THERESA - You didn’t deserve to make line! You want to be this Alpha man or whatever but you go around lying and hitting women! What kind of shit is that?

JASON - You can’t tell me what I deserve! You don’t know that much about me! My grandfather is an Alpha. My father never pledged anything so when I expressed an interest in Alpha, my grandfather’s eyes lit up.

(JASON takes off a necklace that he is wearing. The charm has been hanging in his shirt.)

JASON - I have been wearing this charm ever since I made line. It is my grandfather’s. It was actually a crossing gift that his college sweetheart gave to him. It is a charm of his line number. He said that if I cross, he would have my number added to it.

THERESA - Really?

(JASON pulls it up and THERESA looks at it. It is an old and worn number five.)

JASON - I want to get it polished up and looking real nice for him. Then I want to add my number to it. He gave it to me last semester when I first started to try out for the frat. When I went home for thanksgiving, he took me to his closet and pulled out a trunk. Grandad gave me his history book and showed me pictures upon pictures upon pictures. Seemed like hundreds of pictures. Some were him on line, some were him at conventions. He even had a picture with a group of brothers and a couple of the fraternity founders.

THERESA - Did he show you how his college sweetheart looked?

JASON - I already know how my grandmother looks.

THERESA thinks - Oh wow that is so sweet.

(THERESA looks at JASON and holds back a smile. She forces herself not to. She then looks away.)

JASON - After the break, I was more than determined to pledge. I wanted it so bad. I would do anything for it. I was hungry for it. But dangerously hungry. When I found out what you did, I wanted to kill you.

(silence)

(JASON looks over at THERESA. She is still staring blankly away.)

JASON - I actually followed you like a crazy person that night. Like an animal. I had already gone over in my mind what I would do at any reaction that you would give me. I rehearsed that scenario one hundred times. I was ready for whatever you were ready to bring. I was somebody else that night. I don’t know, it was like I was possessed.

THERESA thinks - Is there someone walking up behind me?

(THERESA grabs her purse tighter.)

THERESA thinks - Why am I even tripping. Just because a black man is walking up behind me doesn’t mean I have to be fearful of anything. I’m mad at myself for even thinking that.

(THERESA looks over her shoulder one last time.)

THERESA thinks - Oh God, he just bumped me! It’s Jason! You loser! You loser! I hate you! You loser! You don’t know who you’re fucking with! I hate you!

(THERESA sees a white flash and falls to the ground. Her soda bottle breaks and she cuts her hand. She holds her face which now hurts and she hears a lot of movement. When she realizes what has happened, she looks up and JASON is running away. THERESA begins to cry.)

THERESA thinks - Jason just hit me! Oh my God! Somebody help me! Someody please help me! Jason punched me in the face!

(THERESA looks at her left hand which is cut and bleeding. She holds her right hand to her face and then looks at it. There is no blood coming from her face but it hurts to touch it. THERESA is crying. Her hand hurts.)

THERESA thinks - Somebody please help me! Somebody please help me! Somebody please help me! Somebody please help me! Somebody please help me!

(Tears begin to fall down THERESA’s cheeks.)

JASON - After I...after I did what I did...I ran home and locked my door. I sat in my corner and I could not sleep that night. I could not move from that spot. I held my grandfather’s charm close to me. I started to cry Theresa. I cried for what I did. I could not believe I had done that. I wanted the frat dangerously and that is not the type of person that I am. My grandfather never hit a woman. My dad never hit my mom. My older brothers never hit girls. It isn’t cool and it isn’t me.

(THERESA is crying and looking away.)

JASON - I started line with a fuck it mentality. My attiude was bring it dammit! Bring it. But the more I expected to happen to me, the more things were happening out of the ordinary. I could no longer tell if it was night or day. I had to rely on Quinton and Larry and they on me. I had never experienced such shared responsibility and growth. I never would lean on someone before. My pride would not allow it. But I didn’t even know who the hell I was!

(JASON looks THERESA in the face.)

JASON - Theresa, if you had asked me who I was or if I wanted to find myself, I would have told you that I aint lost so it aint no point in me trying to find myself. But the fact of the matter is, I am immature. I think immature and I act immature. My priorities are fucked up and I am embarrassed about my life.

(JASON starts to cry and he pauses. THERESA stops staring away and looks at him when she notices that he has stopped.)

JASON - Line helped me identify who I need to be. Not who I am because I am not that man yet. But it put me in contact with the real Jason. The Jason who is Alphonso Grant’s grandson. Jason who goes to church on the regular and puts the sermons to action during the week. Jason the role model in high school. Line helped me get back in contact with Jason that likes to read Shakespeare and D Knowledge. Jason that loves DMX but likes to listen to Incognito to study.

(silence)

(THERESA wipes her eyes. JASON steps closer to THERESA.)

JASON - Theresa, I am sorry. I apologize for all the hurt and pain I have caused you. I am truly sorry. It was because of the way our relationship ended that sent me on a journey to help me find myself when I didn’t even know that I was lost. I can’t thank you for that because I mistreated you. You only reacted because I hurt you first. I played you, I was not honest with you, I lied to you in your face. I ultimately disrespe...

(JASON stops and chokes up. He backs away and turns his back to THERESA. He speaks with his back turned.)

JASON - You don’t have to forgive me or accept my apology.

(silence)

(JASON turns around to see THERESA’s reaction. He gets himself together and wipes his face. He looks down at himself and sees the a phi a on his chest. He thinks of his grandaddy Al. He puts his hand on the charm that hangs from his chain and over his heart. He looks back at THERESA.)

(silence)

(THERESA turns and uses her key. She walks back in her house.)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Our next scene takes us to the yard. The Alphas have just came on the yard to celebrate with their new neos by stepping. They have started their chants and a crowd is gathering.

NINO - A phi!

BROTHERS - Oh six!

BOBBY - Deep in my heart! I love my a phi!

BROTHERS - I love my a phi a! I love it! I love it! I love it!

STUDENT - Oh shit, those must be the new Alphas!

STUDENT - Oh yeah, I remember that one. But they look so different now.

STUDENT - Maybe because they are happy that line is through.

STUDENT - Yeah, ha ha ha ha ha.

NINO - Everywhere we go!

BROTHERS - Yeah!

NINO - You tell the story!

BROTHERS - Yeah! You tell the whole damn world this is Alpha territory!

QUENTON - I wish I knew the words to these things! Ha ha ha ha!

NINO - You will soon! Just keep hanging with us! Ha ha ha ha.

(NINO rounds the brothers up to begin a step.)

NINO - You two care to join us?

QUENTON - I don’t know this one. Plus I gots no rhythm! I am from the rhythmless nation!

LARRY - Well I know it! Hell, I know all the steps just from being in the crowd for so long! Ha ha ha!

NINO - Well come on then!

(The crowd cheers for LARRY when they see that he is about to step.)

STUDENT - I wonder if he can step?

STUDENT - He’s short so I don’t know. But Nino can train anybody.

(The step starts.)

NINO - Now break it down brothers!

BROTHERS - Black is for the blackness in a black man!

(They spin around and LARRY is keeping up.)

BROTHERS - And gold is for the richness in his stride! So when you see an Alpha brother in his black and gold you don’t sweat!

STUDENT - Oh shit! That new guy is good!

(The crowd cheers for LARRY as he spins around and claps under his leg.)

BROTHERS - It’s too cold! Because we’re ice...what! Ice...what! Ice ice baby! Too cold too cold...

STUDENT - Look at the new guy! He is as good as Nino!

(NINO notices that LARRY is competing with him. NINO smiles.)

BROTHERS - The brothers...of a phi...a! Who! The brothers...of a phi...a!

QUENTON - Do that shit sands!

STUDENT - GO little man! Go!

BROTHERS - Oh so cold! Black and gold! A phi a!

(The step stops. The crowd cheers loudly.)

NINO - I think we have a new step master!

(NINO hugs LARRY.)

NINO - You’re kinda nice there kid!

LARRY - That comes from watching you for so long!

(Several students clap.)

WILLIE thinks - Oh there is a crowd over there. Maybe the Alphas have their line out again. That should be good news for Jason if the line got picked back up.

(WILLIE wallks over and joins the crowd.)

WILLIE - Wait, I only see two of the new guys.

NINO - You want to try something else?

LARRY - Sure, I guarantee I know them all.

NINO - Ok, this one is called stepping shoes.

LARRY - Oh hell yeah, I know that one! Let’s do it!

WILLIE - How many new Alphas are there?

STUDENT - Those two right there. The short one steps really good!

WILLIE - Are you sure there are only two?

STUDENT - Yeah. Him and him over there.

WILLIE - Thanks.

WILLIE thinks - I can’t believe this! Jason didn’t cross! Oh my God I feel so bad for him.

(The Brothers start the next step.)

WILLIE thinks - I can’t believe Bobby and them would do that to him. That is so fucked up.

(WILLIE turns and starts to walk away.)

WILLIE thinks - No, I can’t think that. There may be some other circumstances that I don’t know about. And that is there chapter business. Lord knows I don’t put down every girl trying to be a Delta up in this piece.

(WILLIE walks away from the crowd and the stepping.)

WILLIE - I wonder if Theresa knows. Actually, I wonder if that chick had something to do with it! I wouldn’t even put it past her ass!

(WILLIE turns around to go in the other direction.)

WILLIE thinks - I am going to go to her place right now. I want to find out if she knows anything about Jason not crossing. I can get to the bottom of this in my own way!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We next join ALEXIS who is at RONNIE’s house.

RONNIE - I am so glad you decided to come by.

ALEXIS - No problem. I am glad you were here.

RONNIE - Actually, I don’t get out much.

ALEXIS - Yeah right.

(They laugh)

RONNIE - Well, we haven’t spoken in depth in a while. How are things?

ALEXIS - Ok. I am starting to feel better about myself.

RONNIE thinks - She looks so good!

RONNIE - That’s great! I am glad to hear it! What brought this on?

ALEXIS - Sometimes people need eye opening events to occur. You know?

RONNIE thinks - Don’t I know it!
RONNIE - I understand. What was the event that opened your eyes?

ALEXIS - I went to Bobby’s house and Trina came by at the same time! He tried to tell me that it was some of those guys pledging. But I got up and heard her voice outside of the door in the hallway! What does he think I am? Boo boo the fool?

RONNIE thinks - Oh shit! That must have been when Trina went to Bobby’s house!

RONNIE - Really? That is crazy!

ALEXIS - Yeah, so I left him. For good.

RONNIE - Well good for you! It’s too bad that nice girls like you have to deal with sorry ass niggas.

(silence)

RONNIE - Niggas just need to grow up. You know? I mean, be a man.

ALEXIS - Yeah.

RONNIE - If Bobby doesn’t know what he is missing out on by not being a man, then so be it. He’s the fool, not you. This is totally his loss.

ALEXIS - Thanks.

RONNIE - I mean, he is so stupid and immature. I don’t see what you saw in that nigga anyway.

ALEXIS - I’m saying...

(RONNIE cuts her off.)

RONNIE - I’ve seen him on the yard. Just straight macking. Trying to be a player but getting played in the process!

ALEXIS - Uh...

RONNIE - And I knew you would find out sooner or later. I knew his day was coming. I knew you would have the last laugh on that nigga! Ha ha ha ha ha, I knew it.

(ALEXIS is just staring at RONNIE as he amuses himself.)

RONNIE - Ha ha ha ha, whoo boy! I wish I could have been there when you walked out! Just to see the look on his face. But you did the right thing, it’s not like he didn’t deserve it. He had this shit coming to him. Every dog has his day.

ALEXIS - Ronnie?

RONNIE - Yeah.

ALEXIS - Why are you so obsessed with Bobby? You seem more happy that he got dumped than for me feeling better about myself.

(silence)

RONNIE - What are you talking about? That’s not true.

ALEXIS - Yes it is. This whole time you have talked about Bobby. And yes he is foul, but you won’t stop going on and on. I think you only like me because you want to beat Bobby.

RONNIE - Alexis that isn’t true. Of course I care about you. I have always liked you.

ALEXIS - You just seem obsessed. Like this thing is going to blow up into a huge brawl. Some ol Alpha Que thing.

RONNIE thinks - If you only knew.

RONNIE - Naw, not at all. This aint got nothing to do with that. That is irrelevant.

ALEXIS - I have had my suspisions on your intentions before. And now it is becoming clearer to me. Your ego won’t allow Bobby to win. If I were to go back to Bobby, he would win. And that would hurt you worse than losing me. It would be losing me to him.

RONNIE - Alexis, let me say this. True Bobby and me aint going out to lunch. But the fact of the matter is that you are a nice person. Anyone can see that. And nice people should not get dogged out. You are pretty, smart, all those great things. Why in the world wouldn’t I be attracted to you? And then to know that your so called man is blatantly cheating on you in front of your face just isn’t cool.

(silence)

ALEXIS - I hear you.

RONNIE thinks - Whew!

(The telephone rings.)

RONNIE - I’ll be right back, let me grab that in my room.

ALEXIS - Ok cool.

(RONNIE leaves the living room area and goes to his room. ALEXIS stands up and walks to the entertainment center to look at some pictures that RONNIE has there.)

ALEXIS - I wonder what’s on tv. Probably nothing good. Let me turn on bet.

(ALEXIS turns the tv on. She sits down and flicks through a few channels. There is nothing on. ALEXIS notices a tape sticking out of the vcr.)

ALEXIS thinks - Oh what’s this?

(ALEXIS gets up and pushes it in the vcr.)

ALEXIS thinks - I better ask Ronnie first. He may have some crazy porno stuff on there. Ha ha ha.

ALEXIS - Hey Ronnie, what’s on this tape in the vcr? Can I put it in?

RONNIE thinks - Oh shit! The tape from Trina’s house!