ACT 2, SCENE 1 INT: HOME – KITCHEN
At the kitchen table are MATEO, MARIA, SISTER, and LEIGH. SISTER is cooling down her cup of tea, eyes dashing all around the table. MATEO is sipping tea loudly. MARIA is smiling brightly, hardly touching her tea, and LEIGH is flabbergasted.
SISTER:
Leigh, you’re likely to catch a fly if you don’t close your mouth.
MARIA:
Don’t talk to my daughter like that, bitch.
SISTER:
It’s Netta or just Sister. I told you that at the door.
MARIA:
I don’t give a damn what your name is. I said, you’re not talking to my daughter like that.
SILENCE holds until…
MATEO:
This is nice.
LEIGH:
Are you shitting me?
SISTER:
Watch your mouth. Ladies don’t cuss.
MARIA:
She can say whatever the hell she wants. <Does she talk to you like this all the time?>
LEIGH:
<What are you doing here?>
MARIA:
<J-Cool told me you’re in trouble. These Crips must not know that your father was an Uptown King.>
LEIGH:
I don’t want any part of this, him, or you.
MARIA:
You don’t know what you’re saying. <This Negra has brainwashed you.>
SISTER:
Did this heifer just call me a nigger?
MATEO:
Negra. It’s a term of endearment. She actually respects you.
SISTER:
You could’ve fooled my ass.
MATEO:
(to Leigh)
Shouldn’t you be in school by now?
LEIGH:
School? After this, I need to see a therapist.
MARIA:
You ain’t crazy, Leigh. No one in our family is crazy.
SISTER:
Stay home if you need to.
MARIA:
What did I tell you about speaking to her like that? I should report your ass for all the messed up things you’re letting happen over here.
SISTER:
Ma’am…
MARIA:
My name’s Maria, and I told you that at the door.
SISTER:
I remember cussing, but that’s neither here nor there. Maria, if Leigh was my daughter…
MARIA:
She’s not.
SISTER:
I’d be worried too, but we’re addressing the concerns. She and I came up with a good plan.
MARIA:
You aren’t doing a damn thing, because if you were, who ever tried to hurt her would’ve been six feet under by now. I know how things operate in the AC. It ain’t no different from Uptown. I’ll handle it, because that’s what a real mother does.
SISTER:
All I do is what real mothers do.
LEIGH:
Oh god, I don’t need this right now. Go back to whatever prison let you out!
Leigh gets up and walks away.
SISTER:
Leigh!
MARIA:
Mateo follow her.
MATEO downs the tea and gets out.
MATEO:
Thank you for the hospitality!
Before MARIA goes…
SISTER:
Maria, I don’t know you, but for your daughter’s sake, leave her be before something bad happens to you. I don’t think she can handle another upset right now.
MARIA:
You’re right. You don’t know me, but I know you. Going after what you can’t have anymore. So keep your Santeria-Navajo bullshit and shove it up your ass.
SISTER watches MARIA go and spots MARIA’S cup. She gingerly takes a peek into the cup of floating tea leaves, smirks, and then she takes a big sip her tea.
ACT 2, SCENE 2 EXT: NETTA’S HOME – DAY
LEIGH storms down the steps with her book bag over her shoulder. She is distraught and speed walking. Behind her MATEO closed the house door and chases after her.
MATEO:
Please say you changed your mind and are going to school.
LEIGH:
No. Leave me alone.
MATEO:
You got it, just as soon as you let me give you a ride to wherever it is you’re actually going.
LEIGH:
What part of ‘no’ don’t you understand? It’s the same shit in Spanish.
MATEO:
People are trying to run you over, and you want to walk the streets? Statistically speaking, every minute someone is raped and 40% of them are under 18. Not all of them are daughters of a drug dealer.
LEIGH stops walking long enough to give MATEO an unbelievable look.
LEIGH
Who are you? Seriously, cause you’re not my mom’s type.
MATEO:
My point is you’re a walking target. People would love to hurt you to get to your parents. Just take the free ride. Besides, haven’t you heard there are zombies running around here?
MARIA:
(walks slowly into the conversation)
Listen to him, Pobrecita. Mateo has never been arrested.
MATEO:
Cleanest record in Uptown.
LEIGH:
Never arrested and never caught are two different things.
MARIA:
Go get the car, Mateo. We’ll be ready for you.
MATEO walks away.
LEIGH:
I was doing fine without you. Why couldn’t you just leave me alone?
MARIA:
I’m your mother. That’s why. And we need to talk, because none of this is fine with me. I don’t understand why you want to stay away from your home.
LEIGH:
I don’t want to talk to you!
LEIGH tries to walk away.
MARIA:
Don’t walk away from me, Marleigha. Either talk to me or I talk to your social worker. And I hate to mess up whatever you think you have here.
LEIGH stops and turns around with her arms crossed.
MARIA:
Even when you’re mad, you’re beautiful. Thank God that bitch, didn’t give you any beauty tips. You’d been as bald as a coconut.
LEIGH:
The last time we talked, you were in handcuffs. You took my hand and promised me things were going to be alright. (beat) Then you were gone for four years!
MARIA:
As soon as I got out, they didn’t want to tell me where you were. Like I was the reason you were unsafe.
LEIGH:
You were selling crack.
MARIA:
Shh. You want me to get arrested again? Because that’s what would happen if my PO found out that I was here, but I’d do prison all over again for you. And for your information, your father was the one selling dope.
LEIGH:
Out our house! You don’t see anything wrong with that?
MARIA:
I did what I did because I loved you. I wanted better for you. So I’m sorry I turned a blind eye to the money, but I always knew you were safe, because I raised you to know what you needed to do to survive. (Beat) I know you were the one that called the police.
LEIGH:
(Scared)
Tia was ODing, while you and everybody else were partying!
MARIA:
And that’s why I’m so proud of you. You were better than all of us. You saw something wrong and took action. Don’t ever stop doing that. Don’t ever forget what I told you:
LEIGH and Maria:
(IN UNISON)
People are liars, dogs, and cheats.
MARIA:
That’s right. Keep your head up and on your shoulders, Pobrecita. You never know when you have to take action again.
MARIA gets closer and caresses her face.
MARIA:
You saved me. You know that? I’m clean because of you. And now you need your mami to save you. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.
MARIA hugs her as MATEO pulls up with his car. He gets out and opens the door for the both of them.
MARIA:
C’mon take the ride.
LEIGH hesitates, but follows.
ACT 2, SCENE 3 EXT. BULTER HOME – MORNING
From POV FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE, we see reporters and police presence on the street. Some reporters are filming. Things appear calm, but it’s obvious the police are there to keep the peace.
LINDA BUTLER (O.S.):
They’re still there, waiting on us like vultures.
BLINDS SNAP SHUT.
CUT TO: ACT 2, SCENE 4 INT: BULTER HOME – CONT’D
LINDA:
(on the cell phone)
They’ve been there ever since the leaked our address. I’m sorry, but I don’t feel like I can go anywhere. They’ve got me tied down and trapped here. I know this is important…
FOCUS ON AMED BUTLER slowly coming down the stairs in gym clothes. He stops at the bottom to eavesdrop.
LINDA (O.S.):
…but I can’t leave him now. I’m worried about him. There’s just too much happening to…
AMED steps out of view angrily and steps on a creaky floorboard.
LINDA is frightened.
LINDA:
(to the house) Amed, is that you? (to the phone) Do you mind holding on? (back to the house) Amed?
When she doesn’t hear a response, she goes around to the stairs and the foyer, but finds it empty.
LINDA:
(whispers)
I haven’t told him, but I think he suspects something.
LINDA turns and bumps into AMED behind her.
AMED:
Suspect what?
LINDA:
(to the phone) I’ll call you back. (to Amed) You scared me. Why didn’t you answer me when I called you?
AMED:
Why aren’t you answering me? Who were you talking to?
LINDA:
No one important to us right now.
LINDA tries to avoid him, but AMED follows her.
AMED:
(Angrily)
Who were you talking too?
LINDA:
I’m not playing 20 questions with you today.
AMED:
Because you’re lying through your teeth.
LINDA:
I think you need to see Rev Mac again.
AMED yanks the cellphone from her grasp aggressively. He scrolls through her call list.
AMED:
This is the same hospital that Chris is in.
LINDA:
I work there too, Amed. It’s also where our doctors are.
AMED:
Is seeing Chris part of your work too?
LINDA:
I don’t know what you’re getting at.
AMED:
Don’t lie to me!
AMED throws the cellphone against the wall and it breaks.
LINDA:
Calm down, Amed. The media, that boy…
AMED:
I can deal with all that. It’s your lying I can’t stand.
LINDA:
Maybe I should call the Reverend for you. Have him stop by.
AMED:
Do whatever you want. You seem to be doing fine without me.
AMED walks away.
LINDA:
Where’re you going?
AMED:
I’m going for a jog.
LINDA:
That’s a horrible idea. Not in the state you’re in. I don’t think you’re ready for the press. You need to stay home for as long as possible, until this goes away.
AMED:
Too late. My rep said I’m clear to do small detail duty.
LINDA:
How could you do that without consulting me? Stop rushing back to work. Stop running away from me.
AMED:
Stop sneaking around behind my back to make phone calls.
LINDA:
Can’t you see what’s happening? You’re not the same.
AMED:
No, you’re the one acting different.
LINDA:
Why can’t you trust me?
AMED:
I’d rather be anywhere but in this house listening to you lie to me over and over again. I can’t take it anymore.
LINDA:
Stay here with me Amed, and I’ll say or do whatever you want. I’ll find us some help. Just trust me. We’re gonna be alright.
CLOSE UP of AMED’S FACE as he is triggered. He’s sweating. His eyes are wild and fierce.
LINDA (O.S.):
We’re all gonna be alright.
END OF ACT 2