ACT 3, SCENE 1 INT: SISTER’S HOME – BATHROOM
LEIGH steps out of the shower and stands in front of a fogged mirror. She pauses before she turns on the water. She sighs when it works without a problem. She wipes her mirror clean, but notices the shower curtain move.
She turns around to investigate it. She yanks the curtain back, but there’s no one there.
In the reflection in the mirror behind LEIGH, SHAUNICE’S GHOST.
BLACK SCREEN
TITLE CARD: SPRING SOCIAL
ACT 3 SCENE 2 INT: LEIGH’S BEDROOM
LEIGH adores herself in the mirror with a dress. She answers a text message.
JAMAL:
On da way
LEIGH:
K. XOXO.
As she puts her phone down, Shaunice’s diary falls to the floor in front of her and the pages open up on their own mysteriously.
She goes to pick it up and read through as behind her SHAUNICE appears.
THEN… music blares from down stairs. LEIGH is scared and SHAUNICE has disappeared as LEIGH places the diary down.
ACT 3, SCENE 3 INT: SISTER’S HOME – FOYER
LEIGH walks downstairs.
LEIGH:
Sister, you here?
LEIGH walks into the living room and finds it empty, but the stereo is blasting music. LEIGH shuts it off.
LEIGH:
Sister?
LEIGH goes into the kitchen and turns on the light. No one’s there.
The music turns on again. The kitchen walls vibrate from the bass.
LEIGH heads back into the living room. There is still no one there. THE MASKS on the WALL all seem to be chanting to the music.
LEIGH shuts it off again. Just as she turns around, SISTER (in a mask) comes at her. LEIGH screams, but rather than attack, SISTER walks past her to turn on the music.
SISTER lifts the mask.
SISTER:
What are you doing?
LEIGH:
What are you doing! You scared the hell out of me!
SISTER:
I’m communing with my ancestors.
LEIGH blinks at her oddly.
SISTER:
This is the only way I know to hear them.
LEIGH:
But don’t you think it’s too loud?!
SISTER:
Shush!
SISTER lowers her mask and dances towards her long vanity mirror.
LEIGH shuts off the music again. SISTER stops abruptly and lifts her mask.
SISTER:
I can’t hear.
LEIGH:
Neither can I. I like to keep my ear drums intact.
SISTER:
Don’t be a little heathen.
Beside SISTER’S urns, she picks up a mug and proceeds to drink it in one gulp.
LEIGH:
Thirsty?
SISTER:
I told you this is the only way I know how, but…why?
LEIGH:
I don’t know?
SISTER:
Why tonight? Why tonight?
LEIGH:
Because it’s a weeknight? I’m confused. Are you talking to me?
SISTER turns and looks at LEIGH as if for the first time.
SISTER:
You look so beautiful when your mask’s off. No pain at all.
LEIGH:
Thank you?
SISTER:
You’ve been carrying that anger with you for a long while. There’s no one negative to stop you from flourishing anymore. I’m glad. Where are you going?
LEIGH:
I told you. There’s a dance at the school.
SISTER:
No. No. No. She doesn’t like that.
LEIGH:
Who?
SISTER:
Just like Josh.
LEIGH:
Josh, your son? I’m sorry. Did I say something bad?
SISTER:
I need more tea for this!
SISTER storms off into the kitchen. LEIGH follows. SISTER reaches into the fridge.
LEIGH:
Should I call someone to help you?
SISTER pours herself a large cup of vodka.
LEIGH:
Oh, you’re drinking. That’s a lot of liquor.
SISTER:
Tea’s just what the doctor ordered. Music and tea just like last time. All of it just like last time.
LEIGH:
Um, maybe Omar and Amed should be here?
SISTER:
No! Then it’s all real. She keeps telling me it’s real. I get it! But My Josh will still be gone. That’s not what was promised! I just want to hold him. I can’t lose him again.
DOORBELL RINGS.
LEIGH:
That’s my ride. I gotta go.
SISTER:
I can’t lose you either.
SISTER goes to block the way out the kitchen.
SISTER:
We all wear masks, until it’s too heavy for us to carry. The masks are falling tonight.
DOORBELL RINGS.
SISTER:
Tell them you can’t go. Tell him about the masks.
SISTER grabs LEIGH’S ARM.
LEIGH:
Let go of me. You’re hurting me.
SISTER:
Let me show you. Drink some tea.
DOORBELL RINGS.
LEIGH:
Let me go!
She slaps the cup out of SISTER’S hand and pushes her to the ground.
SISTER kneels to the ground over the shards and spilt liquor.
SISTER:
See! Come see! It’s right here. It’s all here.
CLOSE UP of broken shards and liquor.
LEIGH:
Don’t. Ever. Touch me.
LEIGH walks out the kitchen.
SISTER:
The masks are falling!
ACT 3, SCENE 4 EXT: SISTER’S HOME – PORCH STEPS
JAMAL standing handsomely in a black suit. LEIGH opens the door in a sour mood.
JAMAL:
Whoa. Everything ok?
LEIGH:
Let’s just go.
JAMAL:
You sure?
LEIGH:
Yeah.
At the curb is DARLAH’S CAR, she leans over from the driver’s seat.
DARLAH:
Come on girl. I wanna shake my ass.
RICKY – in the passenger seat – attempts to push her head into his lap. DARLAH slaps his chest.
As LEIGH and JAMAL walk down the steps, music blares from the house.
JAMAL:
Sister Netta’s throwing her own party?
LEIGH:
She’s crazy and drunk. The sooner I get out of here, the better.
JAMAL takes her hand.
JAMAL:
I got you.
He opens the door for her.
JAMAL:
You look beautiful by the way.
RICKY:
You look beautiful by the way.
DARLAH:
You didn’t say anything like that to me.
RICKY:
Cause I ain’t a pussy.
DARLAH:
Why you acting mad aggy?
RICKY:
I’m not. I’m just excited.
RICKY takes a swig from a flask.
As they pull off, from one of SISTER’S WINDOW, she is wearing her mask looking at them.
HARD CUT TO: ACT 3, SCENE 5 INT: ASTRO CITY HIGH – AUDITORIUM
As they walk through metal detectors, RICKY’S flask gets tossed. The officers give RICKY a knowing glance.
DARLAH:
I can’t believe you thought that would work.
RICKY shrugs.
DARLAH:
You gonna act butthurt all night?
RICKY:
Ain’t shit up my butt.
DARLAH:
My foot in about a minute.
RICKY:
Sounds sexy.
RICKY turns to touch her inappropriately. DARLAH slaps his hand away.
JAMAL and LEIGH are right behind them.
JAMAL:
I like it better when you smile.
LEIGH:
Sorry. Sister really bothered me.
JAMAL:
What did she do?
LEIGH:
I’m trying not to let it bother me. I texted her foster sons about it so I don’t have to deal with it when I get back.
JAMAL:
You don’t have to deal with it alone.
He takes her hand and she finally smiles.
LEIGH:
I know this night is about us. I don’t want to ruin it.
JAMAL:
You won’t.
They walk into the DANCE.
DJ FYAH is announcing the next track and students are already on the dance floor.
RICKY tries to grab DARLAH to the dance floor.
DARLAH:
You can’t grab me like that.
RICKY:
Why don’t you wanna dance? That’s what we came here for.
DARLAH:
Bring it down five notches.
RICKY:
Didn’t you come here to have fun?
DARLAH:
Get outta my face, Rick.
SECURITY intervenes.
SECURITY:
Everything okay here?
DARLAH:
Oh yeah definitely, we smooth. Are you smooth?
RICKY:
Suck my dick.
RICKY walks in the other direction.
DARLAH:
See. Smooth.
SECURITY walks away.
JAMAL:
Ricky’s just drunk.
DARLAH:
Yeah, now I need a drink.
LEIGH:
Not that kind of drink, girl.
DARLAH:
Well let me stuff my feelings with something.
LEIGH:
Let’s take a walk to the food table. Need anything?
JAMAL:
I’m good. I’ll be right here.
ACT 3, SCENE 6 EXT: SISTER’S HOME
AMED and OMAR sprint up the steps. The music is blaring.
AMED:
This should’ve been the first place we checked.
OMAR:
We can thank Leigh later.
OMAR grabs his key to open the door, but the door opens by itself.
AMED:
What the hell was that?
OMAR:
Ghosts.
AMED (shocked):
You’re not joking.
OMAR:
This house is haunted. Always have been.
AMED:
Why am I finding this out now? She told you everything huh? You two are really together?
OMAR leads them inside.
ACT 3, SCENE 7 INT: SISTER’S HOME – FOYER (CONT’D)
OMAR:
Sister! It’s Omar and Amed! We’re here!
AMED:
She’s not gonna hear us over the music.
AMED goes into the living room to turn off the music.
The living room and the masks on the wall remain silent.
AMED:
My ears are ringing.
OMAR:
Sister, where are you?
SISTER (O.S.):
Josh?
They hear steps coming down the stairs. OMAR and AMED creeps around the corner.
FROM OMAR POV: SISTER (in a mask) is standing at the foot of the steps in her mask with a vodka bottle in her hand.
SISTER:
Where’s Josh?
OMAR:
It’s just Amed and me.
AMED:
Hey Sister, it’s nice to see you. I think.
SISTER:
Why did you stop the music? He was calling to me. He was screaming.
FOCUS on the several MASKS on the walls. Their mouths are open as if they are screaming.
AMED looks behind him as if he heard something.
AMED:
Is there someone else here?
SISTER:
Do you hear him?
OMAR:
You’re son’s gone, Sister.
SISTER:
No, he’s not!
AMED:
She’s telling the truth. There’s someone else here.
OMAR waves AMED to be quiet.
AMED:
You don’t hear that?
AMED walks back into the living room perplexed.
OMAR:
Baby, take off the mask so we can get out of here. This isn’t healthy.
SISTER:
It’s the only way I can hear them.
OMAR:
No, it’s not. You’re just drowning out the pain and slowly killing yourself.
In the other room, AMED winces as if in pain.
SISTER:
All I want is to hear him, but they keep getting in the way. Why can’t I hear him? Why can’t I see him?
OMAR:
Because he’s gone.
SISTER:
NO! This isn’t what I wanted!
AMED looking all around the room. THE MASKS become more menacing.
AMED:
Oh god, what are they saying?
OMAR:
Amed?
AMED:
We gotta get out of here.
AMED winces in pain loudly.
OMAR:
Baby, we got to go.
OMAR approaches SISTER slowly.
OMAR:
C’mon, give me the bottle.
AMED spins around the room, FOCUS on the gaping mouth of several masks.
AMED:
Argh!
SISTER:
All the masks are falling. Then everyone will see.
OMAR:
Let it go.
SISTER:
What about Josh?
AMED covers his ears.
AMED (yelling):
We really need to get out of here!
OMAR:
I’m sorry. He’s gone.
OMAR pulls the bottle away from her and removes her mask.
OMAR:
He’s gone.
SISTER (whispers):
…No.
A large crash is heard from the living room. AMED runs out the living room. All the MASKS have fallen to the ground in a thunder of sound.
OMAR sweeps up SISTER. They run out the front door.
SISTER:
Josh!
JOSHUA’S BLOODY GHOST remains in the living room and is joined by SHAUNICE and GRACE.
ACT 3, SCENE 8 INT: AC HIGH – PROM NIGHT – CONT’D
LEIGH comes back carrying a punch.
LEIGH:
I brought you something anyway.
JAMAL:
Thank you. Darlah okay?
LEIGH:
She’s alright. Just keep Ricky away from her and me.
JAMAL:
He’s forcing it. I know.
DJ FYAH:
Sup Astro City. I don’t care what the hell’s happening out there. There is no better place to be than here right now with y’all. This is your moment. Don’t be ashamed to let your feelings show. Right now, I want you to grab someone you care about close.
MUSIC SALSATON (salsa and reggaeton) Dance sequence.
LEIGH starts to sway to the music.
JAMAL:
Wanna dance?
LEIGH:
You’re not ready.
JAMAL:
Did we come here to stand with our backs against the wall or have a good time?
LEIGH:
You better keep up.
They walk out onto the dance floor. It is a sensual dance almost like an Aliyah’s Tango in Tell Me You that Somebody.
LEIGH:
I’m impressed.
JAMAL:
I learn from the best.
Song slows down significantly and they are dancing slower in each other’s arms.
JAMAL:
Thank you for coming out.
LEIGH:
Thank you for asking me out.
JAMAL and LEIGH finally share a kiss.
ACT 3, SCENE 9 INT: REV’S HOME – NIGHT
REV is sitting in the living room with RACHEL beside him. RACHEL is staring blankly ahead at nothing, while REV flips through his bible.
BANGING on the door.
REV:
The hell?
RACHEL is frozen still, as if she couldn’t move even if she wanted to.
BANGING on the door continues:
AMED (O.S.):
Rev, open up. It’s us!
REV:
(to RACHEL) Don’t get up. I’ll get it.
Only RACHEL’S eyes dart wildly in the direction of REV.
REV goes to answer the banging on his door. The door opens AMED and OMAR come in carrying SISTER between them.
REV:
God, what happened?
OMAR:
She relapsed.
REV:
That shouldn’t happen. She and I prayed over this.
AMED:
Well, it didn’t work. Nothing’s working the way it should.
OMAR:
Don’t say that.
REV:
Bring her into the kitchen.
They sit SISTER in a chair. OMAR tends to her by wiping her face.
OMAR:
Stay awake, baby.
REV goes to grab his bible. Before he leaves, he speaks to RACHEL.
REV:
Just sit here and watch some tv. This may take a while.
He turns on the television for her before he steps out. RACHEL’S eyes darting left and right for help.
REV goes back into the kitchen.
REV:
How much has she drunk?
OMAR:
I don’t know.
AMED:
That’s not the worse part. There’s more.
OMAR:
Tell him later. She needs us now.
AMED:
It’s just as important.
OMAR:
Not now.
AMED and OMAR stare angrily at each other in disagreement.
REV:
Tell me later. Right now we need to pray.
REV stretches out his hand. AMED holds his hand, and OMAR holds AMED’S hand and SISTER’S hand.
REV:
Father God, help us guide Sister back to us.
REV rests his hand on SISTER. She lurches forward in her chair in a cry of pain.
ACT 3, SCENE 10 EXT: AC HIGH – CONT’D
RICKY is outside the school. He’s smoking a cigarette and mumbling to himself.
RICKY:
I can’t wait for this shit to be over.
RICKY crushes his cigarette out and heads back inside the building. He makes sure the coast is clear and jumps back inside.
Before the door closes shut, a hand stops it.
PAINFUL SCREAM O.S.
CUT TO: ACT 3, SCENE 11 INT: REV’S HOUSE – KITCHEN – CONT’D
SISTER lurches forward in her chair in a cry of pain.
The veins on REV’s hand bulge. His eyes are black.
OMAR spots this in fear.
REV:
Free her from this temptation Lord as only You can. You know her need. You know her heart.
SISTER keeps screaming.
OMAR:
You’re hurting her.
AMED:
Keep praying.
REV:
Free her Father God. Let her temptations wither away like leaves in a fall. Open her eyes. Let her see your light.
OMAR:
Please come back.
SISTER looks at OMAR who looks back at her compassionately. Her cries subside.
REV removes his hand from her as the group stops praying.
REV:
Sister, are you with us?
She nods.
AMED:
You scared us pretty bad.
OMAR:
I thought I lost you.
SISTER:
I am lost. This isn’t living. I don’t want to hurt anymore.
REV:
Then release the demon that has a hold of you. Be free, Sister.
SISTER
I want to be free, but I’m so angry! I kept moving, kept doing, because when I stopped, the pain was there to swallow me whole. I don’t want it anymore! I want him. I want to feel his arms around me again. I want him to hold me close and tell me it’s alright. I want that love again.
CUT TO RACHEL in the living room. She is still frozen in her seat, but tears are falling from her eyes.
SISTER:
I want my Josh! But he won’t ever come back to me. I won’t hear him. I can’t hold him. Why?
OMAR:
You have so much to live for. You have us. You have me.
SISTER touches his face and wipes his tears.
REV:
We’ve all been there. We know the struggle to keep afloat.
SISTER:
I don’t want to float anymore.
OMAR:
Don’t give into it.
AMED:
We’re here for you. Always. Just tell us what you need.
SISTER looks over all their faces. She is breathing heavily.
ACT 3, SCENE 12 INT: AC HIGH – CONT’D
JAMAL:
Wait right here. Ok?
LEIGH:
Where are you going?
JAMAL:
It’s a surprise. Just wait for me.
JAMAL dashes across the dance floor to the DJ station.
JAMAL:
Oh yo, FYAH!
DJ FYAH:
What’s up brother? How you been?
JAMAL:
Straight, fam. Listen, you wouldn’t happen to have that track you and I worked on, would you?
DJ FYAH:
I could look it up. Why?
JAMAL:
My girl’s here. I was wondering if you could play it?
DJ FYAH:
You trying to seal the deal tonight? I see you, blood.
JAMAL:
Nah, man. Just trying to make this night special.
DJ FYAH:
It’s all good. I got you, homie.
JAMAL excitedly is on his way back to LEIGH. He bumps into RICKY and gets punch all over his suit.
JAMAL:
Shit!
RICKY:
Damn, My bag. It’s not that bad. (BEAT) Wash that shit out quick though.
JAMAL heads out of the hall to a sign that says exit.
ACT 3, SCENE 13 INT: AC HIGH – BATHROOM – CONT’D
JAMAL walks into the bathroom just as someone else is coming out. He is at the sink, grabs paper towels, and tries to blot at the red on his tux.
Someone is struggling in the stall.
JAMAL:
Courtesy flush!
ACT 3, SCENE 14 INT: AC HIGH – HALL – CONT’D
LEIGH is waiting around for JAMAL.
DJ FYAH:
This is for a special someone. This that new shit.
JAMAL’S song starts and LEIGH quickly recognizes his voice.
ACT 3, SCENE 15 INT: BATHROOM – CONT’D
JAMAL hears the sounds of his song playing. He gives up cleaning his shirt and heads for the door.
RICKY comes in.
RICKY:
That song’s you bro?
JAMAL:
Yeah. It’s for…
A bunch of other people file into the bathroom. It is obvious they’re from the CRIPS.
RICKY locks the door.
JAMAL:
I should’ve never fucking trusted you Ricky. Y’all doing this here?
TOILET FLUSHES. STALL OPENS to reveal LOCO, laughing, holding up a camera phone. He takes a picture.
LOCO:
Look at you with your dumbass. You thought you could just walk away?
JAMAL starts to swing, but the gang and RICKY pounces on him with punches and kicks viciously.
INTERCUT with LEIGH listening to the song and scanning the crowd for JAMAL.
JAMAL’S POV LOCO standing over him with an extended blade of his box cutter in one hand and a camera phone in the other.
LOCO:
Shut up and close your eyes.
LOCO goes in with his blade.
JAMAL screams off screen.
CUT TO BLACK.
End of ACT 3