WRITTEN
BY
Roger Newcomb
STARRING
(in order of appearance)
Na’Vell
Lee as Damien Givens
Stephen Seidel as Dante Ramos
Jason Nishimito-Thompson
as Cyrus Connor
Brandon Delaurentiis
as Ian Levin
Ryan Chandler as Elijah Phillips
Wendy Hammer as Miranda Phillips
DANTE
has just arrived to see DAMIEN.
DAMIEN
Dante,
I’m glad you stopped by. Look man, I can
explain everything.
DANTE
Save
it, Damien. I’m not sure why I even
bothered to come, but my Dad has taken off and I don’t know where
DAMIEN
That’s
understandable. And I deserve it, so go
ahead.
DANTE
How
could you do this Damien? Forget about
what you did to my Dad, but how about what you did to me? You lied to me for months, acted like you
barely knew Barbara, and pretended like we were best friends this whole time.
DAMIEN
Dante,
we’ve been best friends for years, long before I ever met Barbara.
DANTE
And what about the first time I told you about my Dad and Barbara
hooking up. You just gave me a blank stare and pretended
to be so nonchalant about the whole thing.
And the whole damn time you were sleeping with her too.
DAMIEN
Dante,
I met Barbara before your father ever did.
I dated her after Felicia. She
wanted to keep things lowkey, and I agreed.
DANTE
Yeah,
because she was probably seeing some other rich cat she was trying to bilk.
DAMIEN
Barbara’s
not like that. I mean, she may have been
attracted to Paul’s money, but she does have a heart. A huge heart.
DANTE
Give
me a break. You sound like you’re still
hung up on her? Are you telling me you
two are STILL sleeping together, even now?
DAMIEN
No. Things ended months ago. She made her choice and it was Paul, not
me. But I’m not going to lie and tell
you I wasn’t disappointed.
DANTE
And what about this little reunion with Felicia? What the hell is that all about then?
DAMIEN
Dante,
Felicia was blackmailing Barbara and threatening to tell Paul about our affair.
DANTE
So
you got back together with her so she’d stop blackmailing your ex-lover? I can’t believe this!
DAMIEN
It’s
messed up, I know, but Barbara came to me and asked for my help, and that’s all
I could think to do.
DANTE
And
just what are you going to do about Felicia now?
DAMIEN
She
went to visit her aunt in
DANTE
(knowing Felicia won’t take it well) Well, good luck with
that.
DAMIEN
Dante,
look, I know you’re angry, but you’re my best friend, and I know after some cooling
off, we’ll go back to the way things were.
DANTE
That’s
funny, because I just thinking to myself how things would ever be the same
again.
CYRUS
and IAN have just finished eating a pizza and watching a movie.
CYRUS
I
am completely stuffed.
IAN
So
am I. And that movie left a little to be
desired.
CYRUS
Okay,
okay, you’re right. Last time I listen
to Justine at the hospital.
IAN
It’s
alright. I had a good time, and that’s
all that matters. I hope you did too.
CYRUS
Yes. Definitely. And I know we talked about not having any
miscommunication so I wanted to make it clear that I considered this a date.
IAN
Good. So did I.
CYRUS
So… if we both enjoyed
it, then I guess we’ll do it again some time?
IAN
Cyrus,
I think you’ve already figured this out, but I’m somewhat of an offbeat kind of
guy. And sometimes I get tongue tied and
say the wrong things and freak people out.
But because I really like you, I’m going to go for it here, and hope I don’t
say too much.
CYRUS
Uh,
okay. You have me curious now.
IAN
Well,
I’ve already told you that you’re cute.
And if you haven’t picked up on it, I really enjoy spending time with
you, at work and outside work. And… the whole time were
watching that movie, I was thinking about what I’d rather be doing with you.
CYRUS
Whoa.
IAN
I
know, I said too much. (upset with himself) God, why do I always blow it?
CYRUS
Ian,
you haven’t blown anything. (laughs then becomes more serious) But, if
you’d like to stay over tonight….
IAN
Yes,
I’d like that very much.
A
happy MIRANDA is talking with ELIJAH in the kitchen.
ELIJAH
Mom,
why are you so happy? And where did you
go so fast after the wedding? I had to
catch a ride over here with
MIRANDA
I
had to get home, son, and help Barbara pack.
ELIJAH
Oh
no, you didn’t…
MIRANDA
Actually,
I beat her home, and had a suitcase ready for her when she arrived.
ELIJAH
Mom,
please tell me you didn’t gloat in Barbara’s misery. She must feel awful after that public lashing
by Paul.
MIRANDA
A
much deserved lashing I might add. That
woman was cheating on Paul behind his back.
I told you she was only with him for his money.
ELIJAH
Didn’t
you see the look on her face at the wedding?
If I didn’t think so before, I would swear that she really loves Paul
now.
MIRANDA
Oh
hogwash. She loves Paul’s money, but it
doesn’t matter now. She’s out on the
streets where she belongs.
ELIJAH
I
don’t understand you. You can be the
most caring woman in the world one might, and so cold-hearted the next.
MIRANDA
Get
off my back, Elijah. I’ve wanted Barbara
out of this house for months and it has finally happened. Let me enjoy it, will you?
ELIJAH
Fine. But I’m not going to hang
around and watch. I know you think this
somehow helps your position with Paul, but I just don’t see it.
MIRANDA
I
told Paul that I had feelings for someone and he strongly encouraged me to tell
that person. So the first chance I get…
ELIJAH
Mom,
I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You
have no idea how Paul will react.
MIRANDA
There’s
never been a better time, son. I’m going
to tell Paul that I love him and I just know he’ll love me back someday.