The Lemon Squeeze- Pilot 1

The Lemon Squeeze

Written by: Yaayaa Hunt and Samira Morton

The Lemon Squeeze- Pilot 2

FADE IN:

INT. THE ALPHA DELTA HOUSE- LIVING ROOM- WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING

A group of drunken party goers exists the house out the front door. Tracey locks the door behind them. She looks at the clock on the stove that reads 2:47 AM. She begins to pick up red plastic cups from the floor and discards in the trash. The woman walks toward the back of the house and opens her bedroom door. She closes it behind her and sits on her bed.

CUT TO:

INT. THE ALPHA DELTA HOUSE - TRACEY’S BEDROOM- CONTINUOS

Tracey’s bedroom is very simple. Not very well decorated. We see make-up and female clothes on the floor. We get a slow shot of Tracey from her feet, up her legs and bottom to the back of her blouse that she attempts to unzip.

There is a quick knock at the door.

TRACEYJust a mo-

A man enters the room before Tracey finishes her sentence.

Terrance

(Smiling) Oh. I’m sorry. I thought Jamilah was in here.

TRACEY(She laughs)

In my room? There is an awkward silence.

TRACEYI think she went to bed already. She said she was tired.

Tracey attempts unzip her blouse again.

TerranceLet me help you with that.

The Lemon Squeeze- Pilot 3

Terrance walks over to Tracey and unzips her blouse. Tracey turns around to face him. They make eye contact. His hands are on her shoulders. Tracey looks down.

CUT TO: INT. THE ALPHA DELTA HOUSE - HALLWAY - MOMENTS LATER

We see Jamilah in her bathrobe emerge from her bedroom and close the door. She walks down the hallway and as she approaches the stairs, the door slams. She hurries her pace down the stairs but does not run. She looks out the front door to see her boyfriend, Terrence, walking down the walkway of the house. She walks into the kitchen and looks at the clock that reads 3:23 AM. She takes a seat at the kitchen table and looks at Tracey’s door.

FADE OUT:

FADE IN:Music Cue: Kanye West’s All Falls Down

MAIN TITLES

The following are vignettes of the current members of the Gamma chapter of Alpha Delta Sorority Inc.

FADE OUT:CUT TO:

MARYLAND STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - STUDENT UNION - TWO DAYS LATER

Jamilah and Terrance are having lunch. Jamilah has a gyro and fries. Terrance has a slice of pizza. Both are eating quietly. Terrance attempts to take some fries from Jamilah’s plate and she stabs the fries. She slowly looks up from the fries making eye contact with Terrance.

JAMILAH

(in a sweet voice but with a stern face)If you wanted fries, you should have gotten fries,

Love.

Looking defeated and confused, Terrance shakes his head and returns to eating his pizza. Terrance takes his ringing phone out his pocket. It reads “Private.”

Terrance

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I have to answer this.

JAMILAH

Who is it?

Terrance

It’s a business call. I have to run. See you tonight?

Terrance gets up from the table. JAMILAH

Don’t bother. I have a chapter meeting. Terrance

Shame.

Terrance kisses Jamilah’s forehead and exits. Jamilah picks her phone off the table and places a call.

JAMILAH

What are you doing? Come to the house. Yeah everything is find I just wanted to talk to you in private before chapter. No, nothing is wrong. Because I just do. I

can’t with you. Whatever. Can you do five? Ok. See you then.

Jamilah hangs up the phone and puts it in her purse.

CUT TO:INT. ALPHA DELTA HOUSE - JAMILAH’S ROOM - LATER

Jamilah is sitting on her bed on her phone. The door opens and enters her pregnant soror, Shay. She closes and locks the door behind her.

SHAY(Humorously)

So what the fuck is the problem? Who has my LS Fucked up? Don’t worry I already know where to bury them, pregnant and all (rubbing her stomach)

Jamilah(laughing)

You are too much for me.

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Shay has a seat on Jamilah’s bed. Her face gets serious. She is sincerely concerned.

SHAY

What is going on sis? I know something’s wrong so just spit it out?

JAMILAH

It’s Terrance.

SHAY

What about him?

JAMILAH

I think he’s cheating on me.

SHAY

What makes you think that?

JAMILAH

He gets calls from private numbers that he doesn’t answer in front of me and…

SHAY

And? What is it?

JAMILAH

I’m damn sure the girl he has the nerve to be fucking around with is Tracey.

SHAY(Knowing who Jamilah is referring to but genuinely shocked)

Tracey who?JAMILAH

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Bitch, don’t play games. You know who I’m talking about.

SHAY

She wouldn’t do that. I mean even if she was that grimy, which I don’t think she is, she can’t be stupid enough to

sleep with her soror’s boyfriend.

JAMILAH

Well you know better than anyone that if I truly had a say she wouldn’t have made it in anyway.

SHAY

Don’t start bringing up old shit. It doesn’t matter how she got here. She’s here. Let that shit go.

JAMILAH

I’m going to let some shit go tonight. I’m going to let my fist go across her chin.

SHAY(Holding her stomach) Don’t speak like that in front of your

niecey pooh!

JAMILAH(Laughing)Girl bye, I’m sure you’ve already corrupted lil mama

FADE OUT:FADE IN:

Quick shots of each sorority member is shown as each prepares for the chapter’s weekly meeting.

FADE OUT:

INT. THE ALPHA DELTA HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - LATER

All of the members (except for Tracey) are gathered in the living room talking in their own little groups. Mya, the ALPHA DELTA ALUMNA, stands and signals her sorors to let them know that it is time to begin the meeting.

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MYAGood evening ladies. (the ladies respond)Glad to see all of you here on this lovely day. (Looking around the living room) Where’s Tracey?

JAMILAH(to Shay)She’s probably somewhere stealing somebody’s man.

Shay rolls her eyes at Jamilah.

MYAWell, we’ll just catch her up to speed. I have some important info to share with you all. (she hands out an article to her sorors)

JAMILAHWhat is it now Ms. Mya? (the group laughs)

MYA(smiling) An article I found by Walter R. Allen entitled The Color of Success: African-American College Student Outcomes at Predominantly White and Historically Black Public Colleges and Universities. Just from the title alone we can see a clear connection to some of the experiences we go through here at MSU.Do you guys think it is harder to be comfortable in your skin at a PWI than it would be at an HBCU?

SHAYI mean, I’m sure there’s pros and cons in both situations. Speaking from experience, as a pregnant undergraduate African-American female here at MSU, I definitely feel the judgmental eyes and nasty glares from white students and white professors. I know for sure that in their eyes I’m nothing more than a “baby momma.” But as all of you already know, shorty is graduating with honors in a few more weeks. And after I wobble across that stage I will wobble my wide ass right into my new home with my husband (flaunts ring). He liked it AND put a ring on it honey. (sorors laugh and cheer).

MYA(Still laughing) Thanks for sharing Shay. But don’t forget to mention that you have a job lined up and waiting for you as well.

SHAY

The Lemon Squeeze- Pilot 8

How could I forget? Girl, if I wasn’t carrying this load, I would get up and twerk some’n right now.

Sorors began to cheer Shay on

SororsTWERK SOME’N GIRL! AYYEEE TWERK SOME’N GIRL!

Plays snippet of Juvenile-Back that ass upShay stands in front of the group and begins to twerk. Everyone laughs.

SHAY(Laughing while rubbing stomach) This is bad parenting. I’m done I swear.

There is noise outside of the door that grabs everyone’s attention and in walks a distraught Tracey. She looks surprised and confused.

TraceyOMG, I completely forgot about the chapter meeting today. I’m really sorry.

SHAYIt’s cool girl. You just missed my performance and all, but it’s cool

JAMILAHNo, it’s not cool. Where were you? We all have things that we could have been doing, but we’re still here. What was so important?

TRACEY(Head bowed) I had to take care of some business. I apologize.

JAMILAHHmm, some business right? (Chuckles) whatever girl

MYAI don’t know if it’s just me or not but I definitely sense some tension in the room.

TRACEYNo, everything is fine. I really did forget and you guys have every right to be upset. I am sorry.

The Lemon Squeeze- Pilot 9

SHAYNo Mya is right and I want to request a lemon squeeze. Tracey and Jamilah have unfinished business that they clearly need to settle.

TRACEY(Confused) Unfinished business? I have no problem with Jamilah. (turns to Jamilah) You know that. You’re my sis, there’s nothing but love on this end.

JAMILAH(Rolls eyes) Ard.

MYAJamilah, if there’s something you need to get off of your chest, you can do it at the mandatory lemon squeeze tomorrow afternoon before our event. As for the rest of you, enjoy the rest of the day and I’ll be expecting your proposals on fundraising ideas. Be easy breezes.

As the girls begin to talk amongst themselves, Shay pulls out her phone and sees a campus message reporting a rape that occurred last night. Camera zooms in on the message.

SHAYDid yall just get that alert? (Shaking her head) I’m so tired of this school and all of these damn sexual assaults every other day. Enough is enough!

MYAYou’re not the only one. I’m just pleased to know that the victim had enough courage to at least report the crime in hopes that some justice will be served. Not a lot of people can take that step because they’re often blamed for it happening in the first place.

SHAYExactly. (To the whole group) That’s why it’s so important for us to band together. Take advantage of the buddy system. (rubs belly) this is my buddy right here and I wish a cunt would try us!

Everyone laughs at Shay, except for Tracey. She has been standing in the same spot dazed out since the reported rape was brought up in the meeting. Tracey looks lost, scared and confused. Shay

The Lemon Squeeze- Pilot 10

walks up to her and waves her hands in Tracey’s face. It appears that Tracey doesn’t even notice Shay. Tracey is in deep thought.

FLASH BACK:(Plays suspenseful music)It is the night of the party. Terrence is in Tracey’s room rubbing on her body. Tracey looks afraid and confused. Terrence begins to start kissing on Tracey’s shoulders. Tracey pushes Terrence’s head away and begins to back up. Terrence aggressively grabs Tracey by her arms and throws her on the bed.

FADE OUT:FADE IN:

SHAY(To Tracey) Hello! Are you good girl? What’s up with you?

Tracey snaps back into reality and looks around the room with tear filled eyes and runs out of the apartment. Mya follows after her.

FADE OUT:FADE IN:

-OUTSIDE OF THE ALPHA DELTA’S HOUSE-

MYATracey! Tracey, stop running. Come here!

Tracey keeps running down the street crying leaving Mya behind.

As Tracey runs, Music by J. Cole – Crooked Smile

FADE OUT:FADE IN:

-INT THE ALPHA DELTA SORORITY HOUSE-

SHAY(eating chips) She good? (to Mya)

MYAI couldn’t catch her.

JAMILAH(irritated) She just wants some damn attention. Aint nobody got time for that shit.

MYA

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(to Jamilah) That is your sister! She’s obviously hurting which means you should be hurting as well. Or did you forget that?

Jamilah storms into her room and slams the door.

SHAYSee, all these dramatic ass exits are giving me a headache. It’s time for me to take a nap.

FADE OUT:FADE IN:

LATERTracey and her boyfriend, Darion, are having eating lunch at McDonalds. Tracey is picking over her fries and staring out of the window.

DARIONI called you last night after your lil party but you never answered. It’s cool though. (Tracey ignores him)How was it anyway? (she continues to ignore him) Everything okay babe?

TRACEY(still looking out of the window) Yeah.

DARIONAre you sure? You haven’t eve..

TRACEY(cutting Darion off) Dammit Darion! I said I’m okay. Drop it.

DARIONWhat the hell is your problem?

TRACEY(Yelling) You! You’re my problem. I wish you would just let me be!

DARIONTracey, if you’re upset about Tiarra putting the heart eyes under my IG pic I will delete it and block her. You know the likes and comments don’t mean nothing to me. I’ll address it baby, don’t worry. (He reaches to hold her hand but she pulls it away)

TRACEYWhat? Aint nobody thinking about you or Tiarra. Do what you want. I just need space.

DARION

The Lemon Squeeze- Pilot 12

(clearly angered) What does that mean? You call yourself breaking up with me? What the fuck is up with you yo?

TRACEY(Yelling) Darion get the hell out of my face! It’s over, I’m done! Enjoy your life.

DARION(Taken back) Idk what the hell is going on with today but whatever it is you need to get over it. I’ll call you tonight. I love you. (Kisses Tracey on her forehead and leaves)

Tracey cries while burying her face in her hands. Music by Veronika Bozeman- What is love plays in the background.

FADE OUT:FADE IN:

INT. ALPHA DELTA HOUSE – KITCHEN

Tracey is washing her dishes and cleaning up the kitchen. In walks Jamilah.

JAMILAH(Staring at Tracey) oh, hey.

TRACEYHey.

JAMILAHImma just go ahead and address the elephant in the room. But first, I’ll give you a chance to explain yourself.Now is there anything you need to tell me?

TRACEYNo. (not looking up from the sink)

JAMILAHI’m really trying to be nice Tracey. I’m trying to do the sisterly thing and come to you correct instead of just knocking you the fuck out like I would have done any other bitch who knowingly disrespected my relationship. So I’ll ask you again, is there anything you need to tell me?

TRACEY(Cutting the faucet off) No. (Walks away)

FADE OUT:

The Lemon Squeeze- Pilot 13

FADE IN:

INT. ALPHA DELTA HOUSE – TRACEY’S ROOM

Music by Jhene Aiko – Lyin King plays as..

Tracey is sitting Indian style in the middle of her bedroom floor. Across from her are the clothes she was wearing at the party. They are ripped and scattered across the floor. Tracey picks up the clothes and throws them in the trash can in her room. She sits on her bed holding her pillow tightly and rocking back and forth. Tears fall down her eyes.

FADE OUT:FADE IN:

INT. ALPHA DELTA HOUSE – LIVING ROOM- NEXT DAY

MYAI first want to thank you guys for all your support in making sure our women empowerment event was a huge success. It’s important for us to remember why this sisterhood was established in the first place, and today each and every last one of you showed me why you are a true member of Alpha Delta. However, it is lemon squeeze time and right now Tracey and Jamilah are in the hot seat so let’s address this issue.

JAMILAHI’ll just just put it out there. Tracey is trifling and if I were yall, I’d keep a tight leash around my man.

MYAEnough with the indirectness Jamilah. What is the problem? It’s clear the two of you can’t mend this relationship without our help so say exactly what you mean. Stop beating around the bush.

JAMILAHShe’s fucking my man. There, I said it.

EXTRAWhat? Jamilah stop the nonsense. Tracey has a boyfriend, why would she need your man?

JAMILAH

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Please, she’s just telling us that. Aint nobody ever see her or her lil imaginary ass boyfriend together before. What’s his name? Where he live? How he look? I’ll wait. All of yall know Terrence is packing. Yall see his big ass feet. I know yall hear us knocking boots back and forth in my damn room. Don’t dare sit up here and act like yall don’t know. Like I said, my “sister” (air quotes) is fucking my man. Point blank period.

Tracey stares off in the opposite direction of the group. She is shaking her head and wiping tears from her eyes. Shay walks over to comfort her.

SHAY(To Tracey) we’re family. If you made a bad decision or made any mistakes just let us know. We’re here for you Trace.

TRACEY(In a fragile voice to Shay) you just don’t understand.

MYAOne thing we aren’t gonna do is attack one another. There are a lot of emotions involved and we’re saying hurtful things to each other. I am going to personally meet with Tracey and Jamilah and have a mini lemon squeeze with just the three of us on a day that I see fit. I want to wait until everyone has calmed down and can think and speak logically. As for the rest of you… pray for me. (Group laughs)

FADE OUT:CUT TO:

INT. ALPHA DELTA HOUSE – JAMILAH’S ROOM – LATER THAT NIGHT

Jamilah and Terrence are in her room watching Scandal. Terrence is moving closer to Jamilah and wrapping his arms around her hips.

JAMILAH(Smirking) what are you doing?

TERRENCE(Looking into Jamilah’s eyes) You know exactly what time it is.

Music by Teyana Taylor – Do not disturb

The Lemon Squeeze- Pilot 15

Jamilah climbs on top of Terrence while he gropes her hips while Terrence kisses on Jamilah’s neck. Terrence attempts to take Jamilah’s shirt off then...

Music stops abruptly.

JAMILAHSike! (Climbs off of Terrence) Don’t touch me. And it’s time for you to go.

TERRENCEThe fuck? How you gone start something you can’t finish?

JAMILAHOh we both know I can finish. Don’t play yourself boo

TERRENCEYo, what’s up with you? You ain’t never turn me down before.

JAMILAHTerrence please get ya whack ass out of my room.

TERRENCETrue. Remember this shit (He grabs his things while holding himself and walks out)

Terrence is walking out of the house as Tracey is walking in. They make eye contact and Tracey runs to her room.

FADE OUT:CUT TO:

NEXT DAY AFTER CLASS AT PANDA EXPRESS

Jamilah walks into the HUB and toward the line at Panda Express. As she turns the left she bumps into a guy, Darion, and drops all of her books.

DARIONI’m so sorry. Let me help you get that (he picks up her books off of the ground) Here you go (he hands her the books).

JAMILAH(Smiling) Thank you

DARION(Smirking) No problem. Enjoy your day beautiful. (He walks away)

The Lemon Squeeze- Pilot 16

FADE OUT:CUT TO:

INT. TABLE AT PANDA EXPRESS

Shay and Jamilah are eating. Shay notices Jamilah looking down at her books smiling.

SHAYWhat the hell is so flattering about that damn psychology book?

JAMILAH(chuckling) The cutest thing happened to me a few minutes ago

SHAY(rolls eyes) I guess you and Terrence made up

JAMILAHHell no! His ass is still in the dog house. I’m about to get me a new man; a gentleman. I bumped into the cutest guy today on my way here and all of my books dropped.

SHAY(shifts eyes from left to right) …and?

JAMILAHAnd... he picked them up for me. And... he called me beautiful. (Jamilah begins to smile again)

SHAY(Holding her head) Lord Jesus. I don’t know what it is about yall young girls throwing the panties at any man that calls you beautiful. Know ya worth ma-ma, don’t let a complete stranger calculate it for you.

JAMILAHThanks mama Shay, for completely killing that high.

They laugh. FADE OUT: CUT TO:

BUS STOP IN FRONT OF PATTEE

Jamilah is sitting at the bus stop when Darion walks up and sits next to her.

DARION

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Hey, beautiful.

JAMILAH(Smiling) is that the only word you know?

DARIONNah, I know a few more. But those words don’t do you justice.

JAMILAH(Blushing) How can I help you kind sir?

DARIONI had a long week. I just wanna throw back a few drinks. But I would hate to go all by myself (he looks at Jamilah and laughs faintly)

JAMILAHYou don’t even know my name, yet you want me to go get drinks with you?

DARIONYou’re right, where are my manners. I’m Darion, and you are..?

JAMILAHJamilah.

DARIONWell, Ms. Beautiful Jamilah, is that a yes?

JAMILAHWhat the hell, I had a pretty shitty week myself. Let’s go.

They walk down the street talking and laughing.

Scene fads and end credits appear.