ACT I

SCENE I

(It's Monday morning and Della Reid is serving breakfast in her home to her husband of 20 years, Paul; her 16-year-old daughter, Cyndi; and her nine-year-old son, Danny. The family is hurriedly trying to finish breakfast and get to school or work. Della is a retired educator)

Della: Who wants this last chocolate chip pancake? Going once ... going twice ...

Danny: I'll take it, Mom. Umm ... these pancakes are delicious! Can I have more eggs too?

Cyndi:(Jokingly) My little brother, the human garbage disposal.

Danny: Hey, Sis, looks like you can't handle that last piece of sausage. I'll take it! (Before she could answer, Danny sticks his fork on her plate and pops it in his mouth with lightning speed.)

Cyndi: Mom! (Yells in frustration)

Della: Danny, that's enough! It's time for the bus. Hurry! Get your books and don't forget your social studies project.

(Danny leaves the room briefly and returns with a shoe box)

Della: Come here and give your mom a kiss.

Danny:(Enters) See ya later, alligator!

Della: After while crocodile ... Have a good day, baby boy! Love ya (Kiss/hug—Danny exits.)

Della:(Yells offstage) Paul, your breakfast is getting cold. Hurry down.

Paul:(Paul answers offstage) Coming ...

(PAUL ENTERS)

Paul: I don't have time for a big breakfast today, honey. Just coffee and toast for me. I've got my evaluation this morning. I just know they are going to offer me the Regional Manager position!

Della:(Beaming with pride) Here's a kiss for good luck! Call me with the good news! You'll have to drop Cyndi off at school this morning. She has early morning math tutoring.

Paul: But I don't have time ...

Cyndi: Dad, I'm ready and it's right on your way.

Pauli: Okay, okay ... let's go!

(Cyndi gulps down her orange juice, grabs her purse and books, gives her mother a quick goodbye and goes out the door with her dad.)

THE END OF SCENE 1

SCENE II

(Sanderson High School. Cyndi Reid is standing in a corner with her boyfriend, Fletch, before going to her first period class.)

Fletch: Girl, you are looking so fine today. I want you to meet me after school at the park. (Kisses her on the cheek and lips) We can catch up on studying and ... other things.

Cyndi(playfully) Stop, Fletch. Mrs. Dockery is going to catch us. I don't want her calling my mom again.

Fletch:(Attempts to hug and kiss her.) You worry too much, girl!

(BELL RINGS)

Cyndi: Come on. I don't want detention; and I certainly don't want my parents to know that I'm not coming to school early for math tutoring.

Fletch:(Suggestively) Oh, Baby, you're getting tutoring in-all-the- ways-to please-your man. (Pulls her closer.) I'll see you at the park, and don't be late! You know how I get when you keep me waiting.

Cyndi:(Attempts to pull away) I'll be on time. Promise.

Fletch: Not so fast ... Make sure your cell phone is on, so I can reach you at all times.

Cyndi: I know, Fletch. It's on ... I gotta go. I'll see you after school.

THE END OF SCENE II

SCENE II

(Later that morning back at the Reid home, Della is cleaning the breakfast dishes, when the telephone rings)

Della: Hey, Claudine! Good hearing from you. Sure. Come on over. I've got a fresh cup of coffee with your name on it.

(Della wipes the table and prepares for Claudine's visit. Suddenly, she touches her eye and quickly examines herself in the mirror.)

Della: Just a dab of makeup will take care of any questions. (Della pulls out her compact from her purse and adds a touch of make-up around her eyes.)

(Door bell rings, Claudine appears.)

Claudine: Hey, Girl! How ya doing? I got some news for you!

Della: Oh, Claudine. You always have news. Come on in.

(The two best friends sit and relax over coffee and leftover toast.)

Claudine: We missed you at Bible study Wednesday night. What happened to you? Pastor expected you to read ... (Notices her eye) ... Girl, what's going on with your eye?

Della: Oh, my eye ... it's just pink eye. I thought it best not to take a chance on passing it on to anyone else, so I stayed home. It's much better now.

Claudine: Umm ... Pink eye! Let me see! (Takes a long look at Della's eye with skepticism) Um ... Looks more like a black eye to me.

Della: That's ridiculous! I, uh, walked into an open kitchen cabinet door. Honestly, I'm so clumsy these days. (Laughs unconvincingly)

Claudine:(With skepticism) umm ... pink eye ... collision with an open kitchen cabinet door ... That's quite a combination. Della, isn't it time ...

Della:(Stuttering) Yes ... it's time to talk about something else. (Abruptly changes the subject and mood.) Hey, Claudine, they're playing our party-hardy song from our college days, girl!

(Della turns up the volume on the radio to hear "Push It" by Salt and Pepa.)

Claudine: Girl, you know this was the jam! I can still see you and Paul breaking it down on the dance floor back in the day! You had the moves back then!

Della: Had the moves back then? Please, I still got all the right moves. And as I remember, you weren't so bad yourself!

Claudine: Check this out!

(Begins to dance to the music)

Della: Oh, I got this, girl!

(Begins to dance to the music also. Both ladies dance for a short period of time and then collapse in chairs, laughing with joy.)

Della: We still got it going on, girlfriend!

Claudine: And we are going to keep it for 100 years! (Fanning) Water please.

Della: You read my mind.

(Ladies laugh, drink a little water, and settle down at the breakfast table where Della pours coffee.)

Della: Now, let's hear your news.

Claudine: Oh, yeah! ... I do have great news, (lower voice) I heard that our First Lady told Deacon Gerald—who then told his wife, Mrs. Pearl—in the strictest confidence, of course, that Pastor Fuller plans to ask you to be the Women's Day Empowerment speaker this year! Isn't that wonderful!

Della: Well, yes. It would be wonderful news if it's true. Now, where are you in this grape vine? How did you hear about this exactly?

Claudine: Oh, well. I happened to walk by the Choir Room last night, and I (Clears her throat) accidentally overheard Deacon Gerald and Mrs. Pearl talking ...

Della: Eaves dropping, oh, Claudine, that's so wrong! (Lightheartedly) Do you really think it's true? I just can't allow myself to get my hopes up.

(Door bell rings; Della answers the door.)

Della: Hello. Oh, Pastor Fuller! What a pleasant surprise. Come in. Please, have a seat. Coffee?

(Reverend Fuller smiles and sits down.)

Reverend Fuller: No thank you, Sister Della. Had a cup earlier.

Della: Sister Claudine and I were just talking about, uh, last night's Bible Study. I'm so sorry I missed attending...