Dear White People Page #10

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MITCH:

‘Bout time. It’s going to be huge

man, f***ing epic.

Kurt holds back a smile.

KURT:

Boys, we’ve got a lot more mingling

to do. We’ll be in touch. And Troy?

Get off the board bro.

Troy chews on this as Kurt leads his group out. Troy smiles,

goes to exit.

TROY:

Nice seeing you.

COCO:

Where’s Sofia?

TROY:

I have no idea.

COCO:

Trouble in paradise?

Troy shrugs and heads to the party.

COCO (CONT’D)

Figures.

(off Troy’s

incredulousness)

Nothing. I’m sure you’ve got

something else fair and petite

and...fair lined up for that drink.

TROY:

What’s that supposed to mean?

COCO:

It’s fine. I’m not even really into

Black dudes anyway.

TROY:

I’ll have you know I’m an equal

opportunity employer, okay?

56.

COCO:

And what kind of jobs are you

hiring for mister?

Coco’s stiletto rubs the side of Troy’s calf.

TROY:

Aren’t you and Sofia --

COCO:

-- I’m an accessory to Sofia. Can’t

ever shake the feeling I’m an

assignment for that Afro Studies

Minor of hers.

Troy nervously glances out at the crowd and then back towards

this dangerous and tempting creature before him.

COCO (CONT’D)

I’m sure you have no idea what I

mean.

49 EXT. MANCHESTER YARD - NIGHT 49

Lionel and George walk through the campus at night. George

waves goodbye to Annie as they pass Bechet House.

LIONEL:

She seems really cool.

George just smiles.

GEORGE:

Did we go too far? You’re in

Armstrong/Parker right?

LIONEL:

No. Garmin.

GEORGE:

Fancy.

LIONEL:

George I’m not exactly down with

Sam and I’m not in the BSU. I got

kicked out of Armstrong / Parker

same as Kurt. But I’m going to

write a good story, okay?

GEORGE:

I hope so. I want a Bugle on your

chest by the end of the month.

Lionel fights a smile as his heart beats through his chest.

57.

They reach the front of Lionel’s house. George runs his hand

through Lionel’s hair. Mitch, smoking on the porch with some

other kids - trade glances.

GEORGE (CONT’D)

Your fro’s so gnarly.

LIONEL:

I’m growing it out.

GEORGE:

Night Lionel.

Lionel heads up his stoop - past the snickers and glares of

Mitch and company.

MITCH:

Party’s not over.

LIONEL:

I live here.

MITCH:

Sorry bro. Invitation only.

LIONEL:

It’s two in the morning.

Mitch shrugs as humiliation floods over Lionel.

Lionel sighs and slumps on the steps outside the door. He

scrolls through his phone for a contact...OFFICE OF THE DEAN.

Starts an email.

50 INT. TROY’S BEDROOM - MORNING 50

Troy’s Kangol sits in the ground, besides his undies, and

besides a bright pink thong.

Coco’s pink painted finger nails travel through the creases

of Troy’s immaculate abs.

TROY:

Coco huh?

COCO:

Colandrea doesn’t exactly pass the

resume test, you know? I mean

couldn’t you f***ing die? My

parents should’ve just named me

Ghetto-ass-hoodrat-anisha. Do

you...indulge?

Coco fiddles in her purse - pulls out a joint.

58.

TROY:

It’s ten am.

Coco lights it and takes a drag. She hands it to Troy.

TROY (CONT’D)

I don’t mess with that stuff.

Coco sees right through him as Troy hits it like a pro.

COCO:

Sure about that?

TROY:

Sure you don’t like Black guys?

COCO:

Girl like me is just a placeholder

for ya’ll at a place like this.

TROY:

I’m not like that.

COCO:

I don’t think Sam would agree.

TROY:

That was different.

COCO:

No it wasn’t. Poor thing, she was

light skin-ded and everything.

TROY:

Yo, it wasn’t like that alright?

Troy’s tone sobers Coco a bit. She places a hand on Troy’s.

TROY (CONT’D)

My pops. He wanted me with

Fletcher’s daughter. They’ve been

in competition ever since they went

here. Pops hates that Fletcher

ended up President and he got stuck

as the Dean.

COCO:

So your upbringing may have

actually f***ed you up more than

mine? That’s hot.

Troy laughs and takes the joint back.

59.

COCO (CONT’D)

The hell is the difference between

a Dean and a President anyway?

TROY:

Apparently four hundred years of

unreconciled oppression.

COCO:

He’s not going to like you running

with the Pastiche boys is he?

TROY:

If I even get tapped.

COCO:

You will. And you should do it.

They all land somewhere big, some

before they even graduate. I’ve

seen you in front of a crowd Troy.

I bet you could be famous.

TROY:

That what you want? To be famous?

COCO:

I want people to know my name.

TROY:

Which one?

Coco’s phone buzzes with a message. It’s Kurt.

COCO:

(reading)

We want you. Come by Ellington

tomorrow at eight.

(to Troy)

Anything?

Troy checks his phone. Nothing. A decision weighs in Troy’s

eyes as Coco throws on a shirt and gets up to go.

COCO (CONT’D)

You’re going to have to stand up to

him sooner or later Troy.

52 EXT. ARMSTRONG / PARKER QUAD - DAY 52

Troy and Sofia stand still amidst the bustle. Devastation

marks her pretty face.

SOFIA:

You said you loved me.

60.

TROY:

I like you a lot.

Salt meet wound. She wants to go, but something nags at her.

SOFIA:

What do you do in the bathroom?

When you leave the shower running?

Was it just to get away from me?

Troy wagers his answer and decides to confess.

TROY:

I smoke weed and write jokes.

Puzzled by the man before her and too hurt for more, Sofia

just turns and walks away. Troy watches her go just as...

...Lionel passes by. The two share an awkward glance before

Troy turns to enter the house.

53 INT. ARMSTRONG / PARKER HALL - SAME TIME 53

Lionel shyly trudges down the hall of Armstrong / Parker. He

turns to see Troy behind him. The two avoid the other’s gaze.

As they both head up the stairs, Troy notes it strange that

they’re headed in the same direction.

53A UPSTAIRS 53A

Lionel heads to a door at the end of the hallway and opens it

with a key. Troy’s already at the door when he looks up and

realizes Lionel’s just entered his apartment.

54 INT. TROY’S APARTMENT - CONTINUOUS 54

TROY:

The hell are you doing?

LIONEL & TROY

This is my apartment.

TROY:

The hell it is.

LIONEL:

The Dean said it was the only

opening.

TROY:

Head of House doesn’t share.

61.

LIONEL:

But you’re not Head of House.

Still stings. Troy heads into his room and closes the door

leaving Lionel alone in the living room.

57 INT. ARMSTRONG/PARKER DINING HALL - DAY 57

Lionel sits alone in front of another bowl of soup. Eyes the

different cliques of mostly Black students. Dreads walks past

and shoots a head nod. Lionel uncomfortably shoots one back.

DREADS:

Stay Black, my brother.

LIONEL:

Sure thing?

Lionel watches as Kurt and Troy walk together towards the

entrance - suddenly chums. Troy’s getting good news and

gladly shakes Kurt’s hand.

KURT:

Need your submission by Thursday.

TROY:

You got it bro.

The two try and enter, when immediately Dreads slams a GONG

in the back of the hall - prompting the whole of the dining

hall to turn and throw paper balls at Kurt.

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