Love and Basketball Page #2

QUINCY (cont'd)

Mom?

NONA:

What?

QUINCY:

We still have to go?

NONA:

(beat)

Yeah.

INT. WRIGHT HOUSE - LIVING ROOM - DAY

Camille and Nona stand among the piles of boxes. Monica and

Quincy stand at their mothers' sides, stealing glances at

each other. A large bandage covers Monica's cheek. Monica

holds her card, Camille holds the cake.

NONA:

...we moved back here when Quincy was

about five, after Zeke was traded.

Neighborhood was a little more mixed

back then...

CAMILLE:

Until the Black family down the street

became the Black family next door.

NONA:

(nods)

Okay?

Camille tries to smooth down Monica's unruly hair. Monica

moves her head.

CAMILLE:

Well, thanks again. This was really nice

of you.

NONA:

It was the least we could do. And I love

to cook.

Quincy looks up at his Mom, surprised. She quickly hugs his

face into her stomach. Camille lights up.

CAMILLE:

Oh, me too. I used to cook for my

friends' parties and things back in

Atlanta.

NONA:

You're a caterer?

CAMILLE:

Well, no, but once Nathan gets settled

and the girls get a little older, it's

definitely something I want to do.

(then)

Since you love to cook, maybe it's

something we can talk about.

Quincy snickers. Nona quickly changes the subject.

NONA:

You know, girl, long as I've lived next

door, I've never seen the inside of this

house.

CAMILLE:

Really? Well, come on, then.

Camille hands Monica the cake.

CAMILLE (cont'd)

Honey, put this in the kitchen.

NONA:

Help her, Quincy.

Camille and Nona head down the hall, leaving Monica and

Quincy alone. The two just stand there.

Quincy reaches out, scoops a finger of frosting, and pops it

in his mouth. Beat, then Monica takes a bigger scoop.

QUINCY:

So...does it hurt?

MONICA:

It's this big hole. You could almost see

bone.

QUINCY:

For real?

MONICA:

Uh huh.

Quincy is impressed.

QUINCY:

So how come you could play basketball?

MONICA:

I just can.

QUINCY:

I never knew a girl that could play.

MONICA:

My Mom says she doesn't know where I come

from 'cause I act different.

QUINCY:

Your Dad play?

MONICA:

He works at a bank.

QUINCY:

My Dad plays for the "Clippers." He says

I'ma be a doctor or a lawyer, but I'ma

play for them, too. Same number and

everything.

MONICA:

I'm going to be number thirty-two, like

Magic.

QUINCY:

He's alright, but my Dad can take him.

MONICA:

What was the most points your Daddy ever

got in Junior High?

QUINCY:

I don't know. A lot.

MONICA:

One time Magic scored forty-eight points,

and they only had six minute quarters and

he sat out the whole fourth.

QUINCY:

You do act different.

MONICA:

I don't care.

QUINCY:

Well, if anybody bothers you, you could

just tell me cause I run this street.

MONICA:

I'd just tell my sister, Lena.

QUINCY:

She don't know how to box, I bet. My dad

showed me how to fight like Ali.

He shows off a flurry of punches.

MONICA:

So, I know karate from "Almighty Isis."

Monica puts the cake down on a box, does a couple of kicks

and hand movements. Quincy is impressed.

QUINCY:

Bet you can't do this though.

Quincy does a jump kick. Monica does the same.

QUINCY (cont'd)

Okay, how bout this?

Quincy takes a couple steps back, then does a cartwheel. It

looks great, until he crashes into the box with the cake.

The cake falls onto his head and shoulder.

Monica doubles over, laughing. Quincy is embarrassed.

Camille and Nona rush back into the living room.

CAMILLE:

Monica, what did you do?

MONICA:

Nothing.

CAMILLE:

(to Nona)

Oh, all that work.

NONA:

It's...it's okay. Can I get a towel?

Camille quickly crosses into the kitchen. Quincy stares at

the floor.

QUINCY:

Sorry.

Nona bends down, whispers in his ear.

NONA:

No. Good boy.

INT. WRIGHT HOUSE - MONICA'S ROOM - NIGHT

Monica sits between Lena's legs, grimacing, as Lena works a

comb through her freshly washed, kinky hair. Monica's head

flops like a rag doll. Her eyes are wet.

MONICA:

Ow!

Lena keeps tugging.

MONICA (cont'd)

Ow, Lena!!!

Monica punches her in the leg.

LENA:

Ow!

Lena yanks Monica's head back as Camille enters, carrying a

yellow dress on a hanger. Monica sees it and her face falls.

MONICA:

Ah, Mom.

CAMILLE:

I'm lucky I found it. Someone put your

box of dresses under a pile of rags in

the garbage.

Monica sulks. Lena cackles in her ear. Camille has to

laugh.

CAMILLE (cont'd)

Child, pick up your lip.

MONICA:

I hate it.

CAMILLE:

Fine, you don't like this one, which one

would you rather wear?

MONICA:

Pants.

Camille rubs her temples, then hangs the dress on the door.

CAMILLE:

(to Lena)

When you're done can you make sure she

brushes her teeth?

LENA:

Are you okay?

CAMILLE:

I just need to lay down. I've been

running around all day.

Just then, Nathan enters. He holds up two dress shirts as if

it were a matter of life and death.

NATHAN:

Which one for tomorrow?

CAMILLE:

The blue.

NATHAN:

You sure?

Camille nods. Nathan looks at both of them, then:

NATHAN (cont'd)

Can you iron both tonight just in case?

CAMILLE:

(beat)

Okay.

NATHAN:

Thanks, sweetheart.

He kisses her on the cheek, hands her the two shirts and

crosses out. Monica just watches. Beat, then Camile turns

back to her daughters.

CAMILLE:

The boy next door is riding with you to

school so you'll know somebody your first

day.

(to Lena)

Hurry so she can go to sleep.

Monica reacts, surprised. Camille leaves. Lena puts the

comb back to Monica's hair. Beat, then:

MONICA:

Make it look nice, kay.

INT. MCCALL HOUSE - QUINCY'S ROOM - NIGHT

Basketball posters, "Clippers" and USC memorabilia, a

basketball globe light.

Quincy lays tucked in bed, eyes wide open, listening to his

parents MAKING LOVE. The sounds bring a smile to his face.

Quincy climbs out of bed, wearing underwear. He moves to his

window, sees Monica through her window directly across from

his. Her eyes are closed as Lena braids her hair. Quincy

kneels down, rests his arms on the window sill, and watches.

EXT. MCCALL AND WRIGHT HOUSES - MORNING

Quincy sits atop his BMX bike in front of Monica's house. A

basketball is tucked under his arm.

Monica emerges, walking her banana-seater. She is looking

cute in her yellow dress and braids tied with ribbons. A

basketball sits in her back basket.

Quincy is taken aback, stares at her.

QUINCY:

You wanna be my girl?

Monica blinks in surprise. She thinks for a moment.

MONICA:

What do I have to do?

QUINCY:

I guess, you know, we play ball and we

ride to school together. And if you get

mad at me, I gotta give you flowers.

MONICA:

I don't like flowers.

QUINCY:

Oh.

MONICA:

How bout Twinkies? My mom won't ever

buy them.

QUINCY:

Kay.

MONICA:

Okay.

An awkward beat between the new couple. Finally --

QUINCY:

I think we gotta kiss now.

MONICA:

For how long?

QUINCY:

Five seconds.

The two glance around, then climb off their bikes and walk to

the secluded area between their two houses.

QUINCY (cont'd)

Ready?

Monica nods. They lean in, eyes wide open, and touch lips.

Quincy counts to five with his fingers. They pull away,

embarrassed, and walk back to the driveway.

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