<< INSIDE - KELLY AND ERIKA'S DORM ROOM -- DAY >>

Kelly sits on the floor, leaning against her bed, with several different newspapers laid out in front of her.

She busily circles and underlines words from different parts of the papers with a fine-tipped red marker, and writes in pen on a large legal pad.

Erika sits at her desk flipping through a booklet labeled: "PRAXIS I." She breathes heavily with frustration as she fills out answers on a page marked "practice exam".

Kelly looks over at Erika sympathetically. She exhales loudly, exaggerated, being purposefully distracting.

KELLY

“Guh! Argh! I'm starving! Let's go to the Union.”

          Kelly tosses her legal pad on the bed behind her.

ERIKA

“I'm hungry too. And I need to find out how many points I have left.”

          Kelly pops to her feet, waving her hands, motioning Erika to get up.

KELLY

“That seals it! Let's go, let's go!”

          Erika chuckles as she closes her book.

<< OUTSIDE - STAMP STUDENT UNION -- DAY >>

Erika and Kelly walk up the side stairs leading to the front of the student union building. A few students walk by going down the stairs.

Several different student groups have tables outside the entrance and are handing out various flyers.

A handsome, slightly heavyset young black guy is handing out bright green flyers at a table in the center. GENNARD. He smiles brightly when he sees the girls.

GENNARD

“Hey Kelly, Erika, what's up?!”

ERIKA

“Hey Gennard.”

KELLY

“Hi Gennard, what's up?”

          As the girls reach his small display table full of clipboards, and pens, he hands Erika a flyer.

GENNARD

“Catholics on Campus is hosting a mixer to raise funds to send relief aid to Haiti. It's gonna be live. You girls have to come.”

          Erika reads the flyer, with the words: "HELP HAITI" emblazoned on the front.

GENNARD

“The press has died down about it, but they still need our help.”

          Kelly nods in assent. A small Asian girl jogs over to the table, picks up a stack of flyers, and heads back over to the far end of the table to pass out more.

KELLY

“When is it?”

          She leans over Erika's shoulder to read the flyer.

GENNARD

“Next Saturday night. The JSU and BSU already RSVP'd, and the LSU is providing the music so we'll be getting our hip hop, salsa, and reggaeton on all night.”

[*JSU- Jewish Student Union, BSU- Black Student Union, LSU- Latino Student Union]

          He laughs and does a little mock salsa move, which makes the girls laugh with him.

ERIKA

“I dunno. I have so much studying to do.”

(under her breath)

“And I might have to find a second job soon…”

          Kelly catches the comment and takes a concerned side glance at Erika. She takes the flyer from Erika and turns it over. There is a list of party contributors on the back.

GENNARD

“That's why you have to come out. We all work too hard.”

          He gives her a small playful tap on the arm. Erika smiles, but doesn't say anything.

GENNARD

“Well, you have a few days to think about it. It's gonna be right here in the Stamp ballroom.”

          He hands her another flyer.

ERIKA

“Alright. Thanks.”

          She takes the flyer, looking doubtful. He smiles brightly at her, which makes her blush. She quickly turns around and heads for the doors. Kelly tries to hide a smile as she turns to leave as well.

KELLY

“Later Gennard.”

GENNARD

“Later.”

          Kelly speed walks to catch up to Erika, who is now halfway through the doors of the Union.

<< INSIDE - STAMP STUDENT UNION -- DAY >>

The girls walk to a table in the center of the crowded Union dining area facing the small Taco Bell Express, with trays of food and drinks. They sit down and Kelly begins to eat tacos ravenously like a linebacker.

Erika makes the sign of the cross, says a small inaudible prayer, and slowly begins to eat her gordita. Kelly covers her mouth with her hand as she chews and talks.

KELLY

“So what was that all about?”

ERIKA

“What?”

KELLY

“Duh, I saw you blushing.”

          Kelly playfully bats her eyes.

ERIKA

“Whatever Kelly. We're just friends. I mean we talked for a little bit last semester, but then I got busy and he got busy”

KELLY

“And y'all both need to get busy.”

ERIKA

(sarcasm)

“Wow. Thanks. Thanks a lot. This coming from my also hymenally

challenged twin.”

          Erika balls up a straw wrapper and throws it at Kelly playfully. Kelly tries to dodge the wrapper, but it hits her in the shoulder.

KELLY

“Hey, we're waiting, we're not dead.”

          They both break out laughing.

KELLY

“Won't kill you to talk to the boy.”

          Kelly rolls her eyes and continues eating.

ERIKA

“Like the way you've been talking to Jason, huhn?”

          A mock indignant smile comes over Kelly's face as she blushes. She picks a piece of ice from her soda and chucks it at Erika who swats it away laughing.

ERIKA

“Yeah, not so funny now. "Oh, Jason! Oooooo Jason.” ”

          Kelly makes a silly face at her and continues chewing a mouthful.

ERIKA

“And I never seen such a small person eat so much. Does Jason know you eat like that?”

          Erika laughs as Kelly stops mid-bite with a large piece of taco in her mouth.

KELLY

“Shut up!”

          As the two banter back and forth, a tri-tone sound rings from Erika's cell phone. She quickly takes the phone from her pocket and begins to type.

ERIKA

“Oh, Sheila... almost forgot about her sister's friend's bachelorette party tonight.”

          She finishes typing her text response and puts the phone back in her pocket, just as a group of very beautiful black girls of various skin tones enter the Union.

Like a walking Victoria Secret ad; short skirts and revealing blouses seem to be their dress code. Many of them are wearing Light purple Sorority jackets with green trim, bearing the Greek letters Epsilon Beta Sigma.

Erika's smile immediately fades as she looks up, sees the five girls sauntering in, and groans.

ERIKA

“Ugh…”

          Kelly turns curiously to see the source of Erika's groan.

KELLY

“Oh... Brigid and her sororaskank minions.”

          Erika puts a finger over her lips and motions subtly to Kelly to be quiet as the girls get closer.

As the sorority passes the table, a very pretty dark-skinned girl with long braids shoots Erika a dangerously hateful look. Erika openly cuts her eyes at the girl and looks the other way.

A few of the girls look at Erika and snicker as they pass. All of them turn their nose up, except for one fair-skinned black girl in the back of the pack, who gives Erika the smallest smile and nod. Erika smiles back meaningfully.

KELLY

“Oh My Gosh... Is she still mad at you?! Rush week was like decades ago.”

          Erika sucks her teeth.

ERIKA

“I'm so whatever with that girl. I don't even care. Brigid acts like her sorority's the only org on the planet, and she's the living embodiment of all things Epsilon Beta Sigma. She's ridiculous. Hasn't changed since middle school.”

KELLY

“The way they are, it's a good thing you decided not to join. I'd have to find a new roommate.”

          Erika breaks a small smile.

KELLY

“Seriously. There's no way I could live with you if you were in the 'sorority of Stepford'. ”

          She makes a brainwashed blank stare face, and Erika starts to laugh.

KELLY

“ "We all share one brain. It's more economical that way." ”

          Erika laughs and quickly stuffs the last bite of her food into her mouth.

ERIKA

“You're hilarious. Let's head back.”

KELLY

“I'm not done yet!”

ERIKA

“You're never done! Sumo wrestlers in training eat less than you. Where do you put it?! Come on, let's go.”

          Erika starts pulling Kelly's tray away playfully. Kelly pulls it back and scarfs down her last few bites, then gets up with her tray.

<< INSIDE - CENTREVILLE HALL - LOBBY >>

The lobby is noisy with activity as students go in and out of the front door. Erika leans against the tall counter talking to the guy behind the desk, while Kelly opens their mailbox and takes out some envelopes and junk mail.

Kelly closes the mailbox and walks over to Erika, as two black girls come out of the elevator.

The second girl is wearing a very large knit cap that is lopsided from all of her hair being stuffed underneath it. The first girl pats her on the back, comforting.

GIRL 1

“It doesn't look that bad…”

          The second girl frowns and shakes her head inconsolable. The shaking knocks off the hat revealing a horrible tangled mess of hair.

Erika and Kelly turn their faces to the side to hide their grins as the girl hurriedly clasps the hat back onto her head and bolts out the door with her friend trailing behind her.

Erika and Kelly try to hide their laughter as they walk toward the elevator.

<< INSIDE - CENTREVILLE HALL - ELEVATOR >>

Erika and Kelly wait until the elevator doors close, then break out laughing hysterically.

ERIKA

“Did you see her hair?!”

KELLY

“I wish I didn't. That image is going to haunt me until I'm old!”

          Erika holds her sides as she gets her laughter under control.

KELLY

“What kind of friend would let her go out like that? She needs an emergency hairstylist like the ones on TV that ambush you and make you over.”

          Kelly continues to laugh, as a look of realization comes over Erika's face. She becomes quiet and pensive as the two get off the elevator.

ERIKA

“Yeah... She does…”

<< INSIDE - CENTREVILLE HALL - 4TH FLOOR - HALLWAY >>

Erika begins to walk straight toward their room, but Kelly stops as she sees Jason down the other end of the hallway.

KELLY

“I'll be in in a minute.”

          Erika smiles and shakes her head, as Kelly begins to jog off toward him.

ERIKA

“Ok…”

<< INSIDE - KELLY AND ERIKA'S DORM ROOM >>

Erika sits on her bed writing in a spiral notebook. A large day planner with various color-coded boxes is laid out in front of her. Kelly comes into the room beaming, and closes the door behind her.

KELLY

“I think I might go to that Help Haiti party.”

          Erika, deep in thought, doesn't look up, but nods.

KELLY

“I mean it's such a good cause, and everyone will be there to support. I wonder if anyone's covering it from the Diamondback?”

          She looks completely smitten. She starts to gather up some of her notepads and put them on her desk.

KELLY

“I could write about it, get someone to take pictures, maybe even some video for the web. I should call Chris and run it by him…”

ERIKA

“Kelly... I need to ask you about something.”

          Kelly looks at Erika apprehensively.

KELLY

“Sure... what's going on?”

          Erika looks up at Kelly and hesitates, then exhales heavily and blurts out the words.

ERIKA

“Ok, so I got this email from the school, and since tuition went up, but my financial aid didn't, I owe the school like an extra twenty-seven hundred or I'm out at the end of the semester.”

          Kelly sinks down onto her bed.

KELLY

“Oh, man, that's terrible.”

ERIKA

“My parents don't have that kind of money. They've already taken out loans for some of my tuition and fees... I was thinking that if I could set up a small station in here to do hair, I could make some extra cash and at least help my parents a little.”

          Kelly exhales relieved.

KELLY

“Is that all you wanted to ask me?! Erika, I thought someone died or you needed a kidney or something. Don't scare me like that. Of course you can style hair in our room.”

ERIKA

“Are you sure? Because it's gonna be loud and messy and smell like hair product all the time.”

KELLY

“No, no, it's no problem, you need the money. It's not like you want to do anything illegal like, "Hey Kelly, I was thinking about running a small brothel out of our dorm, what do you think?" ”

          Erika laughs a small relieved laugh, and exhales.

KELLY

“Which while lucrative, it would be illegal, and highly immoral.”

ERIKA

“It's just that, it's your room too so I was worried…”

KELLY

“It's ok. I like to study in the library most days anyway. If you just make sure you finish up with your last clients by like

(thinking out loud)

Nine? And keep the burnt hair smell to a minimum it should be no problem.”

          Kelly laughs.

ERIKA

“Thanks, Kelly... I was thinking about it and if I maybe just get a nice salon chair and a few of my old things from home I could make my desk really look like a little shop.”

          Erika hops up off the bed excitedly, and goes to her computer. She moves the mouse, taking the computer out of sleep mode, as she sits.

ERIKA

“I'm sure I can find everything I need on craigslist.”

          Kelly starts to gather her papers again.

KELLY

“Just make sure when you're doing all this hair you don't forget to study and rest!”

ERIKA

“No, I'll be fine. I can schedule it around the days I would be working if I was working extra shifts at Adele's and on the weekends. It'll be great.”

          Erika smiles enthusiastically at Kelly who returns the smile as Erika begins to search the internet.