<< OUTSIDE - CENTREVILLE HALL -- NIGHT >>

Erika walks down the steps of Centreville hall to a small red car parked at the curb. Sheila is waiting behind the wheel. She peers through the open passenger window and smiles at Erika.

SHEILA

“C'mon gyal, fun is waitin'!”

          She laughs. Erika smiles widely as she reaches the car, and gets in.

<< OUTSIDE - TRACIE'S HOUSE -- NIGHT >>

Sheila pulls the car up to a nice blue and white house. Lots of lights are on inside, and lots of music and women's laughter echoes from inside.

INSIDE SHEILA'S CAR

ERIKA

“Sheila, Does Tracie even remember me? I feel a little weird at her sorority sister's party.”

          Sheila turns off the car.

SHEILA

“No, it's cool. Part of the night is a toy presentation and some other junk her friends'll be trying to sell. You won't be the only one there not related to the wedding party.”

          She puts a steering wheel lock on, and they both get out of the car.

<< INSIDE - TRACIE'S HOUSE - LIVING ROOM -- NIGHT >>

Destiny's Child's "Independent woman" is blasting. A short chubby white lady stands behind a long table. A vast assortment of sexual pleasure devices are displayed as women crowd around the table and peruse the merchandise.

Other women have presentation tables set up with jewelry, essential oils, facial care products, and cosmetics respectively.

About 30 women of all ethnicities, in various stages of intoxication, are spread out around the large living room. The women examine products, giggle, talk, and dance, throwing their hands up in time with the song.

Erika, standing far off in a corner away from the toy table, shakes her head and laughs quietly into her hand as one of the women picks up a comically large purple phallus, and stares at it with a dropped jaw.

The woman elbows another woman, who laughs in turn. Some of the women are wearing party hats, mardi gras beads, or colorful plastic lei, in great contrast to their sophisticated business casual attire.

IN THE DINING ROOM

Still shaking her head, Erika walks over into the adjacent dining room area where Sheila is standing against the sidewall of the arched corridor.

Sheila and several other women are watching an older fair-skinned black woman in a red dashiki with gold and silver bangles all over her arms. PASHA.

Eyes closed and mumbling, Pasha holds hands with a pretty blond woman wearing at least 20 mardi gras necklaces, and leis, and a pink party tiara that says: "BRIDE".

Erika whispers to Sheila.

ERIKA

“Toys?”

          Sheila laughs as Erika nudges her in the arm playfully.

On the table next to the woman in red, on a small cloth setting are tarot cards, crystals, and a small bowl of salt, along with some other mysterious objects. The woman rubs the bride to be's hand, tracing a line on her palm.

PASHA

“Oh yes child... Pasha sees it... You have great things coming your way!”

          The bride leans in smiling widely, and slurring giddily.

BRIDE TO BE

“'Cause I'm getting married!”

          She lifts out of her chair as she shouts and almost topples over. Erika lets out a small laugh as some of the women help the Bride stand steady and take her to a couch in the other room.

Pasha takes a quick, sly, slightly offended look in Erika's direction, which Erika does not see. Pasha looks at the remaining women brightly.

PASHA

“Who's next to have their palm read?”

          She gestures to Sheila to come.

SHEILA

“Naw, I don' believe in dat. Y'all go ahead.”

          Sheila takes a step back. Pasha gestures to Erika.

PASHA

“I felt a strong energy about you when you walked in. Come.”

          Erika shrugs.

ERIKA

“I really don't believe in that stuff.”

          Pasha takes a pinch of salt, rolls it in between her thumb and index finger, and gently tosses it over the empty chair in front of her. She doesn't look at Erika as she says;

PASHA

“Alright... well it's good you came out and didn't let that bad news you got weigh you down.”

          Immediately Erika's smile is gone. Pasha quickly ushers another girl into the seat and takes her palm as Erika tries to regain her smile and act as if she's not shocked. Sheila looks at her curiously.

A black woman that resembles Sheila, only shorter, comes from the kitchen with a large tray of hors d'oeuvres. TRACIE.

TRACIE

“Party game in 5 minutes ladies!”

          Erika looks away from Pasha and the girl she's now waving her hands over.

ERIKA

“Let me help you with that Tracie.”

          Forcing a smile, she takes the tray from Tracie and heads into the living room.

LATER - IN THE LIVING ROOM

All the women are laughing and shrieking excitedly as they play pin the penis on the poster. Tracie puts a blanket over the bride who has passed out on a couch. Some women are buying items from the toy lady and filling out order forms.

From the living room, Erika watches Pasha, who is now alone, gently put her items away. Sheila sits next to Erika on a couch, lifts up a toy left on a table, and drops it unamused. Erika gestures an outward thumb to Sheila.

ERIKA

“Uh... I'm gonna use the restroom.”

SHEILA

“Ok.”

          Sheila doesn't look at Erika, as she laughs at a woman who is way off and pinning the penis on a lamp. Erika gets up, takes a glance over her shoulder, and walks around the corner to the dining room.

IN THE DINING ROOM

Erika stands behind Pasha with her arms folded around her stomach nervously.

ERIKA

“How did you know that, earlier?”

          They are alone in the dining room. Pasha smiles as her back is turned to Erika.

PASHA

“I can always see those with a need.”

          She turns to Erika with a very serious expression on her face.

PASHA

“Come.”

          Erika hesitates. Then walks slowly over to her.

PASHA

“I know you are going through a tough time. You want to take some matters into your own hands, which has its rewards, but will be challenging. Let me give you a blessing.”

          She takes Erika's right hand before Erika can utter a protest. Erika stutters nervously.

ERIKA

“Yeah, see, I'm a Christian, so that stuff won't work on me.”

PASHA

“You don't have to invest, just be open. A little help can go a long way.”

          Erika smiles awkwardly and shrugs. Pasha holds Erika's right hand with her left, and begins to smooth Erika's palm back and forth. Pasha mumbles.

PASHA

“Be open and release…”

          Erika looks at her oddly as she takes a pinch of salt and sprinkles it over Erika's hand, then takes a small red crystal from the table and begins to wave it around Erika.

Suddenly, a rush of wind hits Erika coming from the direction of the living room. Startled, she jerks her hand away, and looks toward the front door, where a woman holding a pack of cigarettes is coming inside and closing the door.

ERIKA

“I can't, uh, ok, thank you.”

          Erika begins to rush back into the living room looking completely alarmed, but trying to act normal. Pasha calls out to her softly.

PASHA

“It will be well if you trust your ingenuity.”

          Erika gives her one last weirded out glance as she rejoins the group of laughing women.