INT. HOWARD’S HOUSE – EVENING

The front door is thrown open by MARIUM, an older woman with a grape-sized diamond ring on her left middle finger. Her black eyes dart back and forth across her peach-colored face.

 

Her white hair is swept up in a French roll, and she wears a black leotard under an orange paisley tunic.

MARIUM

Hi, I’m Marium. Come in, dear.

SONNIE

Hi, I’m Sonnie. I work with Denice… She invited me.

Marium grabs Sonnie’s arm and glides across the room, bowing her head left and right to acknowledge her guests.

They stop in a library filled with leather-bound books and a large oak desk with a Tiffany lamp. A world globe stands in one corner, and a wire sculpture in another.

MARIUM

Howard? One of Denice’s friends from the county is here. Her name is Sonnie. Make her feel welcome, won’t you?

Howard, a man with a massive blond afro, green eyes, and olive skin, bows and takes Sonnie’s arm.

HOWARD

Let me introduce you to my father.

Howard ushers Sonnie across the room to a tall, chestnut- colored man in a tan suit and black turtleneck sweater.

HOWARD’S FATHER

How do you do?

HOWARD

Offer Sonnie something to drink.

HOWARD’S FATHER

Yes, of course. What would you like?

HOWARD

Let’s see, there’s beer, wine, bourbon, rum, tequila, and cognac. I prefer vodka. What would you like?

SONNIE

Just fruit juice for me.

 

HOWARD

Fruit juice without rum? That means you haven’t been to the islands yet, have you?

SONNIE

No, afraid I haven’t traveled outside the States yet.

BEA

Me neither. I’m Bea.

Bea, a mahogany-colored woman in a white apron, enters the room and starts arranging hors d’oeuvres.

SONNIE

I’m Sonnie. Pleased to meet you.

BEA

Haven’t seen you here before.

SONNIE

Denice just started working for the county, where I also work, and she invited me.

BEA

Uh-huh. Well, I’ve known Howard and Denice practically all their lives. He’s smart and she’s sweet.

SONNIE

Yes, but is he a gentleman?

BEA

You mean a Christian?

SONNIE

I suppose.

BEA

Hm… I wouldn’t say all that.

Bea wipes her hands with her apron, bows, and disappears into the kitchen area.

Howard reappears, takes Sonnie’s arm, and leads her across the ranch-style house, zigzagging through the guests.

 

EXT. HOWARD’S HOUSE – POOL AREA – NIGHT

Sonnie is surprised to see Romare Bearden’s “Two Women” painting on the wall next to Monica Stewart’s “Flow.”

 

SONNIE

How did your family get these paintings?

HOWARD

My mother is on the board of curators at the Afro-American Museum and thereby has connections with many artists who have installations there.

He puts down his empty glass, finds a clean one, and pours himself another vodka. Will Downing’s “The Warmth of You” plays on the pool speakers.

HOWARD (CONT’D)

Wanna dance?

He holds out his hand. Sonnie hesitates before taking it. He tightens his arm around her waist. She lays her head on his chest, intoxicated by his Obsession aftershave. A vanilla- colored woman with green eyes saunters up to them.

VANILLA-COLORED WOMAN

Will you take me home tonight?

HOWARD

Sorry, I’m busy hosting tonight.

He faces her but looks over her shoulder. The woman looks at Sonnie and back at him before walking away.

SONNIE

Do you always turn down such gorgeous women?

HOWARD

Let’s just say liberated women annoy me.

He takes another gulp of vodka.

SONNIE

Oh, there’s Denice.

Sonnie waves at Denice, who returns the wave from the other side of the pool.

HOWARD

She’s been upstairs. Couldn’t decide what to wear.

SONNIE

I’m gonna go say hello.

 

Sonnie excuses herself and walks toward Denice.

DENICE

I’ve been upstairs trying to get my bosoms into this sundress.

She winks, tugging gently at the bodice of her Carlie Cushnie form-fitting dress.

SONNIE

Who’s the woman over there with the green eyes?

DENICE

Oh, that’s Serena. She works in the DA’s office. Her father owns a barbecue chain, and she lives down the street. We all grew up together. Wants to marry Howard.

SONNIE

And does he want to marry her?

DENICE

He likes her about as much as I like that guy over there.

Denice nods toward a man who wore round, wire-rimmed glasses and resembles Santa Claus except for his sienna-colored skin.

SONNIE

Sexy, huh?

DENICE

His name is James St. Clair. He’s my father’s choice for me. Junior pastor of the 10,000-seat Prosperity Gospel Center here.

Watch this.

Denice saunters over to a man standing on the other side of the pool and slides her arm around his. He looks down at her lasciviously. She glances over her shoulder and winks at Sonnie. Sonnie shakes her head.

 

INT. HOWARD’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

An American actor of Nigerian descent performing the title role in “Hamilton” introduces himself to Sonnie. He introduces her to a jazz vocalist performing at the Kennedy Center the next night. The jazz vocalist’s husband, an architect on the design team building the National Museum of African American History and Culture, joins them.

 

A woman who created “The Quiet Storm” on Howard University’s radio station and now owns a TV station joins the group. She confides in Sonnie about the city council’s opposition to the defund the police policy.

 

INT. HOWARD’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

At ten o’clock, guests gather around the big-screen TV to hear the election results. The group grumbles when the announcer says Howard did not win the DA race. Denice and the caterer begin to clean up as people say good night. Howard, vodka glass in hand, thanks his guests at the front door.

HOWARD

Let me walk you out.

He offers as Sonnie approaches the front door and walks her across the street to her car. She presses her key fob and unlocks her doors.

HOWARD (CONT’D)

Do you mind if we talk for a minute?

She is surprised but lets him in her car. Neither speaks. The numbers on the digital clock change.

SONNIE

I’m sorry you didn’t win the election.

Howard says nothing.

SONNIE (CONT’D)

I supported the marijuana legalization referendum, and I support the defund the police legislation too.

Howard stares at the windshield.

SONNIE (CONT’D)

The city council is worthless.

Slowly, he leans toward her and gently plants warm and moist kisses on her eyelids, cheeks, and mouth. She drinks in his kisses before the sharp smell of vodka alarms her.

She grabs his wrist, but he easily withdraws and tries to subdue her. His arm hits the car horn, sending a loud blast into the night. Denice and James appear at the passenger door, looking at them.

 

Howard straightens his tie and settles himself in the seat.

HOWARD

Forgive me, Sonnie. I’ve been drinking all evening. I was disappointed and ashamed I didn’t win the DA race, and things are not going well between me and Serena. I apologize for my behavior.

He opens the door, steps out, walks across the street, and bounds up the stairs past his father, who stands in the doorway.

DENICE

Are you OK?

SONNIE

Yes.

Sonnie straightens her dress, starts her car engine, and drives away.

 

EXT. SONNIE’S APARTMENT – NIGHT

Sonnie parks in front of her apartment. She turns off the engine but remains in her car, looking out the windshield.

SONNIE

Silly woman.

She pounds her fists against the steering wheel. Tears stream down her face, and her throat aches. She opens her mouth wide, and a growl pierces the darkness.

** Screenplay – Chapter 3.2