RIVAL ROOMMATES – PART ONE
Opening Scene: Late Summer 1994. Alex Fernandez and Lenni Frazier are walking down the sidewalk.
Alex: So Jamal says he's gonna have to take the subway every day to get to the High School of Science.
Lenni: Every day?
Alex: Yep. But since his dad works for the subway, he's gonna get a special pass. That way he doesn't have to stop and get a ticket every time.
Lenni: Well that's good. But it's going to be so weird this year. Jamal at a whole different school. Us in high school?
Alex: And Gaby's going to Hurston with Tina this year too. It's like…when did my kid sister suddenly grow up?
Lenni: laughs She's been grown up for a while Alex.
Alex: I know. But it's so hard to accept sometimes. I feel like she should be running around with Hector and Casey.
Lenni: But Hector's gone now…and Casey just went home. It only make sense that she hang out with Tina again.
Alex: Yeah. I kind of envy her.
Lenni: Oh you do?
Alex gives a shrug as Lenni giggles and looks down the sidewalk. Outside of The Party Animal, a taxi is waiting while Calvin is loading a suitcase into the back.
Lenni: Where's he going?
Alex: Hopefully to the moon. Hey Calvin!
Calvin looks over and gives a smug smile.
Calvin: Why hello there Alex…Lenni. Come to see me off?
Alex: That depends. How far away you going…and for how long?
Lenni: Alex!
Calvin: Well for your information, I am headed for one of the most prestigious boarding schools on the west coast.
Alex: You're going to California?
Calvin: New York is just too small for my brilliance. But hey, I'll be back for Thanksgiving.
Lenni: Wow. Good luck, Calvin.
Alex: Yeah. It'll be kind of boring not having you around.
Calvin: Of course…but I'm sure you'll find someone to list down in your case book next time a mystery pops up, eh?
Alex and Lenni exchange a look as Calvin's mother comes out and gets into the taxi.
Calvin's mother: Come along Calvin, your flight is in three hours.
Calvin: towards the taxi Coming Ma. to Lenni and Alex Have a beautiful day.
Calvin gets into the taxi and Alex and Lenni wave.
Alex: All right! This'll be a great year.
Lenni: sighs Yeah. No Calvin.
Alex looks at her and holds his hands out.
Alex: What? This is a good thing.
Lenni: I know. It's just…it kind of reminds me…of when Rob left.
Alex sighs and pats her shoulder.
Alex: You ever hear from him?
Lenni: Nope. Not one letter all summer. Did something happen to him?
Alex: I dunno. Hector stopped getting letters too.
Lenni: Did he send his new address anyway?
Alex: Of course he did. Says he has to keep his promise…even if Rob was abducted by aliens.
Lenni: gives a slight laugh No. I think…he's mad about something.
Alex: What would he be mad about?
Lenni: sighs I don't know. But…the last letter I sent him…was about graduating and going to prom.
Lenni and Alex exchange a significant look.
Cut To: California Pacific School for Boys. Calvin is trying to get his mother to leave his dorm room.
Calvin's mother: And if you get a rash, make sure you use the prickly heat powder in your underwear…
Calvin: MA! I will be FINE! Now you're going to miss your flight.
Calvin's mother: All right Dear. Oh but do make sure you call me.
Calvin sighs and lets his mother kiss him on the cheek before she finally leaves, dabbing her face with a tissue. He looks around the room and rubs his hands together.
Calvin: rubs hands together Freedom at last. Oh this is gonna be fun.
Calvin unpacks, taking out a laptop computer, several books about birds, and a photo of Attila the Parrot. Calvin sighs as he looks at it.
Calvin: You'd love it here, Attila. But then…they don't allow pets.
He puts the picture on a shelf and glances over at the other side of the room, which has already been moved into. The wall is covered in license plates and street signs and the shelves are full of books. He gives a nod and walks over.
Calvin: Let's just see what the new roommate has over here.
Calvin sees a great many books and raises his eyebrows.
Calvin: Poetry? Oh brother. History books…novels…more poetry. How many books does a guy need?
Calvin goes over to the desk and sees another laptop, as well as a stack of notebooks of different colors and a box full of journals.
Calvin: You got a laptop, Pal. What's with all the notebooks?
Calvin then notices a portable CD player with an assortment of CDs. He raises his eyebrows and picks one up.
Calvin: Hey. This guy is a fan of Lenni's. rubs chin I wonder if he'll believe me if I mention that I asked her out once.
Calvin puts the CD down and looks at another box, which includes a skateboard, sneakers, and a boomerang. Calvin picks it up and raises his eyebrows.
Calvin: Where'd he get this thing?
He then notices a smaller box under the boomerang. He takes it out and notices it's full of letters. He looks at the address and his eyes grow wide as a broad smile stretches across his face.
Calvin: Now this is interesting. rubs chin Very interesting.
Calvin hears someone outside and quickly puts the box of letters and boomerang back. He stands up and leans back against the window as another young man comes in. He's wearing sunglasses, an orange bandana, a flannel shirt over a t-shirt, army pants and boots. He has a bag over his shoulder and a stack of books in one arm as he closes the door with the other. He looks over at Calvin and gives a start, which makes Calvin laugh.
Calvin: Well well…Rob Baker. Fancy meeting you here.