Tanya is eating ice cream while watching cartoons, Drew; doing the same. Chris is on the phone with Greg.
Chris: "Ya so I got it"
Greg: "That's pretty slick"
Tanya: Screams "Chris give me more ice cream"
Greg: Overhearing on the phone "Man your sisters loud"
Chris: Puts his mouth away from the phone and yells "Get it yourself"
Tanya: Threatening devilishly "If you don't get it for me I'm telling momma you spilled ice cream on her couch"
Chris: "Shut the hell up, you'll blame me anyway"
Tanya: "You better get me another one and hurry up and clean this mess you made"
Chris: Knowing he'll get in trouble for it, talks to Greg "I'll call you some other time"
Greg: "K bye"
Chris gets a clothe to clean the mess up. He goes to the living room and cleans the couch then purposely; Tanya drops ice cream on the floor.
Chris: "Tanya stop that"
Tanya: "I didn't do it, now go make me more"
Chris just wants to hit her but he knows he'll get in trouble for it. He cleans it then gets Tanya more ice cream. Tanya then repeatedly does the same thing but all he can do is nothing.
The news report comes on stating that there will be no school for tomorrow. To Chris this is a good idea but then turns bad realizing he has to watch Tanya.
Tanya: "Chris, more ice cream"
Chris: Runs upstairs, after a few minutes comes down in front of Tanya holding a tape; showing it to her "I swear I'm gonna throw your Billy Ocean tape out"
Tanya: Not scared "Go ahead I'll just tell on you"
Chris: Begging "Tanya leave me alone"
Tanya: "No" While she eats her ice cream.
Chris: Doesn't care, he's gonna get in trouble anyway "Fuck you bitch". He tosses the tape out the window.
Tanya: Runs towards the window with the ice cream in her hand, looking out to see where the tape went "I'm telling on..."
Chris: Takes the plate from her hand and spills the ice cream onto her face then smacks her "Go ahead and tell them I've had enough, you ugly little racoon". He heads upto his room.
Drew just laughs at Tanya. Tanya starts crying.
Chris knows he's gonna get a beating for this but it was soooo worth it. The thought of Greg came to his mind, the only person that doesn't pick on him, fight with him, bully him, steal, lie, hurt.
Chris: Cries to himself "I love you Greg"
Rochelle heads out the door. She steps down the flight of stairs and out the front door. She walks onto the block then remembers she has to talk to Peaches about dinner. She walks upto the door and knocks loud a couple of times. She waits for someone to answer the door as she does Malvo comes walking up the steps. She looks around, seeing Malvo come up the steps.
Malvo: Stops in front of Rochelle "Hey..."
Rochelle makes a scary 'ferocious' face then lion growls. Malvo scared, backs up and falls over the ledge and into the trash. She runs upto the ledge with both hands on it and both feet tipoed making her look like a lion who's standing over the ledge. She looks down at Malvo who's trying to get himself out. He looks up to see Rochelle leaning over the ledge. She growls again, scaring him. He starts panicking and shaking; making him fall back with the trash and running as soon as he could get back up. Rochelle laughs inside and turns to see Louise standing at the door. Rochelle feeling awkward about louise seeing what she did.
Louise: Waiting by the door, points at Rochelle "You gotta teach me that". Rochelle laughs lightly "So how can I help you Rochelle?"
Rochelle: Walks upto Louise "I was hoping I could talk to Peaches about this dinner she planned"
Louise: Acting polite but not meaning it "Well if you don't wanna come, then we'll be ok"
Rochelle: Using the same tone "Well I wouldn't be missing much if I didn't. I'm sure the ex convict and the food wouldn't be that much fun". She smiles.
Louise: "Mmhmm" Not being able to comeback with anything she just stands there.
Rochelle: "So can I talk to peaches or do I have to sneak in the middle of the night through the fire escape?"
Louise: Left brow raised "You threatening me Rochelle?"
Rochelle: "Your house isn't worth robbing"
Louise: "The only time someone would sneak into your house is if that someone is looking for a raggedy kid"
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Daydream
Rochelle thinks about strangling Louise. She chokes her where they're standing now, using both her hands. Louise struggles to get Rochelle off her neck.
Rochelle: Talks gently "I'll make your neck raggedy"
She takes her left hand and takes Louise's glasses then wears them, looking at Louise while choking.
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Back to reality.
Rochelle: Fakes a smile "Well you better keep those glasses on so you can even see someone sneaking in your house"
Louise: "Excuse me"
Peaches: From upstairs "Mom where are you?"
Louise: Yells up "Peaches come down here"
Peaches: Runs downstairs and see Rochelle "Hey Rochelle did Chris tell you about dinner?". Louise heads upstairs.
Rochelle: "Ya I wanted to ask you about it"
Peaches: "Well it's tomorrow at 8. I hope you can come, it'll be so much fun. we gonna have fried chicken, meatballs..."
Rochelle: Interrupting her to stop her from talking "That sounds fun, I'll get my husband to come. Wish you woulda told me earlier though"
Peaches: "Ya I planned it last minute, I saw Chris and thought 'hey how about I invite Rochelle and her family to dinner'"
Rochelle: "Right there on the spot huh?"
Peaches: "Ya, so where you going in this weather?"
Rochelle: Doesn't want peaches to follow "I have to go to my moms to check on her, she's sick. I'll see you later"
Peaches: "K bye rochelle. Keep in touch. Remember tomorrow at 8 we'll have the best food in the house" Rochelle starts walking away. "I went grocery shopping..."
Her voice became more distant as Rochelle speed walks towards the salon.
At the salon, Vanessa is doing a customers hair and giving em a winter due. It's a hair style where she takes a womans long hair and instead of making a round bun, she makes a bun in the shape of a snowflake. The door opens, Rochelle arrives at the salon. Vanessa too focused on the customer, doesn't turn her head. Pam looks towards the door to see who came.
Pam: Smiles "Rochelle, hey girl". Vanessa turns her head to see Rochelle.
Rochelle: "Hey girls" She looks at the hair of the woman who is heading out towards the door after she got her hair done. "Wow that's an amazing bun"
Woman: "Thank you"
Vanessa: Still working on the customer but turning to Rochelle "So you like huh?"
Rochelle: Walking upto Vanessa then looking down at the customer she's working on "This is amazing, which one of you came up with the idea". The customer smiles thinking it looks good.
Vanessa: "I did"
Pam: Gestures Rochelle to an empty seat which Rochelle walks upto "Uh-huh. The frosted flakes she was eating this morning gave her a message of a new due she should try". Rochelle laughs.
Vanessa: "Those frosted flakes helped our business, so Rochelle you said you needed to talk. Your husband leaving you for a paycheck?" Pam and Rochelle laugh.
Rochelle: Pam starts putting the sheet around her "No I have something more serious but I don't know how to explain it to you since you don't have kids"
Pam: Ties the sheet "You gonna brag about Drew again?"
Rochelle: Realizing now that she does talk about Drew and Tanya and hardly about Chris "It has to do with all 3"
Vanessa: Tying the womans hair "Ughh Rochelle we don't gotta know how successful your kids are, we'll see it. Well maybe not Tanya, girl gonna only be good in a screaming match"
Pam: "Or a referee" They both laugh.
Vanessa: Looks at Rochelle thinking "Why she quite?". She sees Rochelle kinda dazed "We were just kidding Rochelle, you know us girls"
Pam: Starts combing Rochelle's hair "Ya don't worry". She faces her "You know we never mean it"
Rochelle: Chuckles "No I know, it's just more of a serious thing that I'm not even sure about"
Vanessa: 'Wooos' "You finally gonna kill em?". Pam starts tying the hair strands.
Rochelle: Laughs "Just don't go around telling no one". They all laugh.
Pam: "So what's on your mind?"
Rochelle: Sighs "I don't know how to start". Pam stares at her in the mirror while doing her hair "I don't think I like my kids"
Vanessa: Chuckles "We been knew that"
Rochelle: Upset "I'm serious"
Vanessa: Stops to look "Whoa, really?". She stops doing her customers hair then heads towards Rochelle.
Customer: Watches Vanessa "Hey". Vanessa looks at her "My hair". She makes a 'nuh-uh' face to Vanessa.
Vanessa: Stares at her then ignores and stands next to Rochelle looking at her through the mirror "So what makes you think so?"
Customer: Makes an 'oh no you didn't' expression "Excuse me but I gotta go somewhere"
Vanessa: Looks at her "Oh you can go, no ones stopoing you". She waves her hands "But if you want me to finish you better wait there and not complain". The customer loves the looks on the other woman so she keeps her mouth shut and waits.
Pam: Still tying her strands "So go on"
Rochelle: "Tonight at dinner I was talking to Chris, well a little before dinner. Boy had me talking calmly instead of 'at' him" Vanessa and Pam gasps and stare at each other. "Ya I was shocked too I was sure that boy would get me mad some way but he didn't" Pam tying 2 strands together making 2 pieces of the hexagon.
Vanessa: "Okay I'm with you so far" She starts helping Pam with the Strands.
Vanessa customer 'ughs' seeing Vanessa work on someone else who just came in.
Rochelle: "We talked and I mean a normal 'he did nothing to get me angry and I didn't yell at him for no reason' kind of talk. And he also got me to laugh. Then dinner started and Drew interrupted the conversation and I couldn't help but look at Drew noticing I didn't like the fact he was there. Does that make me a bad mother?"
Vanessa: "Yes"
Pam: Smacks Vanessa's hand looking at her like 'what are you saying' then turns to Rochelle "No not at all... why do you hate your son?"
Rochelle: Chuckles "I don't hate him I just felt relieved when me and Chris were talking but when Drew came, I just lost that feeling"
Vanessa: "Maybe you like Chris more than your other kids" She ties on of the strands to the 2 that were connected, three more strands to tie for the hexagon to form.
Pam: Ties the strands from the middle so the ends can make the icicles that stick out of the hexagon in a snowflake "Well Chris is the only one who doesn't bug you right?"
Rochelle: Thinking about it then talks out loud "Ya, he also helps around the house, he listens and I never noticed it but boy makes me laugh and smile"
Vanessa: "Pam you do the rest, let me finish that one..." She nudges her head to the customer she let go. "Over there" She goes to the woman waiting in the chair and tries finishing her off.
Rochelle: Turns her eyes in the mirror to Vanessa "So that's it. You hear what you wanna hear?"
Pam: Whispers in her ear "That woman blabs a lot. She made a lot of fuss over us charging too much last time, we don't wanna lose any customers". She points to the mirror at the customers waiting, Rochelle 'oh's'.
Vanessa: Pays attention to the womans hair "You need to give that boy more credit, he helps you and you yell at him when it's your other 2 that cause problems"
Rochelle: Mouth open a little bit then talks with a voice of realization "That's exactly it, that's what I feel. I couldn't put my finger on it. When I'm alone with him he's funny and I'm not throwing a tantrum but..."
Pam: Continuing Rochelle's sentence "Throw Tanya in the picture, the cops have to quarantine your building". Vanessa laughs.
Rochelle: Confused with brow raised "You think it's Tanya, not Drew?"
Vanessa: "Your boy is cute and has talent, he don't be sturring up trouble. But that girl in there 'woo' she's like em black cats. Let her pass by you and someone gonna get hurt"
Rochelle: Reminisces about all the times, she yelled at Chris; it was always Tanya, the one complaining "So Tanya huh? But if I have something against one of my kids, doesn't that make me a bad mother? And what about Chris and the fact that I feel so much more calm?"
Pam: Finally tying all the strands now working on all the ends "That boy needs love"
Vanessa: Finishing her customer up "Mmhmm"
Rochelle: Looking back at memories of Chris then looking at the ground "I do love my son but I never told him and I never knew how special he was till today"
Vanessa: Grabs money from customer who is enjoying her new look "Keep goin girl, you on a roll"
Pam: Rochelle confused, looks at Pam "She means if you keep thinking back you'll know for sure"
Rochelle: Smiles "He's always been my special boy but I never told him or appreciated it. I gotta tell him first thing when I get home"
Vanessa: Shouts "Next". The next customer comes to sit at the chair, Vanessa smiles "So what kinda butt whoop you gonna stir up for Tanya?"
Rochelle: "So do you guys think Tanya lies about Chris?"
Pam: Stops working on Rochelle's hair for a second to say what she wants to say "Don't you always tell us that Tanya is always the one to report that Chris is doing something bad". Then starts working on her hair again.
Vanessa: Starts working on the new womans hair "That girl always being there when something bad happens? Pretty self explanatory"
Rochelle: Anger rises inside, makes a 'mean' face "Oh that girls gonna get it when I get home"
Pam: Laughs, finally finishing up "Bet that girl has something to tell you when you get home". Mocks Tanya "Oooh momma, Chris's looking out the window". Rochelle laughs.
Vanessa: "Want my curler?" Vanessa and pam laugh.
Rochelle: Looking at her hair "Wow this looks amazing"
Pam: Takes off the sheet "There you go"
Rochelle: Stands up to look in the mirror "Wow this is nice, how long this due last?"
Vanessa: "As long as your money in that cash register" All of them laugh. "So are you gonna tell julius about his favorite child?"
Rochelle: Gasps "I forgot about Julius, breaking it to him ain't gonna be easy"
Vanessa: "Man has a bold head for a reason; anything you say will just bounce back at ya" Rochelle smiles. "That's why it ain't never gonna get to him" Pam laughs.
Rochelle: "Well thanks girls, oh and Pam" She shuffles through her purse.
Pam: Grabs her hand to stop her from rifling through her purse and whispers "Shhh it's on the house". Then speaks up "Rochelle you already paid us"
Rochelle: "Well girls I'm out, good luck" She cheek kisses(kiss by having 2 cheeks touch each other) Pam then Vanessa.
Vanessa: Looks at Rochelle heading towards the door "Good luck running from the cops pre-meditator". Rochelle looks back and smiles laughing lightly.
Pam: Smiling while taking her next customer "Make sure to pose for your newspaper cover". Rochelle laughs then waves goodbye.
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Rochelle: Walks home thinking about Chris and how the boy has suffered because of her, thinking to herself "Out of everything I never seen him cry. I'm a horrible mother". She rushes home.
She runs up the steps into the living room to have her talk with Chris but sees ice cream on the floor and on her couch. The living room is a mess. Drew is sleeping on the couch. Tanya comes upto her with ice cream on her face.
Rochelle: Angry "Why is there a mess in my living room?" Drew wakes up scared.
Tanya: "Momma Chris spilled ice cream and then threw it on me and called me the 'B' word and threw my Billy Ocean tape out and smacked me"
Rochelle: Thinking "What a shock, Tanya is the one to complain about Chris 'again'. Chris not even being in the room, she has ice cream on her face and Chris is the one who did that? All of a sudden she comes up 'right' when I get home? She couldn't pick up a few plates if 'Chris' had done all this? Why did she sit calmly till I got home?". She talks to Tanya, trying to catch her on her lies "So Chris did this?". Tanya nods, Rochelle pretends to be angry "I'm gonna give that boy ice cream, when I take him outside". Tanya smiles at the thought and that's what Rochelle was waiting for; to see her reaction.
Chris knows his mom is home and is ready for whatever comes as he waits in his room.
Rochelle: "So Tanya I got a question for you?" Tanya looks at her. "Why didn't you help me by picking up the plates before I got home?"
Tanya: Sassing "Because it's Chris's mess"
Rochelle: 'Mean' face "Why were you sitting there and once I got home rushed to me to tell me about Chris?"
Tanya: "Cuz I wanted you to know what Chris did"
Chris waits on the steps waiting for his mom to come out of the living and rush upstairs to do what she will to him, listening to Tanya lie.
Rochelle: "Who ate the ice cream?"
Tanya: "Chris"
Rochelle: "Did you have any?"
Tanya: "Only a little"
Rochelle: "So why did he throw ice cream at you?"
Tanya: Thinking of what to say "I don't know, he just did"
Rochelle: Nods 'uh-huh' "Why would he curse at you?". Tanya about to answer is interrupted "you don't know?". Tanya shakes her head? "So Chris made this mess all by himself, you didn't even try cleaning it up, you sat there calmly while he cursed at you and threw ice cream at you? Is that what your saying?". Waiting for Tanya's answer knowing she's just bullshitting, not being able to believe she hasn't been able to tell before.
Tanya had nothing to say.
Rochelle: Looks at Drew who is watching the whole thing go down "Drew". He waits for her to ask, scared of what she's gonna ask "What happened here?"
Drew: Afraid "It wasn't me"
Rochelle: "So who was it?" Hands at her hips. "Come on boy, I don't got all day"
Drew: Reluctant to answer, he looks at Tanya "Tanya"
Tanya: Complains "No. Remember Chris called me the 'B' word and threw ice cream"
Rochelle: Angry "Girl shut up". Tanya does, then talks in a 'threatening' voice to Drew "Drew in one whole sentence I want you to tell me what heppened here or on Thanksgiving We'll be stuffing you"
Drew: Scared, speaks fast "Tanya kept making a mess so Chris kept cleaning it up but Tanya kept doing it on purpose just to get him in trouble which made Chris angry and take the ice cream and spilling it on her then cursing at her and then left upstairs so Tanya waited for you to come home and kept making a mess so you would blame Chris". Tanya afraid looks at her mom who is giving her a really 'mean' look.
Rochelle: Smacks Tanya so hard that Rochelles hand started aching in pain, Tanya starts crying while Rochelle talks calmly but with anger "Go clean up this mess then go upstairs, your gonna get it after this"
Tanya cleans up the mess. Drew stays still, frightened, watching his mother and what she's about to do next. Chris smiles at the fact that Tanya finally gets what she deserves but doesn't keep himself hoping because he knows that he's still gonna get in trouble. Rochelle opens the door to head up stairs. She sees Chris, she stands for a 10 seconds just staring. She shuts the door and walks upto the steps.
Rochelle: "We need to talk let's go upstairs"
Chris knows he's gonna get a beating, he walks upstairs. They both go to his room and she shuts his door, so she can say what's on her mind.
