Screenplays
A Day in the Life Of
By Tierra Hulsey
Tierra - twenty-one years old, tanned skin, 5’6, curls wet, brushed, tied by the nape of her
neck so it’s clear that she had recently taken a shower.
Angie (Tierra’s mother) - mid 40’s, 5’10, long blonde hair, pale skin, and bright blue eyes.
INT – NIGHT - DECORATIVE LIVING ROOM
TIERRA sits at a desk with a contemplating look on her face, typing away on her laptop.
She pauses for a moment and glances at her phone lying next to her computer. The time display
reads 11:18 P.M.
ANGIE lies down on the couch with her phone in her hand, scrolling on social media, and
glances at her daughter with concern.
ANGIE
(Concerned tone)
“What is so important that you’re on your laptop this late and you know that you have to
work in the morning?”
TIERRA
I’m finishing an essay to put on my law school applications. [Long Pause] What if I don’t get
in, mom?
ANGIE, sensing her daughter’s distress, immediately sits up from the couch and sets her phone
down.
ANGIE
Don’t think like that. You’re one of the most stubborn people that I know, and I’d know
because I’m getting old.
(She laughs to lighten the mood)
TIERRA laughs too, albeit a bit nervously.
TIERRA
I’m being serious, mom. You know my grade point average isn’t as good as it once was
Because of my sophomore year. I have to really convey my desire to succeed in these
applications, or else I’ll just have my degree to get a job. I don’t want to be a cop. I want to be a
lawyer.
ANGIE
I know that, sweetie. I’m gonna tell you a story that you may or not remember.
[She walks up to the desk where her daughter is sitting and pulls her daughter’s hand so that
Tierra has to get up and sits on the couch where her mom was previously sitting]
TIERRA
(Exasperated tone and facial expression)
17
Okay, I’m listening.
ANGIE
You were twelve years old when that black boy on T.V was shot in Florida. Do you
remember that?
TIERRA
Of course I remember that. He was one of the reasons why I had decided that I wanted to
become a lawyer. His name was Trayvon Martin, and he was actually seventeen when he got
murdered, mom.
ANGIE nods her head with conviction, and pats her daughter’s hand.
ANGIE
Exactly, Tierra! You wonder how I know that you’ll get accepted into law school, and it’s
because of things like that. You never wanted to become a lawyer because of money or any
other egotistical reason. It’s because I know that you want to inspire change.
[She discreetly wipes her eye]
ANGIE
I was only nineteen years old when I had you. I didn’t have any money and your dad didn’t want
to step up and be a father yet. But even with all of this scaring me, the biggest question that
plagued my mind was ‘how was I going to protect my beautiful black daughter from this racist
a$$ world?
TIERRA looks at her in shock and realization.
TIERRA
Mom?!
ANGIE
It’s true, baby. I may be white, but I’m not blind. I’ve seen so many bad things happen to
people of color. The video of Rodney King being beaten by those police officers and then they
got away with it and no charges were filed! I hated to think that something could potentially
happen to you. That’s why I was so proud of you when you told me how you had wanted to go
into law and actually have a voice.
TIERRA lays her head on her mom’s lap, and Angie starts playing with her curls.
TIERRA
I do want a voice. I’m so scared that I’ll one day bring little black children into the world and
they’ll be unjustly murdered by law enforcement because they have a toy gun or they’re reaching
for their wallet.
ANGIE nods while twirling Tierra’s hair around her fingers.
ANGIE
That’s why you’re going to change things. Your passion is how I know you’ll make a fantastic
lawyer.
[She pushes Tierra’s head off of her lap, making her sit up properly]
ANGIE
Now, go get ready for bed. You’ll finish your essays some other time. It’s getting late and you
have to work tomorrow.
[They both stand up and move to the stairs to go to their separate bedrooms]
TIERRA
Goodnight. Love you.
[She gives her mom a kiss on the cheek after reaching the top of the
stairs, and makes the journey down the hallway to her room]
ANGIE
[Stares after her with a small smile on her face]
Love you too, honey. Goodnight.
A Day at the J
By Ariyon Houston
CAST LIST
ARIYON, 19 years old. Sophomore at Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, Texas. Average height.
Brown skin woman. Brown Curly Hair.
TYNISHA, Ariyon’s partner. 22 years old. Junior at Jarvis Christian College. Eh, Tall Enough.
Brown skin Woman. Short haircut.
FRIEND, Full size kiosk machine that takes a person’s temperature. There are many of these
machines located around the school.
MR. JACKSON, Security officer that works at Jarvis Christian College.
TYLOR, A really good mutual friend between Ariyon and Tynisha. Senior at Jarvis Christian
College. Short and Round like a cute gumdrop. Big square glasses that covers half of her chubby
cheeks. From Shreveport Louisiana so she has a strong and heavy accent.
MS. JONES, Beautiful mature brown woman. Does the COVID testing for all students and staff
on campus at Jarvis Christian College.
MR. HOUSTON, Mr. Houston is Ariyon’s dad. Smart and loving man. Described as “Ariyon’s
twin”
INT ARIYON’S BEDROOM
It’s 12:47 p.m. and the bedroom is completely dark. Ariyon tosses and turns in her sleep. She is
uncomfortable. Something isn’t right.
ARIYON
Omg I am never eating from the grill again. Those lemon pepper wings definitely caught up with
me.
ARIYON clutches her stomach and runs to the restroom.
TYNISHA
I told you not to eat those wings that late at night
TYNISHA awakens from hearing ARIYON groan. She rolls over in bed facing ARIYON.
ABOUT AN HOUR LATER
ARIYON
Whew! I feel ten times better.
ARIYON greets TYNISHA back in the bedroom after getting herself together.
TYNISHA
Yea I bet. You are so nasty.
ARIYON
That’s natural. What’s nasty is your breath. Come on, get up. It’s Friday, so we have a lot of
stuff to do today.
On Friday, Jarvis requires all students to take a COVID‐19 test. Also on Friday’s students sign up
to go to Walmart.
TYNISHA
I need to take a pink pill. That pollen is already beating me up. I know putting that extra‐long Qtip
is only going to make it worse.
ARIYON
You’re so dramatic
TYNISHA
Whatever. I’m about to go shower and stuff.
ARIYON
Okay. Well while you do that I’m going to clean up in here.
45 MINUTES LATER
TYNISHA enters ARIYON’S bedroom in new clothes brushing her short curls toward into waves.
TYNISHA
Hey. You ready?
ARIYON
Yep. Let me grab a mask. Do you need one?
TYNISHA
Nah. I have one.
ARIYON and TYNISHA walk to their school cafeteria.
ARIYON walks up to FRIEND. Students are
required to take their temperatures at the kiosk when they enter any building on campus.
FRIEND
Hello stranger. Please stand in front to take temperature.
ARIYON
Stranger? You still don’t remember me friend?
MR. JACKSON
Did you just call that machine your friend?
ARIYON laughs at MR. JACKSON’s question.
ARIYON
Yes, sir. I did.
TYNISHA
She’s silly.
ARIYON excitedly enters the cafeteria. She pops her phone case off and grabs her school ID and
swipes it. She puts her hand under the hand sanitizer dispenser and rubs the hand sanitizer
through her hands.
TYNISHA
Why are you so happy?
ARIYON
It’s Friday, my love. You know what that means.
ARIYON and TYNISHA walk to the serving line and approach the server.
TYNISHA
Ugh fish. Fish Fridays .
TYNISHA walks past the serving line and reaches to grab a straw and cup.
TYNISHA
I’m just going to get some lemonade. I’ll probably just eat at the grill later.
ARIYON
After you saw what happened to me earlier? Yea, you’re crazy.
TYNISHA phone chimes. She looks down at the phone to see that she has a new message from
a friend, TYLOR.
TYNISHA
Hey Tylor just texted. She asked if you wanted to link up in the computer lab once we've taken
our COVID test.
ARIYON
Yeah, that’s cool. I have homework I have to work on anyways.
TYNISHA and ARIYON eat their food and leave the cafeteria. While they’re leaving the cafe,
ARIYON gets chased by a humongous bumble bee.
ARIYON
Ahhhhhhhhh!
TYNISHA
Stop swinging at it. It’s going to get mad.
ARIYON
It’s trying to sting me Ty!
TYNISHA
You’re so dramatic. It’s probably that sweet pea stuff you're wearing.
Ariyon and TYNISHA walk to the upper gym where the COVID tests are taken. They sit in the
waiting area waiting to be called to take their test.
MS. JONES
Next.
TYNISHA
Ladies first.
Rolling her eyes at TYNISHA, ARIYON walks up to the now available testing booth and sits in the
seat.
ARIYON
Hi. How are you today?
MS. JONES
It’s Friday so I'm doing really good. Thank you for asking sweetheart.
ARIYON
Good to hear.
As MS. JONES is speaking to ARIYON, she is also getting the testing kit ready. During the entire
process MS. JONES has found that it’s helpful to speak to
ARIYON while conducting her tests
because it distracts her from the pain of the testing.
MS. JONES
Okay sweetheart, lean forward and don’t scrunch up your nose.
Ariyon leans forward and allows MS. JONES to successfully complete the testing.
MS. JONES
Stick around for 20 minutes for your results.
ARIYON
Thank you.
MS. JONES
Next.
When MS. JONES calls for the next person in line, TYNISHA walks up and completes her COVID
testing. Fifteen minutes later, Ms. Jones’s IPad sings with the notification that ARIYON’s test
results have come back.
MS. JONES
Ms. Houston, Negative.
ARIYON (whispering)
Thank you God.
ARIYON (Now speaking normal)
Thank you, Ms. Jones have a good weekend.
MS. JONES
You too sweetie.
Shortly after, TYNISHA’s test results also came back negative. The pair then leave the gym and
begin to head to the computer lab.
INT COMPUTER LAB
As TYNISHA and ARIYON enter the computer lab ARIYON begins to hear Rod Wave’s new song
“Tombstone” blasting from the computer lab.
TYLOR
Yer!
ARIYON
Tylor why are you so loud? And the music is turned all the way up. This is the library. You’re
supposed to be using your inside voices.
TYLOR
Mane it’s not even that loud. Have y’all listened to this yet? Like the whole thing?
TYNISHA
Nah not yet. Sounds hard though.
TYLOR
Man say y'all gotta listen to it.
ARIYON
I will now while I do this homework. Hey Ty hand me my AirPods.
The students worked on assignments (no late work because we are aiming for all A’s this
semester), studied for upcoming tests, and read for the next three hours.
TYLOR
Ya’ll just about done?
ARIYON
Yeah, I’m done.
TYNISHA
Let me just turn this in paper into the portal real fast and I’m done.
TYLOR
What are y’all doing after this?
ARIYON
I'm more than likely going to take a nap. I’m pretty tired.
TYNISHA
Yea me too.
TYLOR
Alright. Well I’ll catch up with y’all later.
ARIYON
See you later.
TYNISHA
Bet.
The three friends begin to gather their things and leave the computer lab. ARIYON heads to her
room anxious for her nap. She kicks off her shoes and changes into more comfortable clothes.
As she climbs into bed her phone begins to ring. Her father is calling her. She answers the
phone.
ARIYON
Hey dad!
MR. HOUSTON
Hey baby girl. What are you doing?
ARIYON
Getting ready to take a nap.
MR. HOUSTON
It’s 9:00 p.m. and you’re taking a nap? You might as well go to sleep for the rest of the night.
ARIYON
I might. Hopefully I don’t wake up in the middle of the night and be up and all night. I’m really
tired.
MR. HOUSTON
Well go ahead and get you some rest baby girl. I love you.
ARIYON
I love you too! Talk to you tomorrow.
As ARIYON ends the call, she lays her head on her pillow and slowly begins to drift off to sleep.
THE END