FADE IN:

EXT. TYRINN'S FORD FOCUS MOVING - DAY

TYRINN MACK, 23, African-American, grad student, neatly dressed and slightly
nervous, is driving the car through his neighborhood.

His boyfriend, DAKOTA CARTER, 24, White, bohemian Art student, sits causally
on the passenger's side.

Dakota looks over at Tyrinn.

DAKOTA
I can't believe I'm finally meeting your mom on
her birthday.

TYRINN
It's her Un-Birthday. After turning fifty, she
refuses to get older. She's just accepting gifts
at this point.

DAKOTA
Good strategy... You think she will like the gift?

TYRINN
She should. You put a lot work in her present.
She better love it.

Dakota chuckles.

DAKOTA
Are you still nervous about me meeting her?

TYRINN
It's just...
(exhales)
It took her forever to get over my gayness.
When she found out I had a boyfriend, she
decided that she had to meet you.

DAKOTA
Yeah, your mom is going to enjoy hearing how
you like it from the back and on the side and...
Tyrinn gives Dakota a glaring stare.

TYRINN
You keep your mouth shut. That's the last thing
I want my mama to hear.

DAKOTA
(jokingly)
Or how you like it when I nuzzle my stubbly
face--

Tyrinn HITS Dakota in the shoulder.

DAKOTA (CONT'D)
Ow... Love you too, babe.

EXT. TYRINN'S CAR

Tyrinn slows down and parks in front of a Victorian house with a large porch, a
SWING and two LEMON TREES in the front yard.

Tyrinn gets out first and then Dakota follows.

DAKOTA
I'll get your mom's gift.

Dakota walks back to the trunk to get the gift.

Tyrinn walks to the middle of his neatly trimmed yard. He looks at the house and
sighs. He realizes this is a big deal.

Dakota joins Tyrinn, holding a LARGE PURPLE WRAPPED FRAME.

DAKOTA (CONT'D)
Let's go wish you mom a Happy Un-Birthday.

Tyrinn quickly stops Dakota in mid-step.

TYRINN
'Kota, I need to warn you.

DAKOTA
Your mom is a man?

TYRINN
No, no it's not that... I may or may not have
mentioned that you are... white.
 DAKOTA
Knowing your memory, it's a "may not."

TYRINN
She should be nice to you. She is a former
debutante, you know.

DAKOTA
Debutante? Maybe I should've dressed better
than this.

Dakota is wearing a faded black T-shirt and baggy, worn out JEANS. He has two
visible TATTOOS on each arm. His dark hair is wildly covering his eyes and one
of his flip flop straps is broken.

TYRINN
It's okay, I told her you are an artist.

DAKOTA
You remembered that, but forgot to say "Hey
mom, he's a white boy".

TYRINN
Well, I thought I did.

Dakota scratches his head.

DAKOTA
Alright, so I'm the evil White Devil of the day. I
can deal with that.

TYRINN
I'm sorry.

Dakota leans in towards Tyrinn's face.

DAKOTA
I know you are...
(quick kiss)
You will make this up to me later.

Dakota flickers his eyebrows.

Tyrinn rolls his eyes, but smiles.

DAKOTA (CONT'D)
So, let's do this.
INT: TYRINN'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM

Tyrinn's mother, JEANNIE HUTCHSON, 51, decorous and hubristic sits in the
middle of her two sisters, GERTRUDE "AUNT GERTIE" MACK, 48,
meddlesome; and RUBYANNE "AUNT RUBY" WESLEY, 54, forthright and very
settled in her ways.

They are sitting in a LARGE COUCH drinking tea and eating shortbread cookies.
The women are chatting until Tyrinn and Dakota enter the room.

Tyrinn is completely in shock. He was not excepting for his aunts to be here.

TYRINN
(smiling)
Happy Un-Birthday, mama.

Tyrinn bends down and hugs Jeannie. His aunts pat him on his shoulders.

JEANNIE
Don't say that too loud, son. It's reminding me
that I'm getting closer to God.

Jeannie slowly scans Dakota from head to toe, trying to get a feel of this strange
man in her house.

AUNT GERTIE
How's school?

She is also staring at Dakota.

TYRINN
It's good, tedious, but good.

Aunt Ruby's eyes land on Dakota standing behind Tyrinn.

AUNT RUBY
And who are you?

Dakota steps forward.

DAKOTA
I'm Dakota... Nice to meet you all.

Tyrinn swiftly steps back to Dakota's side.

TYRINN
 (nervously)
Everybody, this is Dakota... My boyfriend.
That's my Aunt Ruby, my mama and my Aunt
Gertie.

Aunt Gertie smiles, while Jeannie and Aunt Ruby seems disappointed by the
announcement. Especially Aunt Ruby, she looks completely bothered by
Dakota's presence.

AUNT RUBY
You are in school too, I hope?

DAKOTA
I am.

JEANNIE
Please, have a seat.

Dakota and Tyrinn sit down on the loveseat on the opposite side of the women.

Jeannie keeps her eyes fixed on Tyrinn and Dakota. Aunt Ruby sits very close to
Jeannie, appearing like iniquitous Siamese twins. Aunt Gertie sits apart from both
women, but seems less threatening.

Dakota leans back on the couch and places the gift next to him.

An anxious Tyrinn sits upright, clasping his hands together.

AUNT GERTIE
Uh, Dakota is an interesting name. Where are
you from?

DAKOTA
I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but I was
raised in Ithaca, New York.

AUNT RUBY
Why did your parents named you Dakota, if
you were born in Milwaukee?

Tyrinn stares at Aunt Ruby in confusion. Dakota remains cool.

DAKOTA
My mom just liked the word.

Aunt Ruby looks disgusted. Aunt Gertie looks interested.

AUNT GERTIE
 That's fascinating! I've--

Jeannie clears her throat, cutting off Aunt Gertie.

JEANNIE
Dakota, I have heard a little about you from
Tyrinn, but... You are a bit different than I
thought.

DAKOTA
Oh, um, what did you expect, ma'am?

JEANNIE
Well, you are a free spirit, I presume, very
open about your beliefs and thoughts?

DAKOTA
Yeah, I live free and learn as I go. Life is meant
to be explored and challenged.

AUNT RUBY
Do you believe in God?

DAKOTA
I don't, actually. I'm a Buddhist.

JEANNIE
You have no faith or spiritual guidance?

DAKOTA
I kinda do, just not in the Biblical sense.

Tyrinn rolls his eyes.

TYRINN
I am agnostic or did you forget?

JEANNIE
Tyrinn, this is not about you right now. I'm
trying to get a handle on your boyfriend.

She keeps a thin, fake smile on her face.

AUNT RUBY
Does your family know about Tyrinn?

DAKOTA
 I've told them about him. They know I'm gay
and they're chill about it.

JEANNIE
And do they know that Tyrinn's Black?

Tyrinn briefly shuts his eyes and massages his forehead.

DAKOTA
Yes ma'am, they're fine with it.

AUNT GERTIE
(cheerful)
Well, that's good. It's time for a change in race
relations.

Jeannie shoots a sharp glance at Aunt Gertie and turns back to the boys.

JEANNIE
(callously)
I hoped Tyrinn's first boyfriend would be a
Black man. You see, I want people to see that
Black people can be happy as homosexuals.

Tyrinn shakes his head and Dakota raises his eyebrows.

TYRINN
Mama, that doesn't make any sense.

JEANNIE
Oh yes it does. You are my son and an
exception to the rule.

Tyrinn's aunts nod in agreement.

DAKOTA
I agree with you, ma'am. Tyrinn is the
exception. That's why I'm with him.

Dakota winks over at Tyrinn.

AUNT RUBY
So this ain't some jungle fever thing for you,
then?

TYRINN
Aunt Ruby...
Tyrinn leans forward, but Dakota puts his hand on Tyrinn's knee.

DAKOTA
This is not a fetish thing, I promise you.

JEANNIE
As an artist, what do you plan to do with that?

DAKOTA
I want to create, paint, sell and maybe teach
art in a high school.

JEANNIE
And that's it?

Dakota shrugs.

DAKOTA
Y-Yes, Ma'am… Art is something that's near
and dear to me. It would nice to get paid to do
something I love.

Jeannie allows a smirk to leave her red lips.

JEANNIE
Sweetie, Tyrinn comes from decent wealth. In
other words, we don't shop at a Dollar Store
and I don't expect him to ever shop there.

TYRINN
Mama, Dakota does just fine. I'm not worried
about money.

JEANNIE
Well, I am, Tyrinn. A relationship can't run on
high hopes alone. I raised you to always be
realistic about life.

TYRINN
I'm sure we will cross that--

JEANNIE
Son, I just want to make sure that you have a
strong future.

TYRINN
We will. Dakota is very talented and I'm sure I
will get a decent job.
 JEANNIE
Well, of course you will. You are too smart to
make careless mistakes.

DAKOTA
I actually have some leads for my paintings. I
can probably get a few shows in a couple of art
galleries.

JEANNIE
And how will you get a decent job with that
nose ring and tattoos?

Tyrinn's anger grows. He looks over at Dakota, who is still in a relaxed state.

Dakota looks back at him and smiles.

DAKOTA
Okay...
(takes a deep breath)
I get that you don't trust me or you think I'm not
up to the standards you hoped for. But, I want
all of you to know that I am the best guy for the
job.

Aunt Ruby narrows her eyes at Dakota.

DAKOTA (CONT'D)
We fit, I can't really explain it, but we do. What
we have is real.

Dakota affectionately looks at Tyrinn.

JEANNIE
You may think you two are right for each other,
but life will say otherwise.

Aunt Ruby nods in agreement, while Aunt Gertie looks away.

TYRINN
And just because you had a failed marriage
doesn't mean I'm heading for the same fate.

JEANNIE
Now, you watch yourself!
 TYRINN
(slightly raised voice)
No mama! I hoped you would have some faith
in me. Why can't you trust that I know what I
doing?

JEANNIE
I just want the best for you! That's all! Your
stepfather and I have worked so hard to give
you everything you ever wanted.

TYRINN
Meaning Barry has worked hard, you just
directed where the money went.

Jeannie stares mightily at Tyrinn for a few seconds before replying.

JEANNIE
Do you think Dakota can give you what you
want and you what need?

DAKOTA
Yeah, I can.

Tyrinn nods.

TYRINN
He can, mama.

JEANNIE
Really? Are you, Dakota, going to be there
when it really gets rough?

DAKOTA
Yes, yes I will be there. I love your son. I hope
you can see that.

Tyrinn moves to the edge of the couch.

TYRINN
You know what? We're done with this wrestling
match. I wanted this to be a pleasant visit, but
in true family fashion, it's a disaster!

Tyrinn gets up from the loveseat. Dakota joins him.

Tyrinn heads out, but turns around.

 TYRINN (CONT'D)
When you can get over your foolishness, we
can properly talk about this.

Jeannie says nothing, while Gertie and Ruby look a little shocked.

Tyrinn and Dakota leave the house.

EXT. TYRINN'S HOUSE

Tyrinn darts down the porch steps. Dakota hurries behind him.

They get into the car and drive off.

INT. TYRINN'S CAR - MOVING

Tyrinn is furious. He has both hands on the wheel and his eyes directly on the
road.

TYRINN
I'm sorry you had to deal with the Witch of
Eastwick.

Dakota gazes at Tyrinn and puts his hand on his leg.

DAKOTA
Hey, I don't worry about it; families are fucked
up, babe.

TYRINN
How can you be so cavalier about all of this?

Dakota leans over to Tyrinn.

DAKOTA
Because you haven't met my family yet.

Dakota kisses Tyrinn on cheek.

INT. JEANNIE'S HOUSE/LIVING ROOM - SEVERAL HOURS LATER.

Jeannie is sipping a GLASS OF WINE alone. The room is quiet and faintly lit
from the candlelight.

The GRANDFATHER CLOCK reads eleven thirty-four.

She places her glass on the table and looks over at her gift Tyrinn and Dakota
brought her.

Jeannie walks over, picks it up and daintily opens it. Once the gift is open,
Jeannie is in awe.

The gift is a PAINTING OF JEANNIE HOLDING TYRINN AS A BABY.

She focuses on the picture of Tyrinn.

Then an ENVELOPE falls on the floor.

Jeannie picks it up and opens it.

She reads it and grins.

The writing on the paper says FROM DAKOTA & ME... I TOLD YOU, DAKOTA'S
TALENTED.

Jeannie holds the paper close to her and stares off into space.

Then she takes the painting to the fireplace.

She removes the PICTURE OF A SETTING SUN from the mantle and puts the
new painting in its place.

The painting hangs crookedly on the wall. Jeannie steps back and takes a look at
the gift.

She lifts her head and smiles.

JEANNIE
Yes, son. That boy of yours is talented.

FADE TO BLACK.