hey i see it 666 members. i hope i don't make the 666th member. that's kind of spooky. would explain a lot about my life but it would be spooky. lol.
i just logged on to say hey. i'm a new member and a new fan. i just discovered Ms Suhaila Bashir Shakur's (Me'shell Ndegeocello's) music about a year ago although i've heard some of her earlier work a while ago (dred lock) and i must say i've become a real fiend. I can't wait to here her new album she's working on with universal franco (hope i said it right) I love music that says something because it inspires me to write. Even if she says it without words. This woman inspired me to write a entire screenplay called What We Keep Inside. I envy all those who have had the opertunity (excuse my spelling) to have witnessed her in concert or those who have even been spoken to by her. I used to live in New York but now i live in hell (Georgia) it is about as conscious as a corps. People like Ms Shakur never grace this state let alone Athens, GA. i would love to see her in concert or just be able to give her a copy of my screenplay to see how her music and interviews have inspired my work. infact if anyone out there is reading my babble i would like to give you a taste of the screenplay. The poem in this scene from the screenplay which is really extracted from personal feelings. Emotions i felt after listening to her music.

INT. CAFÉ SOCIETY. - NIGHT
Thynaa and Cush are in a jazz club in The Village having a couple of drinks. Its soft lighting and the trace of tobacco smoke in the air establish the ambiance.

A figure of a GIRL glides across the stage with her guitar and joins the jazz band already in session. Her face is hidden behind the shadows of a knitted cap and dim stage lights revealing her cosmic decorated guitar.

The audience begins to clap. The music stops.


GIRL
Peace. How ya’ll doing. It’s been a while. If I don’t acknowledge nobody I know out there, don’t take it personal. It’s these weak ass lights. I can’t see sh@#@t.

Audience laughs.

Her long fingers dressed with rings, and wrist with SILVER COWRY SHELL BRACELET begins to pluck the strings.

GIRL (CONT’D)
I um, haven’t played here for a while, since… I don’t know... It’s been a while. Last time I was up here I got this letter from this girl. Next thing I know she’s dead.
(then)
Yeah, said my music opened her up, exposed her. Realized she couldn’t have what she wanted. So I guess she killed herself.

Crowd response sympathetically.

GIRL (CONT’D)
Yeah man, that sh@@t messed me up for a while.

Girl plays little smooth melody on the guitar.

GIRL (CONT’D)
Anyway, this poem I’m about to do is what she sent me. I figured I let ya’ll in on it because I found out there are a lot of sistahs out there that may feel like her.
(beat)
So this is what she said to me.
(beat)
I thought discovering you was a gift, but now I sift through the
images and places where my mind drifts when you play into my ear. You make me feel alone, enslaved by your tones resonating in my soul, I yearn to have her near.

Beat, she plays a melody.


GIRL (CONT’D)
With a tenacious craving my body cries, substitute with lies and illusions I can only dream of touching her, kissing her in that ethereal place. As I opened you, you opened me so wide, no longer hide. I’m set bare my secrets inside a gibbet upon my face.
(beat, then)
When you look at me, really what you see, is the reality of your minds eye images as real as anything tangible. Therewith, I structure my state and recreate that beautiful, and burn it on my mental plate, a desperate attempt to employ the physical.

Girl stops and plays a melody on her guitar. Her tears moisten her strings.

GIRL (CONT’D)
What the f@#k is this, what path did I dismiss to detour in this abyss tormented by loneliness and void, I’m drowning in it. This redundant session of depression, f@#k this confessions staring down a steel barrel, I wish I had the courage to put an end to this shit. It’s amazing what the power of tone can do. But I don’t blame you, got to admit its true. You have a gift more affective than you probably even know. Peace sistah keep the flow.

Moved by the woman’s lamentation, the audience hesitates before responding with resounding applauds. Beat.

GIRL (CONT’D)
I uh, don’t know her name. She didn’t sign it.
(beat)
Damn ya’ll, you know, I’m not tryin’ to take no one off their path. I’m just a soldier trying to survive in the struggle.
(then)
Just a messenger. Loves the message.

Beat, girl begins to play funky tune on guitar.

GIRL (CONT’D)
I’m gonna um, bring up the tempo. I can’t have ya’ll leaving out here feeling like sh#$t. Café Society won’t let my ass come back. And every now and then a sistah needs this sh#$t to eat.

Audience laughs. Cush looks at Thynaa whose eyes remain glued to the obscure figure of the girl on the stage.

it would be good know what you think.

sorry i missed one. i tried to censor all of it.

Wow. Intense stuff. I like it.

I can really identify with the whole question of opening up, and the danger of what you might find. Especially through art/music. So far in my life, I've always clung to the idea that if I can't face the darkness that I'm not really experiencing the light, but that might be a bit idealistic.

silly logistic question-- if the musician didn't know the poet's name, how did she find out that the poet died?

Good work. What else happens/is dealt w/ in your screenplay?

Thanks for your critic Justin. And actually that is a good question. She mentions the next thing she knows she's dead. I could have put she heard from someone that the girl who gave her the poem died but it would have really been drawn out and took away from the play. The real point of this scene was to introduce the girl Sheila by way of the Cowrey Shell Bracelet and her poem. Although the audience finds out sooner who the woman is the main character doesn't find out the girl that she knows is the same girl that intrigued her at the club.
The jest of the story is about a woman named Thynaa who false in love with a culture conscious brother named Cush. He later cheats on Thynaa with Sheila who by the way simultaneously initiates a friendship with Sheila. Thynaa is also dealing with the heartship of witnessing her mother's battle with breast cancer. Thynaa and Sheila stumble into a relationship and Thynaa deals with the culture shock of being bisexual. Thynaa later finds that the woman she is in love with was the woman Cush betrayed her for and is currently seeing. What We Keep Inside is a romantic comedy with a twist.
The following is a scene where Thynaa and Sheila initiate their love affair. You will see in this scene when Thynaa realizes Sheila is the girl she saw performing at the club. Keep in mind that this screenplay was inspired by Ms Suhaila Bashir Shakur's music. So imagine Stay, Beautiful and Outside My Door.

. BROOKLYN HEIGHTS – LATE NIGHT.
Thynaa drives up to, and parks her car in front of Sheila’s building.

SHEILA
(speaks in creepy voice)
Thanks for the ride lady.

Thynaa and Sheila laugh.

THYNAA
Well I’ll catch you later Homey.

SHEILA
No, come on up. I want to show you something.

INT. SHEILA’S APARTMENT – SAME TIME

Sheila and Thynaa enter the apartment. Sheila tosses her keys on the end table. Thynaa immediately goes over to the keyboard, sits down and plays the chords Sheila taught her.

Sheila pulls a cd case from the shelf and hands it to Thynaa.

Thynaa looks at the cover displaying Sheila barefoot, jeans and a tank top with a PICTURE of a white hand shaking a black hand. Under the picture it reads, “Is it just an illusion”.

THYNAA
What’s this?

SHEILA
I contacted some of my father’s friends in the industry and I let them hear some of my tracks. So they’re letting me do an album. That’s the demo.

THYNAA
Damn girl, just like that?

Sheila sits down next to Thynaa.

SHEILA
Well my father had a lot of respect in the industry.

THYNAA
Sheila this is great. I should take you out somewhere to celebrate. Get zooded.

SHEILA
(laughs hesitantly)
Nah, that’s alright. Been there done that. I’ve got some carrot juice in the fridge though. You want some of that?

THYNAA
(sarcastically)
Whoa, you got anything weaker?

Sheila gets up and walks to the kitchen, opens the fridge and pulls out…

SHEILA
Water.

THYNAA
I’ll take the water.

SHEILA
You better drink that carrot juice. You know your old ass needs some fiber.

THYNAA
Oh f@#k you. You’re only a few years younger than me and I still look better than you.

SHEILA
What everrr.

Sheila comes back with two bottles of water and hands Thynaa one, then flops down on the floor.

Thynaa looks at Sheila smiling. Beat, Sheila reaches over nervously and grabs her guitar and starts playing a soft tune.

THYNAA
What made you change your mind?

VOICE OVER
What’s she playing? That’s pretty.

SHEILA
You souped me up the last time you were here. Besides these little odds and end jobs ain’t paying that much and some times a sistah needs this sh@#t to eat.

Thynaa mouth drops open remembering the words and the tune.

THYNAA
Oh sh@#t, you’re the girl.

SHEILA
(looks at Thynaa perplexed)
What?

THYNAA
You’re the girl. The girl that was playing that night at Café Society. The girl with the poem. I was there with my ex.

SHEILA
(lowers her head)
Yeah, I play there a lot. Well, not as much as I used to.

Thynaa continues to stare at Sheila who avoids eye contact at first, then lifts up her head to return Thynaa’s gaze. Beat then,

THYNAA
(smiling)
Well, I’m glad you changed your mind.

Sheila smiles and continues to look at Thynaa.

SHEILA (V.O.)
She’s so beautiful.

Thynaa looks down confused by emotions stirring inside.

THYNAA
Well, I’m gonna head home before it gets too late.

Thynaa stands up and Sheila implores Thynaa to stay trying not to sound desperate.

SHEILA
Ah, it’s not that late. It’s not like you have to punch a clock.

THYNAA
Oh yes I do. I've got to beat the competition to work in the morning.

Sheila puts the guitar down and gets up to see Thynaa out the door.

SHEILA
Okay Homey, I guess I’ll see you then.

Thynaa stares at Sheila again. Beat, then,

THYNAA
Yeah, I guess so.

VOICE OVER
She has such beautiful features.

THYNAA (CONT’D)
Well, congratulations.

Thynaa impulsively hugs Sheila and kisses her on the cheek. The act sends chills down Sheila’s spine.

Sheila’s hands touch Thynaa’s back sending impulse throughout Thynaa’s body. Beat, they separate.

Thynaa smiles. Beat, Thynaa opens the door and leaves. Sheila watches until the door closes. Thynaa walks down the stairs and out of the building.

EXT. SHEILA’S APARTMENT BUILDING – CONTINUOUS
Thynaa walks outside and it’s begun to rain. Thynaa hesitates, the rain settling upon her raised head. She goes back upstairs but doesn’t knock on the door.

INT. SHEILA’S APARTMENT – SAME TIME

Sheila stands at the door hearing her footsteps ascend the stairs and wonders what has Thynaa forgotten and why hasn’t she knocked on the door. Beat, Sheila opens the door and sees Thynaa standing there. Beat.

SHEILA
(speaks softly)
You’re wet.

Thynaa stares at Sheila. Beat, Thynaa shakes her head.

THYNAA
I’m not even sure why I came back up here.

Thynaa turns to go and Sheila GRABS HER HAND.

SHEILA
Don’t go. Stay. Talk to me.

Sheila guides Thynaa back into the apartment and closes the door. They stand there at the door. Sheila stares at Thynaa’s full lips. Sheila moves closer.


SHEILA
(speaks softly)
Please, I just want you to talk to me. Tell me what is it that you wanted.

Thynaa watches as Sheila moves in to kiss her. Sheila stops just before touching lip to lip.

SHEILA (CONT’D)
You’re so beautiful, so lonely. I can’t stop thinking about you. Can I kiss you?

Sheila rubs her full lips against Thynaa. She gives her soft pecks and Thynaa welcomes her with her tongue. Sheila stops stares at Thynaa. Quick beat, they share a quick smile then Thynaa kisses her deeply. Clothes come off and they get busy on silk sheets.

DISSOLVE INTO:

INT. SHEILA’S APARTMENT – MOMENTS LATER

After their lovemaking Sheila lays there facing Thynaa caressing her arms and thighs.

SHEILA
Are you okay?

THYNAA
Yes.

SHEILA
How do you feel?

THYNAA
I feel like - Oooh.

Sheila and Thynaa laugh.

SHEILA
What, you feel naughty?

THYNAA
I feel like running and hiding because my mama’s gonna kick my ass.

Sheila and Thynaa burst into laughter again. Beat,

THYNAA (CONT’D)
Will I be seeing you tomorrow?

Sheila begins to recite a passage from a poem by Audre Lorde.

SHEILA
Before the moon wanes again we shall come together. And I would be the moon spoken over your beckoning flesh breaking against reservations beaching thought my hands at your high tide over and under inside you and the passing of hunger attended, forgotten. Dark risen the moon speaks my eyes judging your roundness delightful.

THYNAA
That’s beautiful. You wrote that.

SHEILA
No. That’s Audre Lorde. I wish I was that good.

THYNAA
You’ll reach your goal with your own style you’ll see. Then when you become famous you can buy me a Bentley?

SHEILA
Bentley? Sh@#t, you’re gonna have to do a some licking and d@#ckin’ as expensive as a Bentley is.

Thynaa bursts out laughing.

'Just a messenger. Loves the message.'
Deep, intense, i love it..its moving..
I also just recently discovered meshell's music...i fell in love with it.."Beautiful", thats the song....

My name is Teddy