This document is a script for a virtual homecoming reunion. It introduces the main characters which are former student leaders who are now reconnecting online. Nett is reluctant to engage with Karen, the strict alumni president. Bear asks Xia where she has been, as there was tension between them in college. Nett warns Xia about reopening things with Bear, who is now married. At the welcome, Xia admits to Bear she regrets not telling him something major from their past that would have changed their relationship.

1. It's Homecoming Y'all!
by
Breana C. Venablé
Breana C. Venablé
breanacvenable@gmail.com
Draft 1 (Mae) 9/10/20
Draft 2 (Ella) 9/22/20

2. CHARACTERS
BEAR, 31 - Former student body class vice president and frat boy. Though he lived the frat boy
life in college, he's a family man now. There was only one girl who got him to settle down and it
wasn't the one he married.
NETT, 31 - Former student body president. She is the life of the party but she can over do it. She's
loud and rambunctious. She only wants to keep the peace and keep the alumni board happy.
ROD, 34 - Former college football star and student body president. He's brutally honest and very
inappropriate in 2020. He was really hoping to get into an entanglement this year for homecoming.
XIA 30, - Former student body secretary. She the wild spirit of the group. Though she's happy to
be home, she still wants to keep her distance.
KAREN, 66- National Alumni Association President. If "black people don't know how to act
when they are in power" was a person, it's her.
*Actors are encouraged to create an avatar that they believe best suits the character

3. At Rise (Virtually): We see an open green field full of
people. It’s Homecoming Y’all.!
The audience is apart of the show. As the audience stand
about in the space, the actors should be amongst them.
Actors should try and strike up conversations with them.
BEAR
Hey, how’s it going?
NETT
Hey girl! I ain’t seent ya in a month of Sundays.
ROD
What’s good, bro?
BEAR
Happy homecoming y’all.
NETT
You don’t remember me? It’s Nett. With two Ts.
KAREN looks around the space. She move through the
crowd on a mission - half heartedly speaking to people.
KAREN
Happy Homecoming. Yes, happy homecoming.
Karen spots Nett.
KAREN
Nett! Hey, happy homecoming. Nett!
NETT
(Speaking to whom ever is by her)
I’m just gon ignore her. Do you mind standing right in front of me? Yes. Right there.
Happy homecoming.
KAREN
I know, I wish we had homecoming in person too. NETT. I know you hear me.
BEAR seeing this walks over to Nett. He speaks to people
as he cross. Karen continues to call for her.

4. BEAR
Nett, if you don’t answer, Karen.
NETT
I don’t want to answer Karen. I don’t want her in my face.
BEAR
If you don’t let her in your face, then she’s going to be in mine. Answer her.
NETT
Hell naw.
BEAR
Nett!
NETT
She is literally a black Karen. Literally.
BEAR
Where’s Xia, is she here?
NETT
Why?
BEAR
Well, I haven’t seen her yet and she is also on the board with us.
NETT
(She catches his vibe)
Mmmhmm. She ain’t here yet, Bear.
Rod walks over to the other two.
ROD
Well, ain’t this some shit.
NETT
What?
ROD
This! My homecoming has been ruined.
2.

5. BEAR
Bro, we just logged in.
ROD
I know but look at everyone looking all awkward and shit. I was hoping this would be my
year for an entanglement. Where the fuck are your arms?
NETT
Nobody has arms.
BEAR
And that shit ain’t weird to you?
Nett adjusts herself to be hidden away from Karen.
NETT
Rod, don’t move.
ROD
Why?
NETT
Karen has been calling me non stop about this virtual homecoming and all she wants to do
is complain. The last thing I need right now is a black Karen complaining.
ROD
Karen, she’s over here!
BEAR
Come on, bro!
NETT
You had one job, Rod. One!
Karen reaches the group.
KAREN
Nett, now I know you heard me call-
NETT
(To someone in reality)
Huh? One sec.
Just at that moment Nett leaves her Avatar. It stuns
everyone else.
3.

6. ROD
The fuck?
They all examine Nett’s lifeless avatar.
KAREN
Did she just-
BEAR
I think she logged off.
KAREN
I swear fo God Ima give her a piece of my mind.
ROD
I think that’s what she was trying to avoid.
BEAR
Bro-
KAREN
-Excuse me?
ROD
What?
Bear and Karen just stare at him in disbelief. It takes a
moment for him to realize.
ROD
Oh, I wasn’t supposed to say that out loud.
Neither one of them respond.
ROD
Alright cool - so Ima just- yeah.
Rod walks off leaving Bear and Karen. After moment he
just walks off too without warning. Just as Karen goes to
leave Nett’s avatar returns to life.
NETT
Whew.
KAREN
Nett.
4.

7. NETT
Aw shit.
KAREN
I don’t appreciate your behavior.
NETT
And I don’t appreciate yours.
KAREN
Excuse me? I am the president-
NETT
Of the National Alumni Association. I know you remind every time you get a chance.
Look, this is not how me and my team had Homecoming planned. We had the traditions,
the parade, the game, the concert, the Greek step show - everything that make an HBCU
homecoming celebration epic- we had it but it got cancelled and we came up with a plan B.
It’s awkward, it’s weird and the class of 1962 is probably still trying to figure out how to
log in to this. But this was the next best thing, besides zoom. So please if you don’t have
anything nice to say or here to offer a helping hand, please leave me alone so I can focus on
welcoming my fellow Hornets. Happy Homecoming.
Nett struts off feeling proud.
NETT
Now I just gotta figure out who the hell is who.
XIA stands in the crowd walking around speaking.
XIA
Hey. Happy Homecoming- Hey, what’s up.
Nett recognizes the voice and turns around.
NETT
Oh, thank God. Where the hell have you been?
XIA
My wifi has an attitude today.
NETT
Well, tell your wifi to strengthen it’s shit together because Karen is riding my ass.
XIA
She’ll be alright.
5.

8. Nett gives her a “really”-
XIA
Okay being in these avatars, not being able to recognize folk and them just staring is
already weird I don’t need you doing it too.
NETT
What’s wrong with you?
XIA
Aint nothing wrong with me. Did you do the welcome?
NETT
I can’t do that without out the whole board here.
XIA
Well, who is missing?
NETT
You were, Xia.
XIA
Is Bear here already?
NETT
Xia.
XIA
What?
NETT
What the hell is going on?
XIA
Nothing is going on.
NETT
Y’all didn’t do nothing but talk shit and be at each other’s throat in every zoom meeting we
had. Now y’all both asking where the other one is?
XIA
He asked where I was?
6.

9. NETT
Yes, he did.
XIA
Do you know where he is?
NETT
Xia-
XIA
Maybe I can catch him before the welcome-
NETT
Xia.
XIA
What?
NETT
Don’t go do that road.
XIA
He said he wanted to talk.
NETT
What the hell does Bear need to say to you?
XIA
I don’t know.
NETT
But why?
XIA
Nett.
NETT
We have been best friends for 13 years. Met right here at this university- well, the actual
university. I know you. I know him. And I know y’all’s relationship back in college. And I
know his marriage.
XIA
If you know all these things what are you insinuating?
7.

10. NETT
I’m not insinuating anything. I just want you to really think about opening that door you’re
about to walk in.
XIA
This maybe the only time we have.
They stand in silence for a moment. Bear and Rod walk
over.
BEAR
Hey, Nett did you find- Xia?
XIA
Hey, Bear. I’m sorry I’m late y’all.
ROD
What’s up, Xia. I would offer you a hug but we don’t have arms and I don’t even know if
hugging is a possibility for an avatar.
XIA
It’s cool, Rod.
NETT
Hey, Rod help me get the crowd together for the welcome.
ROD
Aye, y’all, the welcome about to start.
NETT
That ain’t what I meant. Bring yo ass!
They walk off leaving only Xia and Bear.
BEAR
Happy Homecoming.
XIA
Happy Homecoming.
BEAR
This is your first time back since?
XIA
2016.
8.

11. BEAR
Damn, Xia.
XIA
I know. I’m usually busy and just couldn’t find the time. How’s the baby?
BEAR
Good. She’s entering into her terrible two phase.
XIA
That’s adorable.
BEAR
No, not when she’s throwing shit at my face.
XIA
You know you love it.
BEAR
I do.
They stand in an awkward silence for a moment.
XIA
So what did you-
BEAR
I just wanted to-
XIA
You go.
BEAR
Naw, you got it.
XIA
I was just going to ask what did you want to talk to me about.
BEAR
I really wanted to talk in person.
XIA
This is as close to in person we are going to get.
They share a quick laugh.
9.

12. BEAR
I uh- I’ve noticed on social media over the years that you’re doing good. Your career is
taking off. You look happy, vibrant, and - I’ve just been thinking a lot lately-
XIA
About?
BEAR
Us.
XIA
Bear.
BEAR
Hear me out. I love my wife and my baby with everything inside of me. I do. But I can’t
help but wonder why-
XIA
Why what?
BEAR
When I told you I wanted to give us another shot. I apologized for not fighting for you and
really giving my all to you senior year. Why’d you say no?
XIA
I don’t think -
BEAR
Just tell me the truth, Xia. Please.
XIA
That was 8 years ago.
BEAR
I know it was and I’ve thought about it since then. Why?
XIA
I don’t think you want the answer to that question.
BEAR
Please, I just I don’t want to continue another 8 years with what ifs in my head. Please.
XIA
Sometimes you just gotta live with the what ifs.
10.

13. BEAR
Xia!
XIA
I made a mistake! A God awful - life changing mistake.
BEAR
What kind of mistake?
XIA
I try my absolute hardest to live my life with pure intentions. I try to make very careful
decisions because I don’t want to regret anything but there are only two things I do regret.
BEAR
What did you do, Xia?
XIA
I’m not ready to tell you about that. What I can tell you is when you called me and poured
your heart out to me I had to make a decision. I knew there was a strong possibility that I
could lose you in my life forever. I knew that if I said yes to you that day, that I’d have to
tell you about the mistake I regret and I knew it would crush you. So I had to make a
choice, tell you and risk not having you in my life at all or not tell you and at least have you
in my life as a friend. So I settled to just having you as a friend.
BEAR
You can tell me what it is.
XIA
Whether I tell you or not, it doesn’t change anything. You are still married. So, at this point
the what ifs are irrelevant.
BEAR
Are they?
XIA
I tell myself they are - everyday.
Bear sits with that for a moment.
BEAR
You do?
XIA
Yes.
11.

14. Nett and Rod walk back over.
NETT
Will the two of y’all come on?
XIA
Coming.
ROD
Karen, kinda looks like a Karen, even as a avatar. I don’t know if that’s genius or
terrifying.
They all begin walking towards an open space in the field.
NETT
(To the audience)
H-O-M-E-C
EVERYONE
O-M-I-N-G. It’s homecoming y’all.- say what- It’s homecoming y’all.
NETT
Good evening family and happy homecoming. Welcome to our first and hopefully last
virtual homecoming. We all know an HBCU homecoming is a family reunion. The pride,
the celebration, the culture, and the traditions are the essence of what an HBCU experience
is. Now more than ever we need to hold on to that. I know this is not the homecoming you
wanted or expected, and it sho as hell ain’t the one we had planned but, we are Hornets-
ROD
Did she say horny?
BEAR
No.
XIA
Really, Rod?
ROD
Bro, I swear it sounded like she said -
NETT
Hornet! With a T. We are hornets and we are strong. We persevere. We fight. We stick
together. We love. And we support one another. That is the very thing we must continue to
do for us, for our community, for our school, and for our people.
12.

15. Please love on someone today, even if you don’t recognize them. Love on them-
appropriately. That means you, Rod. I hope you enjoy tonight, find your classmates, share
memories and create new ones. Happy Homecoming.
Everyone cheers as Karen walks up.
KAREN
I must say, Nett. I am impressed. You did well.
NETT
I know, Karen.
They all being to walk into the crowd leaving Xia and Bear
for a moment.
BEAR
I appreciate what you did shared. It’s not what I wanted but it’s what I got. Thank you.
XIA
Of course.
BEAR
Hey, what was the second thing you regret?
XIA
Telling you no.
Beat.
XIA
Happy homecoming, Bear.
BEAR
Happy homecoming.
END OF PLAY
13.