INT. GRAND BALLROOM - TABLE
JASON RADCLIFF and NECI KESLER join LAYNA and ROSHAUN HOPKINS
at an elegantly decorated table. Neci looks around excitedly
while Jason tries not to throw up. Neci greets the other
couple with warm hugs and kisses. Jason studies the room
nervously.
NECI
Praise the Lord, saints! How are
you all doing this evening?
LAYNA
Hey guys. We've been waiting for
you.
Roshaun looks at Jason's nearly panic-stricken face and
stands.
ROSHAUN
Would you ladies care for some
punch?
They nod. Roshaun and Jason walk away from the table.
INT. GRAND BALLROOM - FOOD TABLE
Jason and Roshaun pause by the punch bowl.
ROSHAUN
You okay?
JASON
Yeah, yeah. Fine. Why?
ROSHAUN
You're looking a little green
around the gills.
Jason takes a deep breath to calm down.
JASON
A lot is riding on tonight. We're
scraping the bottom of the bank
account. If we don't get funding
soon...
ROSHAUN
This is what God called you to do.
It's your purpose. He's not gonna
leave you hanging.
JASON
I don't know how to talk to
novices. Especially if it's their
first venture into AIDS research.
How do I tell them what they need
to know, how they need to hear it?
ROSHAUN
You don't. You let go and let God.
Get out of his way. You'll have
your funding before you know it.
INT. GRAND BALLROOM - TABLE
The men rejoin the ladies at the table. Hand them a couple
glasses of punch.
LAYNA
Ready to mingle?
NECI
Always!
JASON
Yeah. I believe I am. Neci takes
his arm as they walk away.
LAYNA
He okay?
ROSHAUN
He is now.
INT. GRAND BALLROOM - FOOD TABLE
Jason is deep in conversation with GYAN. Neci ignores them as
she samples the food.
JASON
...doing some really exciting
things in the lab. Just yesterday--
NECI
Ummm. Jason. You have got to try
this. It's delicious.
She holds up a piece of cheese for him to eat. He gives her a
quick shake of his head.
JASON
The results were really promising--
NECI
It's just cheese. He never likes to
try anything new.
Gyan forces a smile.
GYAN
The cheese is really good.
Jason gives Neci a forced smile and eats the cheese. He tries
not to gag at the strong taste. Quickly swallows.
NECI
See? Wasn't that fantastic? Here.
Try this one.
GYAN
Send us a proposal. Our guidelines
are on our web site. It was nice to
meet you both. Excuse me.
Gyan walks away. Jason stares after him in dismay.
JASON
What are you doing?
NECI
What?
JASON
You know how important it is that I
get a funding commitment tonight.
NECI
You know the Lord will supply your
needs according to his riches in
glory. Chill.
JASON
I also know that Moses had to
stretch forth his hand before the
sea parted. I'm trying to stretch
forth my hand here.
NECI
I'm not stopping you. I came didn't
I? We were supposed to have a quiet
dinner tonight. Just us.
JASON
I know, I'm sorry. I'll make it up
to you as soon as I know I still
have a job past next week.
INT. GRAND BALLROOM - DANCE FLOOR
Roshaun twirls Layna around the floor while he keeps an eye
on Jason and Neci.
LAYNA
How's he doing?
ROSHAUN
Strike one.
LAYNA
What? Who?
ROSHAUN
Gyan Casey from MedTech.
LAYNA
I thought sure he'd be a lock.
ROSHAUN
Isn't that Jenelle Dorling dancing
with Gyan?
Layna turns to see Gyan dancing with JENELLE. Behind them,
Neci and Jason step on the dance floor.
LAYNA
She's from CalMed, right?
ROSHAUN
Sounds right.
LAYNA
You thinking what I'm thinking?
Roshaun grins and spins Layna closer to Jenelle and Gyan.
LAYNA
Why Gyan Casey! I was hoping to run
into you tonight.
GYAN
Layna. A pleasure. Have you met
Jenelle Dorling from CalMed?
While they finish the introductions and switch partners, Neci
lays her head dreamily on Jason's shoulder. His eyes scan the
room.
NECI
We should do this more often.
JASON
(distracted)
Yeah.
Roshaun dances Jenelle towards them.
NECI
I always feel...
ROSHAUN
Jason, my man. We were just talking
about you.
Jason and Neci stop dancing to look at Roshaun and Jenelle.
ROSHAUN
This is the brilliant man of
purpose I was telling you about,
Jason Radcliff. Jason, this is
Jenelle Dorling from...
JASON
CalMed. Of course. It's a pleasure
to meet you.
They all shake hands.
ROSHAUN
You don't mind if I borrow Neci for
a quick dance. While my wife is...
otherwise engaged. They switch
partners.
Roshaun swings Neci away from Jason and Jenelle to give them
a chance to talk.
NECI
I haven't seen Jason all week.
Tonight, I just want to spend as
much time with him as possible.
ROSHAUN
I understand. But I wanted to ask
you about...
Neci stares up at him while he tries to think of something to
ask her. He looks helplessly across the room to Layna. Layna
points to her hair.
NECI
Ask me what?
ROSHAUN
Who...uh...does your hair? Layna's
been looking to change stylists and
yours always looks so good.
Jenelle and Jason move off the dance floor as they talk.
JASON
...were astounded by the results.
The best part? It can be replicated
at a fraction of the cost. We could
effectively treat millions in
Africa without raising the price.
JENELLE
That is exciting. We've been
looking for--
NECI
Jason, sweety. There you are. I'm
sorry. He's not boring you to death
with all this research stuff is he?
JENELLE
Oh...uh...no? Quite the contrary.
NECI
Never fear. I'm here to rescue you.
They're playing our song.
Neci pulls Jason back out on the dance floor.
INT. GRAND BALLROOM - DANCE FLOOR
Jason and Neci join Roshaun and Layna on the dance floor.
Layna takes in Jason's crestfallen look and grimaces.
ROSHAUN
We've let this go too far.
LAYNA
Roshaun, hon...
He pulls away from her and takes Jason's arm.
ROSHAUN
Can I borrow Jason for a moment?
NECI
I've hardly gotten to--
LAYNA
I feel a trip to the little girls'
room coming on. Join me? Torn, Neci
finally follows Layna away.
INT. GRAND BALLROOM - TABLE
Roshaun and Jason sit down at the table.
ROSHAUN
I've gotta be straight with you,
man. You're gonna have to cut Neci
loose. She's dragging you down.
JASON
Dragging me down? You act like
she's some kind of lazy, no-good
half wit.
ROSHAUN
Close to it. At least the lazy,
nogood half wits have a purpose for
their lazy, no-goodness.
JASON
So Neci's not perfect. Who is?
S
he's a woman of faith--
ROSHAUN
Her kind of faith is useless,
loathsome and offensive!
JASON
I can't believe you'd judge--!
ROSHAUN
Sorry. It's just...she's a little
hypocritical. Always the first one
to declare how much she loves God,
but when's the last time she DID
anything to show she loves him?
JASON
Well she...She...knows the
scriptures better than I do.
ROSHAUN
So she's justified before God by
her belief as Paul said. But check
out James chapter two. It's our
works that justify us before men.
JASON
Who cares what men think?
ROSHAUN
It's not just about that. Our works
are the evidence that our faith is
alive. God can't take pleasure in a
dead faith.
Jason takes a moment to digest Roshaun's words.
JASON
Where is this?
ROSHAUN
James 2:14-26. Look, Neci's not a
bad person. It's just...she doesn't
have a ministry. You do. Unless
you're strong enough to bring her
up to your level, she'll just bring
you down to hers.
Neci and Layna return to the table before Jason has a chance
to say anything. ALEXANDRA GRADY accompanies them.
LAYNA
Look who we ran into. Alexandra,
I'd like you to meet my husband,
Roshaun, and our friend Jason
Radcliff.
ALEXANDRA
It's a pleasure to meet you both.
LAYNA
I'm sorry to keep dragging you all
over the place, Neci. But think we
can make it all the way to the
little girls's room this time?
NECI
We can try.
After they leave, Roshaun offers Alexandra his seat.
ROSHAUN
My boss just walked in. I should go
say hello.
He leaves them alone.
JASON
So how do you know Layna?
ALEXANDRA
We went to college together. We
sort of lost touch when she went to
law school while I joined the non
profit world.
JASON
Never a dull moment in non profits.
We never know if we'll still be
around from one day to the next.
But somehow God always makes a way.
ALEXANDRA
Tell me about it. What do you do?
INT. GRAND BALLROOM - DANCE FLOOR
Roshaun and Layna meet up on the floor.
ROSHAUN
What happened? Where's Neci?
LAYNA
Somehow we got separated. Think we
gave them enough time?
She cranes her neck around to check on Alexandra and Jason.
ROSHAUN
I think so.
LAYNA
She must have asked about his
research. Look how he lit up.
ROSHAUN
God has got to come through with
some funding from somewhere.
LAYNA
He already is.
Roshaun studies his wife's innocent expression.
ROSHAUN
What do you know?
INT. GRAND BALLROOM - TABLE
Alexandra listens to Jason's excited monologue.
JASON
...phenylketonuria! All of them.
Whodathunk? It was an incredible
moment.
ALEXANDRA
So you're ready to move on to the
next phase.
Jason deflates a little.
JASON
If we can find the funding.
There're so many labs researching
AIDS. The competition is rough.
ALEXANDRA
But your research sounds so
promising...
Neci strides over. Plants herself between Alexandra and
Jason.
NECI
I lost Layna.
Jason looks around.
JASON
She's dancing with Roshaun.
NECI
She ditched me?
JASON
I'm sure she didn't...
(to Alexandra)
Would you excuse us for a moment?
ALEXANDRA
Of course.
INT. GRAND BALLROOM - DANCE FLOOR
Jason leads Neci away from the table.
NECI
What is wrong with you guys? All
this running around? Can't I just
spend one night with my man?
JASON
Yes. Just not this night. You know
I'm trying to find funding. So far
I've lost out on about three
million dollars because you keep
demanding attention.
NECI
Just relax. Romans 8:28 all things
work together for good to them that
love God, who are called according
to his purpose.
Jason stares at her for a long moment; weighs his words.
JASON
What's your purpose, Neci?
NECI
My purpose? It's to serve God.
JASON
How are you serving him?
He waits while she stumbles to find something else to say.
JASON
I have a ministry. One I care about
passionately. What do you have?
NECI
You know I love God.
JASON
Prove it.
NECI
Prove...what? God knows my heart.
JASON
But where are your works? Faith is
just the root. Good works are the
fruit. A tree is known by its
fruit.
NECI
Are you saying I'm a rotten tree?
JASON
There's no fruit to tell me, Neci.
If you are rotten, you'll be cut
down. I can't be cut down with you.
I still have work to do.
NECI
If that's how you feel! She storms
off. Jason sighs.
Alexandra clears her throat behind him.
ALEXANDRA
Faith without works is dead. James
Jason turns around and gives her a tiny smile.
JASON
A friend just reminded me of that.
ALEXANDRA
It sounds to me like your lab is on
the cusp of a very promising
breakthrough.
She reaches in her purse. Pulls out a checkbook.
ALEXANDRA
Will five million keep you afloat
for a little while longer?
Jason stares at her flabbergasted. She hands him a check.
JASON
I'm...what?
ALEXANDRA
It's all that's left from this
grant cycle, but I'll see that we
find you a bit more during the next
one.
Jason looks from her, to the check in his hand, to her. He
smiles. Looks up.
JASON
Thank you, God! And thank you. Yes.
I think we can make do with five
million.
THE END
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