Wayne Heard Piarry Yell at Anthony: “You Still Want Shayla, Don’t You?!”
Wayne Heard Piarry Yell at Anthony: “You Still Want Shayla, Don’t You?!”
Scene opens on a warm Sunday evening. Wayne’s house is buzzing with music and conversation as friends and family gather for a laid-back BBQ. Laughter fills the yard—until it doesn’t.
Wayne stood near the grill, flipping steaks, when he noticed something strange. Piarry had just walked in—alone, dressed sharp, but with a fire in her eyes. She wasn’t here to eat.
Wayne (smirking, wiping his hands on a towel):
“Piarry? Dang, didn’t know you were pulling up. You good?”
Piarry (tight smile):
“I’m just here for a quick word. Where’s Anthony?”
Wayne knew that tone. This wasn’t social. This was a showdown. He motioned toward the back, where Anthony was helping Kai tie his shoe.
Wayne:
“He’s right back there. You sure you wanna talk now? Lotta ears around.”
Piarry:
“Oh, I want him to hear me. And maybe it’s time a few others did too.”
Before Wayne could stop her, she was marching across the yard like a storm in heels. Anthony looked up, already sensing it was about to go left.
Anthony (smiling nervously):
“Hey P. I thought you were—”
Piarry (cutting him off):
“You still want Shayla, don’t you?!”
The entire backyard froze. The kids stopped playing. Even the Bluetooth speaker paused like it sensed the tension.
Anthony (caught off guard):
“What? Piarry, not here—”
Piarry (voice rising):
“No, right here. In front of all your friends. In front of Wayne. Tell me the truth. Do you still want Shayla?”
Wayne stood still, spatula in hand. His jaw clenched. He glanced at Amber, who was now watching from the porch with folded arms.
Anthony (sighing):
“I told you—I co-parent with her. That’s all it is.”
Piarry:
“Co-parenting doesn’t mean calling her at midnight. It doesn’t mean texting her, ‘I miss the old days.’ Yeah, I saw the messages, Anthony. Don’t play me.”
Gasps rippled across the crowd. Wayne slowly backed toward the speaker and lowered the volume, but the silence was already screaming.
Wayne (to himself):
“Oh hell... This turned into a whole BET special.”
Anthony (stepping forward):
“I never meant to hurt you, Piarry.”
Piarry (laughs bitterly):
“Hurt me? Anthony, I’ve been living with a man who still dreams about another woman. Who still lights up when Shayla walks in a room. I’m not stupid.”
Anthony (softly):
“I loved Shayla. That was real. We have history. We have Kai.”
Piarry:
“And what about me?! I was there when she left you. When she moved out. I was the one who helped pick up the pieces. I deserve more than being second choice.”
Wayne (clearing his throat):
“Y’all, maybe we should take this inside…”
Piarry (snapping):
“No, Wayne. Let everyone hear it. Let them all know that I’ve been loving a man who’s still in love with his ex.”
Anthony lowered his head. Everyone was waiting for him to deny it. To fight back. But he didn’t.
Anthony (barely audible):
“I don’t know if I ever fully stopped loving her.”
A collective gasp hit the yard like thunder. Piarry looked like she’d just been stabbed.
Piarry (eyes tearing):
“Wow… So that’s it.”
Anthony:
“I didn’t mean for things to get confused. But every time I see her with Kai, laughing... it hits me. What we could’ve had.”
Amber (from the porch):
“You had that, and you lost it.”
Wayne (to Amber):
“Not now, Amber. This ain’t your scene.”
Amber (shrugs):
“If you play dumb long enough, don’t be surprised when people call you out.”
Piarry turned, storming toward the gate. But before she left, she turned back one last time.
Piarry:
“You know what hurts most, Anthony? That I kept fighting for you... while you were still fighting your feelings for her.”
Then she left. The gate slammed behind her like the final scene of a drama.
Anthony stayed standing in the same spot, staring at nothing. Wayne finally walked up to him and put a hand on his shoulder.
Wayne:
“She ain’t wrong, bro. You should’ve been real a long time ago.”
Anthony:
“I didn’t even know I still had these feelings until Shayla started pulling back from everything. It made me realize I still care... too much.”
Wayne:
“But do you care about Shayla, or the idea of what she used to be?”
Anthony looked at him, but had no answer.
Later that night...
Wayne sat on his porch, sipping sweet tea as Amber joined him. The party was over. Only the echo of drama lingered.
Amber:
“You think Shayla knows?”
Wayne:
“She always knew. She just didn’t say anything. Shayla ain’t messy—but she’s not dumb.”
Amber (leaning back):
“And Piarry?”
Wayne:
“She loved too loud for a man who was whispering his feelings elsewhere.”
Amber sighed. They both sat in silence for a moment.
Amber:
“What would you do if you were Anthony?”
Wayne:
“I’d stop breaking hearts until I figured out what the hell mine actually wanted.”
The next day
Shayla stood outside her apartment, waiting for Kai to come back from school. Anthony pulled up slowly.
Anthony (stepping out):
“Can we talk?”
Shayla (crossing her arms):
“About what? About how you embarrassed Piarry in front of everyone, or about how you still think you have something with me?”
Anthony:
“Both.”
Shayla didn’t say a word, just waited.
Anthony:
“I never meant to hurt her. I never meant to drag you into anything. But when you pulled away from me—completely—I felt like I lost something I never truly let go of.”
Shayla (calm but sharp):
“We broke up for a reason, Anthony. You couldn’t love me right when it mattered. Don’t try to rewrite history because you’re confused now.”
Anthony:
“I’m not confused.”
Shayla:
“Then what are you?”
Anthony:
“I’m honest. Finally.”
Shayla shook her head.
Shayla:
“Too late. Honesty without action is just noise.”
She turned to go inside, but paused.
Shayla (without turning):
“You should apologize to Piarry. She deserved more.”
Anthony:
“She did.”
Meanwhile, back at Wayne’s...
Wayne sat with Piarry, who’d come by unexpectedly. Her eyes were red, but her voice was steady.
Piarry:
“You ever feel like you gave someone all your love, and they still looked past you?”
Wayne (quietly):
“Yeah. I know that feeling.”
Piarry:
“Is it my fault? Did I love too hard?”
Wayne:
“You loved honest. That’s never wrong. He just didn’t know how to receive it.”
Piarry looked up, truly seeing Wayne for the first time.
Piarry:
“You always keep it real, huh?”
Wayne (smirking):
“Someone has to.”
They both laughed lightly, but the pain still hung in the air. Not every story ends with love being returned. Some just end with lessons and letting go.
Final Shot:
Anthony stands at the edge of the park, watching Shayla play with Kai. There’s distance now. Not just space, but reality. Shayla smiles at her son, not even glancing Anthony’s way.
Wayne (voiceover):
“Sometimes, the loudest answer is silence. And sometimes, love isn’t lost—it’s just not for you anymore.”
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