Friday Feature: Princess Usanga
- Jae Nichelle
- 4 days ago
- 11 min read
Princess Usanga is a Miami-based director and writer with Haitian and Nigerian roots, born in Queens, New York. Her storytelling delves into the nuances of the human experience through the lens of self-discovery, compassion, and situational irony. As an African and Caribbean Black woman, Usanga is intentional about sharing perspectives from intersectional identities. Usanga studied Television and Film Production at St. John’s University and went on to direct her first short film, God’s Atheist. She was later commissioned by Oolite Arts to create her coming-of-age ’90s short film, Hooky, which she wrote and directed. Hooky premiered at Africa Film Society’s Classics in the Park Film Festival in Accra, Ghana. Hooky will air on PBS as part of their Film-maker series (Season 7), which highlights short films from South Florida filmmakers. The film was nominated for Best Short Film at the Key West Film Festival and screened at the Norton Museum of Art. Additionally, Hooky received recognition from ARRI Camera by being featured on their website and social media pages. Usanga recently penned the action film The Poacher Assassin and is currently in pre-production for Missed Connections, a surrealistic dramedy and proof-of-concept short for her feature film debut.
Hooky
EXT. SIDE FENCE OF APARTMENT COMPLEX - DAY - 1995
A BOOK BAG flings over a FENCE. NORA, 15, Haitian-American, straight-laced freshman, climbs the FENCE and reaches the top with her legs on both sides.
NORA
I don't know about this, Renee.
She looks down to RENEE, 17, Cuban-American, a rebellious, baggy jean sophomore, who is catching her breath.
RENEE
Just jump! Someone might see you.
Reluctant, Nora jumps.
NORA
Pass me your book bag.
RENEE
I’m gonna keep mine on. I ain’t got shit in there anyway.
Renee climbs up after.
EXT. FRONT DOOR - NORA'S APARTMENT - DAY
Renee quickly BANGS on an apartment DOOR on the second floor and follows Nora DOWNSTAIRS, leaping over the last steps onto the ground floor.
Nora and Renee run down the hallway and hide.
EXT. FRONT DOOR - NORA'S APARTMENT - DAY
NORA'S MOM, 30's, wearing work clothes, makeup, and CURLERS in her hair, opens the door and peeks out.
NORA'S MOM
Hello?
EXT. FIRST FLOOR HALLWAY - NORA'S BUILDING - DAY
Nora and Renee are hiding behind the staircase wall.
RENEE
Fuck. She's still home.
Nora shushes Renee.
EXT. FRONT DOOR - NORA'S APARTMENT - DAY
NORA'S MOM
Nora?... Is that you?...
EXT. FIRST FLOOR HALLWAY - NORA'S BUILDING - DAY
Nora and Renee remain silent. Moments later, a door shuts. They wait for a moment, then head down the hall.
EXT. NEIGHBORING APARTMENT BUILDING - LATER - DAY
Renee scopes Nora's apartment door from the building across. Nora paces next to her.
NORA
She said my name!
RENEE
She doesn't know it's you.
NORA
Maybe I should just walk to school. I can make it there by 3rd period. I don’t want to be grounded... No phone for a month. I can’t do it!
RENEE
You're freaking out and shit. Chill!
NORA
My grandparents are gonna tell my mom to put me on punishment longer. They've been in charge ever since my parents got divorced.
RENEE
I wish my parents got divorced.
NORA
Why?
RENEE
(abruptly)
Yo. When the fuck is your mom going to work?!
(looks at her watch)
It's almost ten.
NORA
I don't know. Let's go chill somewhere else until she leaves.
EXT. PARKING LOT AREA IN NORA’S APARTMENT COMPLEX - DAY
Nora is sitting in the GRASS with Renee and fumbling with her WALKMAN.
NORA
Damn. My batteries died... My mixtape is the bomb too!
RENEE
For real?! What's on it?
NORA
Bro, I got like everything! SWV, Jodeci, Aaliyah, Tevin Campbell, Beenie Man, Nirvana...
(beat)
Side B is the Booty Dancing Mix.
RENEE
Haha. "B" for booty.
NORA
I got Uncle Al, Luke, that Tootsie Roll song, The Puppies...
RENEE
Yoooo! Hook me up with a copy.
NORA
I got you!
Neighbors passing by give glaring looks at Nora and Renee.
Nora taps Renee and points at the neighbors.
RENEE
Aight. Let's dip.
EXT. PLAYGROUND IN NORA'S APARTMENT COMPLEX - DAY
Nora and Renee are sliding down the playground SLIDES. They end up sitting on the swings.
NORA
You got lipstick and lip liner?
RENEE
I got you.
Renee looks in her book bag and passes the lip liner and lipstick. Nora puts on DARK BROWN LIP LINER, then applies BROWN LIPSTICK.
Renee lights up a CIGARETTE and takes a puff. She gestures towards Nora.
NORA
Nah, I don't smoke.
RENEE
What about weed?
NORA
I don't do drugs.
RENEE
Drugs?
(laughs out smoke)
It's just weed. You probably won the D.A.R.E medal and shit.
NORA
I did.
They both bust out laughing.
Beep. Beep. Beep. Renee pulls her BEEPER off her hip.
RENEE
This nigga is always sweatin' me.
NORA
I wish I had a beeper.
RENEE
Get a beeper then!
NORA
My mom won't let me. She says they're for drug dealers.
RENEE
What?!
NORA
My mom's Haitian. They be trippin'.
RENEE
My mom doesn't care.
NORA
You're lucky.
RENEE
Not really...
Renee's beeper goes off again and she checks it.
NORA
I dedicated "Can't You See" to Marco on 99 Jamz.
RENEE
Gutierrez?
NORA
Yeah, that nigga is so fine... I gave him a note telling him to listen to the radio that night.
RENEE
Oh, shit! What happened!?
NORA
Vanessa asked him the next day if he heard it and he was like, "No."
RENEE
Forget him. He's being whack as fuck.
Renee's beeper goes off again.
RENEE
Bro. He needs to chill.
NORA
I think he's going to the dance.
RENEE
Never make someone a priority when you're an option. Why you think niggas always be sweating me?
NORA
Never mind - you don't get it.
Renee puts her hands on her knees with her cigarette in her hand and twerks.
RENEE
Booty dance at the dance like a bad bitch and ignore him. Niggas LOVE to chase.
Nora forces a chuckle and swings in silence.
RENEE
Damn, you're all depressed and shit. You need some fun. Where's the pool?
Renee flicks her cigarette onto the sandy ground and steps on it.
EXT. POOL AREA/OTHER PLACES IN NORA'S APT COMPLEX DAY
MONTAGE - NORA AND RENEE HIDE IN DIFFERENT PLACES IN THE APARTMENT COMPLEX
-- Talking at the edge of the pool while Renee smokes.
-- Renee and Nora do the TOOTSIE ROLL dance.
-- Renee teaching Nora how to twerk, until SECURITY pulls up in a GOLF CART. Nora and Renee run.
-- Nora fans herself with a notebook and Renee flaps the bottom of her shirt. They are sweating.
END MONTAGE
INT. LIVING ROOM - NORA’S APARTMENT - DAY
Renee is sitting on the floor in front of the TELEVISION while eating tater tots.
RING. RING. RING. Renee and Nora look at the phone.
RENEE
Answer it! It’s probably Killian.
NORA
Why would Killian call?
RENEE
They send out an automated call thing to tell your mom you missed school. She has to press a number to show that she got the call.
NORA
Fine.
RENEE
Hurry up! They only call once. Then they send a letter!
Nora finally picks up the phone that is incessantly ringing.
NORA
(on phone)
Hello.
GRANDMA (V.O.)
Nora! Oh, oh. Why are you not at school?
NORA
(talking in an old Spanish lady voice)
Alo? Alo?
GRANDMA (V.O.)
Go to school! Nora. Why are you home?
NORA
Quien habla? Que?
GRANDMA (V.O.)
Haaaaaay. I fix you. Se sa!
NORA
(whispers to Renee)
It's my grandma!
RENEE
Why is she calling during school?
NORA
I don’t know!
RENEE
Give me the phone.
Renee approaches Nora and takes the phone.
RENEE (cont'd)
No se. ¿Que me estas diciendo? Tienes el numero equivocado.
GRANDMA (V.O.)
Nora. Nora. Huh! I’m coming for you. M'ap vini. Ou frekan wi! M'ap vini. Tann mwen. M'ap vini.
RENEE
(on phone)
Que?
Renee slams the phone.
NORA
What did she say?
RENEE
She kept speaking Haitian-
NORA
(corrective)
Kreyòl.
RENEE
My bad! KREYÒL. She kept talking about a mop.
NORA
M'ap vini?
RENEE
Yeah, that’s it!
NORA
Shit. That means, “I’m coming.” We have to leave right NOW!
Nora gets her book bag and frantically starts cleaning up the place.
RENEE
We just got here. Doesn’t she live like in B.F.E?
NORA
She’s gonna ask my Grandpa to drive her here.
RENEE
Bro, I’m so hungry. Just don’t answer the door.
NORA
She has the key!
Renee grabs some TATER TOTS and puts them in a PAPER TOWEL.
EXT. FRONT DOOR - NORA'S APARTMENT - DAY
Nora and Renee walk outside the front door. Nora sees an older Black couple (50's-60's) approaching. The woman is carrying a PURSE and a STRIPED MARKET BAG.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NORA’S APARTMENT - DAY
Nora sees them and immediately opens the door, grabs Renee's wrist, pulls her back in the apartment, and closes the door.
RENEE
Yo. What the fuck?!
NORA
It's them.
RENEE
Oh, shit.
The LOCKS can be seen and heard turning. The door opens, and NORA’S GRANDMA and GRANDPA walk inside.
GRANDMA
Nora, where are you? Nora! Nora!
Nora and Renee can be seen hiding on the balcony. The slightly open BLINDS barely disguise their presence. Grandma walks up to the TV, touches it, feels its warmth, and pauses. She then bends down and picks up a tater tot from the floor.
EXT. BALCONY - NORA'S APARTMENT - DAY
Nora and Renee are crouched in the corner of the balcony while whispering. Renee is eating tater tots.
NORA
As soon as they leave the living room we jump.
RENEE
Jump?
NORA
Off the balcony.
RENEE
Are you fucking crazy?!
NORA
I'm not getting caught. If my grandma finds us, I'm scarred until I'm 18.
RENEE
Chill. Let's just wait here.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NORA’S APARTMENT - DAY
Grandpa's back is turned towards the balcony. He turns his head slightly after hearing the NOISE from Nora standing against the railing. Nora quickly ducks.
GRANDPA
(yells out)
Honey, what are you doing back there?
INT. NORA’S BEDROOM - NORA'S APARTMENT - DAY
Grandma is on all fours, looking under Nora's BED.
GRANDMA
(yelling)
I'm checking under the bed.
EXT. BALCONY - NORA'S APARTMENT - DAY
The girls are hiding. Renee's beeper goes off, and she immediately presses a button on her beeper to turn it off.
RENEE
Shit!
INT. LIVING ROOM - NORA’S APARTMENT - DAY
Grandpa turns his head towards the balcony then takes a step towards the balcony. He hears Grandma yelling from Nora's room (the grandparents are speaking to each other in
Kreyol the entire time).
GRANDMA (V.O.)
(yelling from bedroom)
Robert!! Come, come, hurry!
GRANDPA
(yelling out)
What happened?!
GRANDMA (V.O.)
(yelling)
I can't get up! My back.
Grandpa sucks his teeth and leaves the living room to go attend to Grandma.
EXT. BALCONY - NORA'S APARTMENT - DAY
Renee is squatting and peering through the balcony sliding door and sees Nora's Grandpa leave. Renee signals to move.
INT. NORA’S BEDROOM - NORA'S APARTMENT - DAY
Grandpa is helping his wife get off the floor. Grandma stands up and brushes herself off.
GRANDMA
Did you hear something?
GRANDPA
No.
GRANDMA
Check the balcony.
Grandpa annoyingly walks out the room.
EXT. SOMEWHERE IN NORA’S APARTMENT COMPLEX - AFTERNOON
Nora and Renee are running, and eventually they stop.
NORA
This is stupid. I didn’t even want to skip school... I could’ve saw Marco.
RENEE
That nigga doesn’t even notice you.
NORA
He said “wuzzup” to me yesterday when I passed by him. Maybe he would’ve talked to me today.
RENEE
Whateva.
NORA
I was trying to help you, since you didn’t study for your stupid test and your grandma lives at your house.
RENEE
Mi abuela esta en Cuba.
NORA
Huh?
RENEE
My grandma lives in Cuba, and I didn't study for my stupid test, because - there was no test!
NORA
What?!
RENEE
I knew you wouldn’t do it. You’re always like, "No, I can’t. No, no, no, no, no." That’s why your name is Nora. You make a big fucking deal about everything. It’s not even that serious.
NORA
Not that serious?! My mom's gonna be pissed!
RENEE
At least your parents give a fuck!
NORA
I’m not gonna be able to go to the dance anymore. We spent the whole fucking day hiding. This was the stupidest shit ever.
RENEE
You’re just like my mom. Chasing some guy who doesn't give a shit about you and probably cheats on you. Watch you end up just like her - crying and yelling every fucking day.
Nora is silent while absorbing what Renee just revealed.
RENEE (cont'd)
Fuck Marco and that stupid dance.
(beat)
You're a bitch!
Nora is speechless, then quickly gathers herself.
NORA
Look who's talking!
Nora walks off in the opposite direction with her middle finger in the air. Renee walks off in the other direction holding back tears. Nora stops walking and reluctantly turns her head only to see that Renee is gone.
INT. LIVING ROOM - NORA’S APARTMENT - AFTERNOON (4:30PM ISH)
Nora opens the front door and finds her brother, SEBASTIAN, 6 years old, in the family room.
RING. RING. RING. Nora walks up to the PHONE.
NORA
(on phone)
Hello.
Nora listens to the phone, then presses a number on the phone and hangs up.
SEBASTIAN
Grandma called.
NORA
Shut up.
SEBASTIAN
She said you skipped school.
NORA
I didn’t skip school, stupid. I just got back from school.
SEBASTIAN
Grandma said you hung up on her, so she came over. She left dinner in the fridge that mom was supposed to pick up.
NORA
How can I talk to her if I was at school?
SEBASTIAN
Grandma said the TV was warm and she found a tater tot in front of the TV.
RING RING RING. Nora and her brother look at each other.
SEBASTIAN (cont'd)
(tauntingly)
It’s probably grandma.
NORA
Answer it. Tell her I’m in the bathroom.
Sebastian picks up the phone.
SEBASTIAN
(on phone)
Hello... Yes, grandma. She’s right here.
Sebastian hands Nora the phone with a victorious smile. Nora angrily snatches the phone from his hand.
NORA
(on phone)
Hello.
RENEE
(on phone)
Hey.
NORA
(on phone)
Hold on.
SEBASTIAN
Grandma says you're becoming a vakabon.
INT. HALLWAY - NORA'S APARTMENT - EARLY EVENING
Nora takes the phone into her room while dragging a RIDICULOUSLY LONG PHONE CORD throughout the apartment then talks on the phone with Renee.
INT. NORA’S BEDROOM - NORA'S APARTMENT - EARLY EVENING
NORA sits on her BED. There are POSTERS on her wall of TUPAC, AALIYAH, TLC, and JONATHAN BRANDIS.
NORA
(on phone)
Hey.
INT. RENEE'S BEDROOM - RENEE'S HOUSE - EARLY EVENING
Renee's parents can be heard arguing in the background. She tries to muffle out the sound with her hand while she talks.
RENEE
(on phone)
You straight?
INT. NORA’S BEDROOM - NORA'S APARTMENT - EARLY EVENING
NORA
(on phone)
The school called and I picked up.
RENEE
(on phone)
Good... What happened with your Grandma?
NORA
(on phone)
She told my brother she saw food and that the TV was warm.
RENEE
(on phone)
That's some X-Files shit.
Nora sighs with a deep breath... The argument in the background escalates with the sound of GLASS BREAKING.
NORA
(on phone)
You should come over - like now.
We're gonna eat dinner.
RENEE
(on phone)
Aight. Cool. Imma dip.
INT. NORA’S KITCHEN - NORA'S APARTMENT - EVENING
Nora opens the refrigerator and pulls out the Tupperware filled with HAITIAN FOOD.
INT. NORA’S DINING ROOM - NORA'S APARTMENT - EVENING
Sebastian sets the table with SILVERWARE and PAPER NAPKINS.
INT. FRONT DOOR - NORA'S APARTMENT - EVENING
Sebastian opens the door and Renee walks in.
SEBASTIAN
Hi. I'm Sebastian.
Sebastian extends his hand and Renee shakes his hand.
RENEE
Aw, he's so cute... Hi. I'm Renee.
INT. NORA’S DINING ROOM - NORA'S APARTMENT - EVENING
Sebastian looks at Nora and smirks. Nora rolls her eyes. They all sit at the table that has Tupperware filled with Haitian food. The GRIOT is in a COUNTRY CROCK BEIGE PLASTIC CONTAINER. Nora is fixing Renee a plate.
NORA
This is griot. It's like fried pork. And this is diri blan and saus pwa.
Renee starts eating while Nora fixes a plate for Sebastian.
RENEE
Thank you, girl. This is so good.
Renee stops eating upon seeing Nora prepare Sebastian's plate, and smiles, soaking in the familial love surrounding her. Nora looks at Renee and smiles back.
Nora takes a seat and the three of them eat, converse, and laugh.
FADE TO BLACK
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