Sharyon A. Culberson has a background in creating content dedicated to social justice, as well as facilitating and moderating conversations that promote a more egalitarian society. She has developed and presented programming on DEI, anti-bias, micro-aggressions, and reducing sexual violence to universities, corporations, all five branches of the U.S. armed forces, and the U.S. House of Representatives. As an actor, Sharyon has has appeared on stages across the country, most recently appearing as ‘Britney’ on “The Chi”. She has also co-starred in “Chicago PD,” “Chicago Fire,” “The Big Leap” and “Proven Innocent." She has been in several Independent films over the last few years - one of which won the “Best Sci-Fi” award for the HollyShorts Film Festival. Sharyon is currently featured in several commercial spots and an upcoming episode of “Mayor of Kingstown” on Paramount Plus. She has also been published as a contributor in a number of anthologies centering Afro-Futurism, including “Black Imaginations: Black Voices on Black Futures” published by McSweeneys, and “Into a Black Beyond: Authoring our Futures” published by Contextos. Sharyon’s main area of expertise and interest is creating and performing content that introduces perspectives of overlooked and marginalized societies, with the goal of increasing empathy. Her first feature film project, ”Black Joy Always Wins” and her first short film screenplay “Daughters” (now in post-production) have placed as semi and quarter-finalists in a number of screenplay competitions. Her piece “Space is the Place” is an homage to her years as a military contractor, with all of the complications and opportunities that the military affords many US citizens.
SPACE IS THE PLACE
INT. SHARY'S APARTMENT, DAY
SISSY (Early 50s, earthy), pours bourbon liberally from an
elaborate decanter. She takes a long swig from the glass.
SISSY
If you're wrong...
SHARY (late 40s, Sissy's sister, decorated military
officer), joins her at the table with the bourbon.
SHARY
- I'm not. And it's way more
complex than right or wrong. It's
about what you want. For right now,
and for all of our futures.
Sissy rolls her eyes and flops on the couch, slightly
spilling her drink.
SISSY
Such a cornball. Ugh - and stop
interrupting me all the time.
Shary cracks a smile.
SHARY
My bad. Please continue, Sara.
Sissy makes a face.
SISSY
Really? I haven't heard that name
since granddaddy died - who I see
left you his bourbon decanter, by
the way. Everybody knew I had my eye
on that.
Shary carefully pours herself a drink, and stands over
Sissy.
SHARY
It's a biblical name, Sissy...and
you know I got the decanter because
I followed in his footsteps with
joining the Air Force. Plus, he said
you didn't need any more help
escaping reality.
SISSY
He didn't say that shit - asshole!
And I don't see how you can bring up
reality and the bible in the same
breath anyway.
SHARY
You're so damned disrespectful.
Granddaddy's probably turning in his
grave -
SISSY
-shit, if he's turning in his grave,
it's more likely because you drank
the last of his good bourbon.
Shary notices the empty decanter on the table and winces.
SHARY
Oh, dang! I meant to grab another
bottle yesterday.
SISSY
Not like you to forget to get a
bottle of anything.
SHARY
Is everything a joke to you? Let's
focus on the future, shall we?
Sissy sits a spell stirring the ice in her glass, thinking.
SISSY
The future, eh'? Wouldn't we be
selling our future if we do this?
SHARY
C'mon - don't start with that
foolishness again. This is progress!
How do you think Big Daddy felt when
he first got to Chicago?
SISSY
You still call him that? Gross...
SHARY
What? He hated "great-grandpa", so -
SISSY
His name was Sammy - I'ma call him
Sammy dammit. And you know he didn't
even look white people in the eye
until 1998. You wanna follow his
lead?
SHARY
'Cause they were dangerous! That
kept him and us alive! Look - the
point is, there is no progress
without a good amount of risk
involved - and everyone in our
family, including you, knows that
well.
Sissy drains her glass, and sighs loudly.
SISSY
Fine, whatever...tell me the details
again?
SHARY
The long and the short is this. If
all of our known current relatives
relocate to the Alpha-12 space
station, we'll be eligible for the
newly minted 'future family'
program. And since we'll be the
first ones there,they'll financially
provide for any and all debts and
living costs with a stipend that
increases with inflation for the
next eleven generations.
Sissy whistles.
SISSY
Inflation in space? Of course. Shit,
that does sound good though - what
about education?
SHARY
They can either attend the schools
established by the military on the
space station, or attend via zoom to
any schools on Earth - and it's also
covered for up to three PhD's per
person.
SISSY
Cotdam!
SHARY
I knew your nerdy butt would like
that part.
Sissy chuckles to herself for a bit, then stops abruptly,
suddenly solemn.
SISSY
You know your nieces would love this
program.
SHARY
I do. Have you talked to them?
SISSY
No. They haven't returned any of my
calls or emails. Last I heard,
they're refusing all communication
with me unless I donate to that
damned cult - eh, church they belong
to.
Shary touches Sissy's shoulder, consoling her.
SHARY
At least you know they're safe.
SISSY
...if you call that safe.
SHARY
You know bringing them to the
program could help you all
reconcile.
Sissy jumps to her feet, angry.
SISSY
Selling my children to the
government is not what I consider to
be a way to make amends!
SHARY
Don't get dramatic, I'm just
saying -
SISSY
Being the sister of possibly the
largest slave trader since the
sixteen hundreds feels like pure
drama to me.
SHARY
Jesus, here we go...
SISSY
I just want to know why you? Why us?
How did we get this 'opportunity' to
relocate our entire family to space?
Shary hesitates uncomfortably for a moment, then answers.
SHARY
Look, you know I'm up for Lieutenant
General. The President herself said
the optics of being the 'first Black
space family' on Alpha-twelve would
be wonderful for the country -
SISSY
- heh. Optics. Here we go again.
SHARY
I know you don't care about your
appearance, but some of us -
Sissy walks to the door.
SISSY
Fuck this! If you're gonna insult
me, you can stick that deal right up
your optics.
Shary yells after her.
SHARY
Ok, you just sleep on it. Let's talk
again tomorrow? I'll have a fresh
bottle for you!
INT. SHARY'S APARTMENT, THE NEXT DAY
Shary uncorks a new bottle, sniffs the cork, and passes it
to Sissy.
SISSY
So you were right...
SHARY
Of course I was! ...About what?
SISSY
About your nieces. As soon as I
mentioned the money, they damn near
started packing.
Shary takes a seat, smiling smugly.
SHARY
Because they understand how to
invest in their future!
Sissy stares into her empty glass a moment, her brow
furrowed.
SISSY
Future...what did John and Michael
say?
SHARY
Fill your glass?
Shary fills Sissy's glass all the way to the top. Sissy
chuckles.
SISSY
You tryna get me drunk? You know
that doesn't end well.
Shary shrugs, and takes a swig directly from the bottle.
SHARY
Ha! Don't I know it. Have you heard
from the doctor yet?
SISSY
Yes. And don't think I didn't notice
you changing the subject.
SHARY
Now who's changing the subject?
Sissy takes a large gulp from her glass, then sighs with
resign.
SISSY
Yes, I've heard. It's inoperable.
SHARY
Fuck!
SISSY
This must be that good shit if it's
got you cussing.
Shary takes her glass to the window, and stares out of it,
her eyes filling with tears.
SHARY
It's just...there's so much to do
still. To be! This isn't fair.
Sissy approaches her Shary and embraces her. They stay like
that for a while, until..
SISSY
That's why I'm so concerned with
this deal. It's very possible I
won't be around to stand up for this
next generation of ours very long.
Shary breaks away from the embrace roughly and sits back on
the couch.
SHARY
Michael and John are fine with the
deal.
SISSY
But...
SHARY
...but they said they'd prefer to
have limited to no contact with me
even on the space station. They
claim to not want my grandchildren
to get attached to me and 'be
inconsistent in their lives like I'm
known to be'.
Sissy joins her on the couch.
SISSY
Ouch.
Shary stands suddenly, enraged.
SHARY
So why can't you just get with the
program?! It seems you have nothing
to lose at this point!
Sissy stares for a while at her sister.
SISSY
Nothing to lose but my values, my
lineage, and my soul.
SHARY
What about me!? What about
everything I've worked for? Do you
not care about helping your family?
Are you that damned selfish?!
SISSY
I thought we established what
happens when you call me names.
Shary catches herself, and calms down.
SHARY
You're right, I'm sorry. Just finish
your drink. You can stay here
tonight if you want - I don't want
you driving home in this state.
Sissy speaks slowly, filled with rage and years of
resentment.
SISSY
Don't do it. Whatever you want to
pull, don't pull that, 'You're just
thinking of my well-being' bullshit
again.
SHARY
But I am! I just don't want you
driving in a state -
SISSY
Like you do? Like GrandDaddy was
three months ago when he ran into
that tree!? Like you were when you
got caught with your sons in the
car, lost custody, and went to the
military to avoid jail time? Get off
your fucking moral high horse before
you give us all goddamned nose
bleeds.
Shary calmly places her glass down, and walks over to her
sister, leaving barely an inch between their noses.
SHARY
You fucking ungrateful bitch. Our
entire family has done nothing but
save you and make excuses for your
hippy-dippy attitude, and all you do
is disgrace us and disrespect your
name. You don't deserve half of what
you've been given, and I -
Sissy lunges at Shary, and they start wrestling on the
floor. After about a minute of a tussle, Sissy
'accidentally' bangs her head on the coffee table leg and
knocks herself out.
INT. SHARY'S APARTMENT, DAY
Sissy comes to on the couch with an ice pack on her head.
Shary notices she's conscious again, and brings her a glass
of water.
SISSY
I guess shit got a little out of
hand yesterday.
SHARY
You could say that.
SISSY
I suppose I owe you an apology.
Can't believe two middle-aged women
came down to fisticuffs.
Sissy chuckles. Shary remains stoic.
SHARY
No apologies necessary.
Sissy starts gathering her things.
SISSY
I am gonna go ahead and head out
though. We may need to take a little
space for a while.
SHARY
You can have all you need.
Sissy gives her sister a funny look, then finishes
gathering her things. She opens the door to the apartment
and steps into the hallway...to see that the complex
hallway fades into a moving walkway on Alpha twelve!
Sissy turns around to re-enter the apartment, but the door
has slid shut on her one-person pod, carrying her to
another level.
Sissy begins to scream and bang on the inside of the pod,
but her scream fades into the distance as we hear:
ROBOT VOICE
Welcome to Alpha Twelve, the
premiere space station for
civilians. We hope you enjoy your
stay.
As the camera zooms out of the walkway, and out of the
space station to show that it's miles away from earth.
FADE TO BLACK
###
Torch Literary Arts is a 501(c)3 nonprofit established to publish and promote creative writing by Black women. We publish contemporary writing by experienced and emerging writers alike. Programs include the Wildfire Reading Series, writing workshops, and retreats.
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