Institute History
Description
Monica Wright, black, 27, is as beautiful as she is panicked. In fifteen minutes she will marry a guy she doesn’t love. Monica forgets about her white wedding gown, and drops down onto the carpeted floor. She closes her eyes and reminisces about her one and only love…
The year is 1977. Eight year old Quincy McCall is playing hoops when eight year old Monica moves in next door. There is an immediate attraction between them, and an unmistakable competitiveness. After hearing Monica plays ball, Quincy asks her to be his girlfriend. But minutes after sealing it with a kiss, Monica tells him that his Dad, who plays pro ball, “prob’ly sticks his thing in anything.” Seconds later, their relationship is over and they are on the ground scrapping…
The year is now 1982. Monica and Quincy are thirteen and dead in their “ugly years.” Their hatred has matured into a full out war, but after Monica’s self-esteem is shot by the boy she likes, and Quincy is humiliated on the court by his Dad after accusing him of infidelity, a friendship between the broken two is re-born.
The year is now 1987. Monica and Quincy are best friends, and headed to UCLA on basketball scholarships. Their parents’ relationships have both faltered – Quincy’s are fighting all the time, Monica’s are sleeping in separate beds. Their own friendship is put to the test when Monica tells Quincy of her plans to lose her virginity to her man on prom night; Quincy responds by asking a girl Monica hates, who is sure to give it up. Realizing their anger stems from their feelings for each other, they spurn their dates at the end of the night, find each other, and make love.
Their new relationship suffers their first year at UCLA when Quincy hits a shooting slump and Monica rises to basketball stardom. Coupled with all the women jocking Quincy, they find themselves following the example of her Mom – keeping all anger inside, and his Dad – believing his own hype. Finally, after a heated fight with his Dad, in which Quincy is told his Mom trapped him, Quincy cheats on Monica. She catches him and it’s over.
The year is now 1991. Quincy and Monica are twenty-two. They have not spoken, despite his many attempts over the last years to apologize. Following graduation, Monica wavers between playing ball overseas or playing it safe and attending law school with her new boyfriend, Troy. Quincy’s life decision seems much easier as a guaranteed first round NBA draft pick, until he suffers a career-ending knee injury at a Lakers draft camp. The news brings Monica to the hospital and after they talk out the mess of the past, they renew a fragile friendship. But the injury has given Quincy a new perspective on life and he realizes Monica is the one. He pours out his heart in a letter, and sends it to her. Monica reads the letter with tears in her eyes. She wants so much to give in to her feelings, but her fear of being hurt again is too strong. She decides to stay with Troy and attend law school and never responds.
The year is now 1996. Monica is a corporate lawyer, living with Troy who has become a sports agent. Troy asks Monica to marry him, and she accepts. During a celebration with friends she is told, to her shock, that Quincy is playing in the CBA. Monica flies up to watch him play, then surprises him in the locker room. They are happy to see each other, and we see feelings that are still there. She tells him about her upcoming marriage and he tells her he is happy for her. They say their final good-bye.
Back to the present. Monica is about to marry Troy, even though it doesn’t feel right. Her Mom comes in to give her “the talk” and to her shock, gives her the best advice she’s ever given – “run.” Monica takes off out the back door and sees somebody running up the church steps. It’s Quincy. They declare their love for one another, after arguing over who should have stopped the wedding first, and kiss.
Two years later, their one year old daughter sits in a courtside seat at the Forum, next to her Daddy. Mommy is on the floor, in a L.A. Sparks uniform, playing in the WMBA. She glances over at Quincy and her daughter and realizes.. she has everything.