When stars align

Meeting the lions

LUXURY APARTMENT – NIGHT

Emmanuel , excited but nervous, is pacing in his room, phone to his ear. He’s in a dress shirt, halfway through packing a small overnight bag.

Emmanuel spoke into phone. “Bro, listen — I’m not telling them anything. I’m just showing up with her. That’s the surprise. I want them to see her before they can form any opinions. She’s the one, man. I’m done with the politics.”

OTHER END – ETHAN’S ROOM

Ethan, late 20s, calm and amused.lounges on his bed, phone to his ear. He chuckles. “You’re brave. Or stupid. Hard to tell sometimes.”

Emmanuel was smiling.”Probably both.”

Just outside Ethan’s door, Emily,early 20s, curious and nosy, his younger sister, pauses — she’s just passed by but stops when she hears the word “her.”

She steps closer, quietly listening.

Emmanuel spoke through the phone. “I just want to walk in with her and see their faces. No announcement, no explanation. Just *here she is*.”

Ethan laughs at his talk. “You know your mom’s going to implode, right?.”

Emmanuel shrugged. “Maybe. But after tonight, it’s out in the open.”

Emily’s eyes widen.

---

BERNARD FAMILY HOME – LATER THAT NIGHT**

Claudia was reading on the sofa when Emily bursts in, breathless, dramatic. “Claudia, You’re not going to believe what I just heard.”

Claudia looked up, unbothered. “Hello to you too.”

Emily sat beside her. “Emmanuel’s bringing some *girl* to his house tonight. Like, now. No one knows. He didn’t even tell his parents. I heard it myself — on the phone with Ethan .”

Claudia blinks, slowly setting her book down. No outburst. No gasp. “Oh?”

Emily studies her. “Aren’t you... upset? This is a direct slap in the face.”

Claudia stands, walks over to the side table, and calmly picks up her phone.

Emily was confused. “What are you doing?.”

Claudia was tapping her phone screen. “Calling my father.”

Emily was still confused. “You’re going to stop it?.”

Claudia gave a devilish smile. “No. I’m going to give him the courtesy Emmanuel didn’t.”

BERNARD FAMILY LIVING ROOM – MINUTES LATER

Claudia’s FATHER was stern and authoritative. He stands across from her.

Claudia clutched her purse. “I’m going to their house.”

Her father was puzzled. “Tonight?”

Claudia nodded. “Before he gets there. If they’re going to be surprised, let them be surprised twice.”

Her father was surprised by her behavior.

Claudia was determined. “Let them hear it from me. Let them see me walk in — unannounced, just like her.”

She’s already putting on her coat.

DENNIS FAMILY HOME – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT

The household is in calm evening mode. The table is being set. Candles lit. Glasses clink. There’s laughter from the kitchen. Then:

**DOORBELL RINGS.**

A maid answers. Claudia walks in — poised, quiet, like she belongs.

Mrs Dennis, appears in the hallway, confused — but not displeased. “Aya?”

Claudia smiled sweetly. “I thought I’d drop by. I heard you might be expecting someone tonight. I wanted to see what kind of welcome I missed.”

She smiles sweetly.

A quiet, cozy spot tucked away from the city noise. The sun filters through large windows. Emmanuel and Brianna sit across from each other. Half-finished coffees between them.

Emmanuel drums his fingers on the table — a habit. Anna watches him with a small smile. “You’ve been tapping that table like it owes you money.”

Emmanuel nods, smiling. “Yeah. Because I’m thinking.”

Anna tilted her head slightly. “That’s always dangerous.” She joked.

He smirks, then leans in slightly, tone softer. “I want you to meet them.”

A pause. “Your parents?” Anna guessed.

Emmanuel nods positively. “Yeah.”

She leans back, processing it. Not shocked — but she knows what this means. He watches her closely. “Are you sure?” She asked.

He nods at her. “I wouldn’t bring you in unless I was.”

Brianna got nervous. “You’ve talked about them like they’re... a gauntlet.”

Emmanuel chuckled. “That’s not far off.”

Brianna also chuckled. “So this is a test?. Great.”

Emmanuel purses his lip. “No. Not for you. For them. I already know what I want.”

Brianna reaches across the table and squeezes his hand. “Okay. Then I’m in.”

Emmanuel took in a relief breath. “Yeah?”

Anna nods positively..”Yeah. When?”

Emmanuel paused. “Soon. I was thinking this weekend.”

**JULIA**

Do they even know I exist?

Emmanuel pauses. “They know I’m seeing someone. Just not who. Or how serious.”

Brianna smirks at him. “So I’m a classified document.”

He nods at her. “You’re the kind they aren’t ready to read, but they need to.”

They sit in silence for a moment — everything unspoken sitting between them like a held breath. “ What should I wear?” She asked him.

Emmanuel replied. “Something you feel like *you* in.”

Brianna teased. “ So, combat boots and sarcasm?”

Emmanuel nodded positively. “ yeah.Perfect.” They both laugh.

QUIET STREET – EARLY EVENING

A sleek black car turns onto a well-kept residential street lined with elegant homes. It slows as it nears a large house with warm lights glowing from inside.

CAR – MOVING

Brianna sits in the passenger seat, hands fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. Her eyes are on the road ahead. Her breath shallow.

Emmanuel glances over at her, one hand on the wheel, the other resting between them. “You’re quiet.”

Brianna laughed lightly. “If I talk, I might throw up.”

Emmanuel chuckled. “Please don’t. My mom just got new carpets.”

She exhales a nervous laugh, then sighs and looks at him. “ Do I look okay? Be honest. If I look like I’m trying too hard, tell me now before I walk in like a fraudster.”

Emmanuel was turning to her at a red light. ”You look like someone I’m proud to walk in with. That’s all that matters to me.”

She looks down, trying to smile, but the nerves are still there. “What if they don’t like me?”

Emmanuel glances at the road then back at her. ”Then they’ll have to deal with the fact that I do. And that’s not going to change.”

A beat. “They wanted someone else for you, didn’t they?.” She queried.

Emmanuel paused, then replied. “They wanted safe. Expected. Predictable. But none of those things ever challenged me to be more than I already was. And I don’t even know when, where and how they got to know Claudia and how they knew we were classmates but don’t know we never talked.” He stated

He reaches over, takes her hand.

She squeezes his hand tightly. Her breath slows. She nods. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

Emmanuel laughed at her. “We’re not walking into a war. Just a dining room.”

She smiled. “You’ve never met your mother, have you?”

They arrive at the mansion and the security men gives them entrance. They both laugh. He pulls into the driveway. “Ready?” He asked her.

Brianna took a deep breath and answered. “Nope.”

Emmanuel gave her a thumbs up. “Perfect”. Then he winked at her.

They share a last glance, a shared courage — then the engine goes quiet.