Shayla Pops up on Anthony and Amber at the House 😱

Scene: “Shayla Pops Up at the House 😱”

Setting:
A quiet suburban evening. The sun’s almost down. The living room lights are warm. Anthony and Amber are on the couch laughing, halfway through a movie, a bowl of popcorn between them.

Suddenly, there’s a knock at the door — loud, deliberate.

AMBER: (pauses the movie) You expecting somebody?

ANTHONY: (frowns) Nah… not tonight. Probably Amazon or somethin’.

AMBER: At 8:30? (smirks) Unless Jeff Bezos got special delivery hours.

ANTHONY: (laughs, stands up) I’ll check.

(Anthony walks to the door, peeks through the peephole — and freezes.)

ANTHONY: (under his breath) …Oh, hell no.

AMBER: What? Who is it?

ANTHONY: (whispering) Shayla.

AMBER: (wide-eyed) Shayla?! Shayla Shayla? Your Shayla?!

ANTHONY: (nervously) Yeah, my Shayla Shayla.

AMBER: (sits up straight) What the— why is she here?

ANTHONY: (whispers fast) I don’t know, but— (doorbell rings again, harder this time) —oh my God.

AMBER: (grabs throw blanket) Don’t just stand there! Go answer it before she breaks the door down!

(Anthony opens the door slightly. Shayla stands there, looking furious but trying to keep it together. She’s got her phone in hand and a jacket half-on, like she left the house in a hurry.)

SHAYLA: So… this where you been, huh?

ANTHONY: (calmly) Shayla, what are you—

SHAYLA: Don’t Shayla me, Anthony. You said you was “busy tonight.” Didn’t sound like you were too busy for her. (glares at Amber)

AMBER: (stands up, crossing her arms) First of all, you can calm that tone down—

SHAYLA: (cuts her off) Oh, I’m calm. Trust me, this is me calm.

ANTHONY: (stepping between them) Look, y’all— let’s just take a breath. Shayla, you didn’t have to pop up like this—

SHAYLA: Pop up? (laughs bitterly) So what, I’m just supposed to sit at home wondering why your location stopped sharing two hours ago?

AMBER: (muttering) Oh, wow… we got location tracking now.

SHAYLA: (snaps) You stay out of this.

AMBER: (takes a step forward) You popped up at my house— I’m already in it.

ANTHONY: (holds up hands) Okay, okay, can we all just— please— not do this right now?

SHAYLA: (sarcastic) Oh, we doing it. You think you can ghost me, lie about “needing space,” and then chill up in here watching Netflix with her?

AMBER: (scoffs) Girl, don’t act like y’all still together. He told me y’all were done—

SHAYLA: (turns to Anthony) Oh, that’s what you told her? That we “done”?

ANTHONY: (sighs) Shayla, we are done. We’ve been done.

SHAYLA: (voice cracks slightly) Funny, I didn’t get that memo.

(Silence for a second. Amber shifts uncomfortably.)

AMBER: (softer) Look, nobody’s tryna hurt you. But showing up like this ain’t it.

SHAYLA: (bitter laugh) Hurt me? Girl, please. I just needed to see it with my own eyes. (looks at Anthony) You really moved on that fast, huh?

ANTHONY: It’s not about fast. It’s about finally.

(Shayla looks down, blinking rapidly, trying to keep from crying.)

SHAYLA: (quietly) You know what? I ain’t even mad. Just disappointed I didn’t see this sooner.

AMBER: (crosses arms again, but less defensive) Look… maybe it’s better if you just head out.

SHAYLA: (nods slowly) Yeah. Yeah, I’m goin’. Don’t worry, y’all can get back to your little movie night.

(She starts to walk away, then stops at the doorframe.)

SHAYLA: (turns back) Just remember, Anthony — how you get ‘em, is how you lose ‘em.

(Door slams. Silence.)

AMBER: (lets out a long breath) …Well. That was dramatic.

ANTHONY: (sinks into couch) I told you she was intense.

AMBER: Intense? That girl almost brought a whole soap opera to my front door.

ANTHONY: (chuckles tiredly) Guess we’re the season finale.

AMBER: (smirks) Nah — we’re the spinoff.

(They both laugh weakly, then sit back, the tension slowly fading. The movie still paused on the TV, popcorn untouched.)

JANELLE: You really out here doing my cousin like that?

ANTHONY: (calm) Janelle, it’s not what you think.

JANELLE: Oh, it’s exactly what I think. She’s at home crying, and you’re in here chillin’ like you ain’t just break her heart.

AMBER: (steps in front of him) Excuse me — this is our house, not a group therapy session.

JANELLE: (eyes Amber up and down) So you the Amber. Wow. Didn’t think you’d be bold enough to let him post you already.

AMBER: (smirks) I didn’t need to post anything. He did that on his own.

JANELLE: (snaps) Girl, don’t get slick.

ANTHONY: (raises voice slightly) Alright, that’s enough. Janelle, tell Shayla I wish her the best, but this— (gestures around) —is over. She needs to move on.

JANELLE: (glares) You’ll regret this, Anthony. For real.

AMBER: (dry) Add that to the list of things he’s already heard tonight.

(Janelle sucks her teeth, shakes her head, and storms off. Anthony locks the door immediately.)

AMBER: (turns to him, exhaling) Baby… you got a whole universe of drama.

ANTHONY: (leans on the door) I didn’t even do anything!

AMBER: (smiles, half joking) You sure know how to pick ‘em though.

ANTHONY: (laughs tiredly) Yeah, I’m starting to see that.

(They both flop down on the couch again. The phone lights up once more — this time, it’s a new tag notification: “Shayla mentioned you in her story.”)

AMBER: (grabs popcorn) Welp. Guess we watching her movie now.

(Anthony groans as Amber scrolls through Shayla’s story on speaker. Shayla’s voice plays — emotional, shaky, but clearly directed at him.)

SHAYLA (on story): “I just want the world to know… I gave that man everything. And he replaced me like I was nothing. But God gon’ handle it. Watch.”

(Amber pauses the phone, looks at Anthony.)

AMBER: …So, what’s the plan now?

ANTHONY: (sighs) Honestly? Delete social media and pray.

(Amber nods, leaning against him.)

AMBER: Smart move. But just so you know… if she shows up again, I’m not pausing the movie next time.

(They both laugh weakly, the TV flickers back on, but the tension lingers in the air.)