Shayla Snaps: Take Our Son to Amber and You’re Choosing War — I’m Not Playing Around 😡
[Scene opens in Shayla’s living room. She’s on the couch folding Kai’s clothes when Anthony walks in holding his car keys.]
Anthony: Hey, Sha. You good?
Shayla: I was… until I saw that look on your face. What’s up?
Anthony: I was thinking… I might take Kai shopping today. Maybe grab him a few things. You know—dad and son time.
Shayla: That sounds fine. He needs some new shoes anyway.
Anthony: Yeah. And, uh… after that, I was thinking we could swing by the house for a bit.
Shayla: [Pauses mid-fold, looks up] What house?
Anthony: Mine.
Shayla: [Puts the shirt down slowly] You mean the one you share with Amber?
Anthony: Yeah, but it’s not like that. I just thought—
Shayla: Oh, it’s exactly like that. And let me save you some time, Anthony. Kai ain’t going over there. Period.
Anthony: Shayla, come on. You can’t still be holding onto that.
Shayla: Holding onto what? The fact that Amber called me out my name? The fact she tried to tell you Kai wasn’t your son? The fact she been smiling in my face one minute and plotting the next? Yeah. Maybe I am.
Anthony: Shayla, we’re trying to move past all that.
Shayla: We? Boy, you and Amber might be moving past it, but me? I’m protecting my child. That’s my job.
Anthony: You acting like Amber’s some kind of monster.
Shayla: No, I’m acting like a mother. A mother who knows when to keep her baby away from messy energy.
Anthony: You think I’d ever let anything happen to Kai?
Shayla: It’s not about what you’d let happen, Anthony. It’s about what can happen when you keep putting him around confusion. You think that little boy don’t feel the tension?
Anthony: Shayla, you making it sound way deeper than it is.
Shayla: Because it is that deep. Don’t test me on this. If you take my baby to that house, you’re choosing a side.
Anthony: Choosing a side?
Shayla: Yeah. You’ll be choosing war.
Anthony: [Steps back] War? Shayla, really?
Shayla: I’m not playing around, Anthony. I’ve been calm. I’ve been quiet. But if Kai walks into Amber’s house, you’ll have to deal with me.
Anthony: [Raises hands] I’m just trying to be a father.
Shayla: Then do that — without dragging him into your drama. Take him to the park, the mall, the zoo, I don’t care. But not there.
Anthony: Shayla, you really still don’t trust her?
Shayla: I don’t trust you around her. Because every time she smiles, you forget who you’re dealing with.
Anthony: That’s not fair.
Shayla: Neither was her trying to erase my child’s name from your mouth.
[A tense silence fills the room. Anthony exhales, nodding.]
Anthony: All right, Shayla. I hear you.
Shayla: Good. Because next time, I won’t be talking.
[Anthony grabs his keys, opens the door, hesitates, then leaves quietly. Shayla exhales, muttering to herself.]
Shayla: I’m not losing sleep over Amber or her games. But my baby? That’s where I draw the line.