Curtis.
There you are, Effie, I've been lookin' ALL over.
Effie.
I turn my back and find myself out on the line. You could've warned me but that would've been TOO kind.
Curtis.
I've been warning you for MONTHS to clean up your act. you've been late, you've been mean, you've been all kind of bullshit flat.
Effie.
That's a lie, that's a LIE. It's just I haven't been feeling that well.
Curtis.
Effie, please, stop excusing yourself. You've been late, You've been mean, and getting fatter all the time.
Effie.
Now you're lyin', you're lyin'. I've never been so thin, you're lyin', you're lyin' cause you're knockin' off that piece who thinks she's better than anybody, she ain't better than anybody. She ain't nothin' but COMMON.
Deena.
Now who you're calling common, you're self indulgent, self-absorbed and unprofessional.
Effie.
YOU! I'm calling you, I'm calling you the common piece he's knockin' off.
Deena.
Now you listen to me Ms. Blame-it-on-the-world, see I put up with you for much too long. I have put up with your bitchin', I put up with your naggin', and ALL your screamin' too!
Lorrell.
OOOH, now when are you two going to stop all this fighting!?
Effie.
Stay out of this Lorrell, this is between Deena & me.
Lorrell.
YEAH! Well it's between me too, I'm as much a part of this group as anybody else. And I'm TIRED, Effie, I'm TIRED of all the problems you're makin' up.
Effie.
I ALWAYS knew you two worked together!
Lorrell.
WHAT!
Effie.
I always knew you two were ganging up on me!
Deena.
She had nothing to do with this change, it was you. It was YOU always thinking of you. Always thinking of you.
Curtis.
I knew you were trouble from the start
Effie.
TROUBLE?!
Curtis.
You were real bad trouble from the start
Effie.
CURTIS, I'm your woman!
Curtis.
But you're gettin out now, I'm not building this group to have you tear it apart, go ahead & rant and scream and shout. Don't worry baby, I'll buy you out.
Effie.
There's no money dirty enough to buy me out, you remember that, Curtis.
CV.
Lay off, Effie, just take the money & run.
Effie.
You in this with them CC ?!
CC.
Cool it, Effie, this time you know what you've done.
Effie.
So they got your black ass too, huh?
CC.
I said, cool it, Effie. This time you've gone too far.
Effie.
Boy, I can go further. I can GO further!
New Girl
I don't wanna stay around this, I'm just breakin' in to this business. This is between all of you. This is none of my affair.
Effie.
Yeah, well it's between you too now lil' sista. This new job is as much your sin. Look at me, look at me. How much did YOU put out to get in?
New Girl.
Now you watch your mouth, watch your mouth Ms. Effie White cause I don't take that tone from no second-rate diva, who can't sustain.
Effie.
I'm not feelin' well, I've got pain.
ALL.
Effie, we've all got pain.
Effie.
For seven years I sung with you, I was your sister.