SYNOPSIS

The Night Before is a highly comedic and thought-provoking character study that explores what happens when a very diverse group of thirty-something African-American men come together and bare their souls.

AARON DAVIS is young, professional, single, and the quintessential “Bachelor.” Jumping from woman to woman like a modern day Casanova, Aaron believes in indulging in the physical and avoiding the emotional. His mantra is to “never let a woman get too close.” In actuality, Aaron’s promiscuous lifestyle serves as a buffer for his own deep-rooted fear of commitment. The only problem is, Aaron doesn’t see this as a problem.

But tonight, it’s not about Aaron.

SHAWN, Aaron’s childhood buddy and former “woman chasing partner,” is marrying, DEBRA, his longtime girlfriend and mother of his young son. Unfortunately, Shawn is having issues of his own. With Aaron in his ear, Shawn is beginning to wonder if this “marriage thing” will be a mistake. On top of that, Shawn has convinced himself that after remaining faithful to Debra throughout their entire relationship, he deserves a chance to do a little “creeping.” Well tonight, he just might get his opportunity.

Tonight is the night for the most important ritual/celebration of all… Shawn’s BACHELOR PARTY.

Attending the bachelor party will be the wildly diverse group of Shawn’s Groomsmen:

STANLEY, a recent divorcee, is Shawn’s older brother and will serve as the Best Man at his wedding. Unfortunately, Stanley’s ultra-pessimistic view of everything, especially his brother Shawn, adds constant conflict and ironically, humor

UNCLE THEODORE is the elderly, world-traveled, alcoholic guru whose eccentric philosophy of life is hard to understand without having a stiff cocktail.

PRESTON is a meek and mild-mannered man whose greatest fear is his own domineering wife. To Preston’s dismay, Aaron has talked him into hosting the bachelor party inside of his wife’s most prized possession… their beautiful house. 

AKEEM, the resident hometown hero, is an NBA star with a heart of gold.

DARNELL is a loud-mouth, self-promoting, obnoxious elementary school basketball coach whose own failed dreams of the NBA cause him to be embittered towards many things, especially Akeem.

SCOOTER is Shawn’s street-hardened cousin whose jail-house code of ethics adds a very strange dynamic and balance to this already odd group.

And HAROLD, the unhappily married sex addict, craves every woman except his wife. Harold lives for pornography, strip clubs, and bachelor parties. Tonight, he’s going all out.

Shawn’s “final farewell” will consist of all the traditional bachelor party elements (liquor, strippers, emotionally-charged conversations, drunken foolery, etc.). But this particular bachelor party will prove to be much more. As the night progresses and event after event unfolds, the fellas laugh, cry, and fight as they learn valuable lessons about love, life, and themselves.

This is a night that Aaron, Shawn, and the rest of the fellas will never forget as they each experience hilarious and soul-stirring “rites of passage” that will forever change them in a unique way.