INT. LARRY’S HOUSE – AFTERNOON

The house is unusually quiet.

Larry sits on the edge of the couch, staring at his phone.

His face is tense.

He has just heard the news that Brooke is no longer planning to attend college because of everything happening with Isaiah.

Larry takes a deep breath.

He scrolls through his contacts.

He stops at Isaiah’s mom’s name.

For a moment, he hesitates.

Then he presses CALL.

The phone rings.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Finally, she answers.

ISAIAH’S MOM

Hello?

Larry sits up straight.

His voice is calm, but the anger underneath it is obvious.

LARRY

We need to talk.

There is silence on the other end.

ISAIAH’S MOM

About what?

Larry looks down at the floor.

He shakes his head in disbelief.

LARRY

About your son.

Isaiah’s mom immediately becomes defensive.

ISAIAH’S MOM

What did Isaiah do now?

Larry’s expression hardens.

LARRY

You already know what he’s been doing.

ISAIAH’S MOM

Larry, I don’t know what you’re talking about.

Larry stands.

He starts pacing around the living room.

LARRY

Brooke is not going to college anymore.

Silence.

Isaiah’s mom takes a moment to process the news.

ISAIAH’S MOM

What?

LARRY

You heard me.

Larry stops walking.

His eyes become emotional.

LARRY

Brooke is giving up college because of everything that happened with Isaiah.

ISAIAH’S MOM

That doesn’t mean Isaiah is responsible for her decision.

Larry lets out a frustrated laugh.

LARRY

You really want to say that?

He turns toward the window.

His voice becomes heavier.

LARRY

My daughter had plans.

She had a future she was excited about.

She was getting ready to start the next chapter of her life.

Larry pauses.

LARRY

Now she’s sitting in that house questioning everything because of your son.

Isaiah’s mom sighs.

ISAIAH’S MOM

Larry, they’re young. They make mistakes.

Larry immediately turns around.

LARRY

Mistakes?

His voice rises.

LARRY

We’re not talking about somebody forgetting to call somebody back.

We’re talking about my daughter’s future!

Silence.

Larry closes his eyes.

He tries to control his emotions.

LARRY

Brooke was supposed to be preparing for college.

Instead, she’s thinking about leaving everything behind.

ISAIAH’S MOM

I understand you’re upset, but you can’t put all of this on Isaiah.

Larry shakes his head.

LARRY

I’m not calling you to argue.

He takes a breath.

LARRY

I’m calling because I need you to understand something.

Larry’s voice becomes low and serious.

LARRY
If anything happens to my daughter, I will hold you responsible.

Isaiah’s mom becomes quiet.

ISAIAH’S MOM

Larry…

LARRY

No.

Larry interrupts her.

LARRY

Listen to me.

He walks toward the window.

LARRY

I’m her father.

Protecting her is my job.

And I don’t care who gets angry with me for doing it.

ISAIAH’S MOM

Are you threatening me?

Larry looks out the window.

LARRY

I’m warning you.

A long silence follows.

Larry’s breathing is heavy.

LARRY

If Brooke gets hurt because of Isaiah, I will not just sit back and watch.

ISAIAH’S MOM

You can’t blame me for everything Isaiah does.

LARRY

Then make sure your son understands the consequences of his choices.

Isaiah’s mom doesn’t respond.

Larry continues.

LARRY

Because right now, Brooke is hurting.

He looks toward the hallway.

His eyes soften.

LARRY

And I can’t stand here and watch my daughter throw away her future.

INT. BROOKE’S ROOM – SAME TIME

Brooke sits on the edge of her bed.

Her college acceptance letter is lying beside her.

She stares at it.

Her eyes are filled with tears.

A suitcase sits open on the floor.

She slowly picks up the letter.

Her fingers tremble.

She reads it one more time.

Then she lowers it.

BROOKE

I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do anymore.

She wipes a tear from her cheek.

Outside the room, Larry’s voice can faintly be heard through the hallway.

Brooke looks toward the door.

She knows her father is fighting for her.

But she also knows the situation has become bigger than she ever expected.

INT. LARRY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS

Larry continues speaking on the phone.

LARRY

And there’s something else.

Isaiah’s mom waits.

ISAIAH’S MOM

What?

Larry’s expression becomes serious again.

LARRY

If anything happens to Brooke, I won’t only come looking for answers from you.

He pauses.

LARRY

I’ll talk to Isaiah too.

Isaiah’s mom immediately becomes concerned.

ISAIAH’S MOM

Larry, leave my son out of this.

LARRY

He’s already in it.

Larry’s voice cracks slightly.

LARRY

He’s the reason we’re having this conversation.

Isaiah’s mom tries to defend her son.

ISAIAH’S MOM

Isaiah loves Brooke.

Larry closes his eyes.

LARRY

Then he needs to start acting like it.

Silence.

LARRY
Love isn’t supposed to destroy somebody’s future.

Those words hit hard.

Isaiah’s mom doesn’t have an immediate response.

Larry sits back down.

His anger begins turning into exhaustion.

LARRY

I don’t want to fight with you.

ISAIAH’S MOM

Then what do you want?

Larry looks toward Brooke’s room.

LARRY

I want my daughter to be okay.

His voice becomes softer.

LARRY

That’s all I want.

A long silence follows.

LARRY

I want her to go to college.

I want her to chase her dreams.

I want her to wake up every morning without wondering whether somebody is going to hurt her.

Larry wipes his face.

He quickly looks away.

LARRY

And if Isaiah really cares about her, he needs to understand that too.

Isaiah’s mom sighs.

ISAIAH’S MOM

I’ll talk to him.

Larry nods slowly.

LARRY

You better.

He pauses.

LARRY

Because I’m done watching Brooke suffer.

INT. ISAIAH’S HOUSE – SAME TIME

Isaiah sits on his bed.

His phone buzzes.

He looks at the screen.

A message from his mother appears.

He reads it.

His expression changes.

He immediately realizes something serious has happened.

His mother walks into the room.

ISAIAH

Mom?

She looks at him.

ISAIAH’S MOM

Your father figure isn’t the only one worried about Brooke.

Isaiah looks confused.

ISAIAH

What happened?

She sits across from him.

ISAIAH’S MOM

Larry called me.

Isaiah’s face drops.

ISAIAH

Why?

ISAIAH’S MOM

Because Brooke isn’t going to college anymore.

Isaiah freezes.

ISAIAH

What?

ISAIAH’S MOM

He says you’re part of the reason.

Isaiah looks down.

The weight of the situation finally hits him.

ISAIAH

I never wanted this.

His mother studies his face.

ISAIAH’S MOM

Then you need to fix what you can.

Isaiah looks toward the floor.

ISAIAH

I don’t know if she’ll even talk to me.

ISAIAH’S MOM

Then find a way to show her that you care.

Isaiah remains silent.

INT. LARRY’S HOUSE – EVENING

Larry stands outside Brooke’s bedroom.

He knocks softly.

LARRY

Brooke?

No answer.

He knocks again.

LARRY

Baby, can I come in?

The door slowly opens.

Brooke looks at him.

Larry immediately notices her tear-filled eyes.

His heart breaks.

He walks inside.

LARRY

You okay?

Brooke shakes her head.

BROOKE

No.

Larry sits beside her.

BROOKE

I don’t know if I can do college anymore.

Larry looks at her.

LARRY

Don’t make a permanent decision because you’re hurting right now.

Brooke looks down.

BROOKE

But what if Isaiah keeps hurting me?

Larry takes her hand.

LARRY

Then you walk away.

Brooke looks at him.

LARRY

Your future belongs to you.

He gently squeezes her hand.

LARRY

Nobody gets to take that away from you.

Brooke starts crying.

Larry pulls her into a hug.

LARRY

I’m going to protect you.

Brooke closes her eyes.

For the first time that day, she feels safe.

EXT. LARRY’S HOUSE – NIGHT

Larry stands outside alone.

The night is quiet.

He looks toward the street.

His phone rings.

He checks the screen.

It’s Isaiah.

Larry stares at the name.

His jaw tightens.

He answers.

LARRY

What do you want?

Isaiah’s voice is nervous.

ISAIAH

I want to talk about Brooke.

Larry doesn’t say anything.

ISAIAH

I never wanted her to give up college.

Larry looks toward Brooke’s bedroom window.

LARRY

Then prove it.

Isaiah remains silent.

LARRY

Because from this point forward, actions are going to matter more than words.

Larry ends the call.

He lowers the phone.

His expression remains serious.

Inside the house, Brooke turns off her bedroom light.

Larry looks up at the window one last time.

His daughter is his priority.

And tonight, he has made one thing clear:

Nobody will stand between Brooke and the future she deserves.