THE MOMENT LARRY SAVED BROOKE
INT. LARRY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – EVENING
The house is tense.
Brooke stands near the couch, her eyes red from crying. Larry, Sharra, and Bethany are gathered around her, each trying to make her understand that she cannot throw her future away.
But Brooke has heard enough.
She wipes her tears aggressively.
LARRY
Brooke, listen to me. You can’t let one situation destroy everything you’ve worked for.
Brooke looks at him, hurt and frustrated.
BROOKE
One situation?
She lets out a bitter laugh.
BROOKE
You all keep saying that like it’s nothing!
Sharra steps closer.
SHARRA
Nobody is saying it’s nothing, Brooke. We’re saying you have a life beyond Isaiah.
Brooke shakes her head.
BROOKE
You don’t understand.
Her voice cracks.
BROOKE
Isaiah was my future.
Silence fills the room.
Bethany folds her arms, trying to remain calm.
BETHANY
And now you need to think about your actual future. College is still there. Your opportunities are still there.
Brooke turns toward Bethany.
BROOKE
College?
Her eyes fill with tears again.
BROOKE
How am I supposed to care about college when everything I wanted is falling apart?
Larry sighs.
LARRY
Because college is your future, Brooke.
BROOKE
No!
Brooke suddenly raises her voice.
BROOKE
You don’t get it! I was supposed to go to college with Isaiah. I thought we were going to build something together!
She looks down.
BROOKE
Now he left me.
Sharra’s expression softens.
SHARRA
Brooke…
BROOKE
And now you’re all telling me what I’m supposed to do!
She points toward Larry.
BROOKE
You tell me to forget him.
She points toward Sharra.
BROOKE
You tell me to wait.
Then she looks at Bethany.
BROOKE
And you keep talking about college like that’s going to magically fix everything!
Bethany takes a step forward.
BETHANY
I’m trying to help you.
BROOKE
Then stop!
The words echo through the room.
Everyone becomes silent.
Brooke breathes heavily.
Her hands tremble.
BROOKE
I’m tired.
Larry notices the change in her expression.
LARRY
Brooke…
She doesn’t answer.
Instead, she turns away from everyone.
BROOKE
I can’t do this anymore.
Larry immediately stands.
LARRY
What do you mean?
Brooke walks quickly toward another room.
LARRY
Brooke, wait.
She keeps walking.
Sharra looks at Larry, concerned.
SHARRA
Larry, go after her.
Larry nods and follows.
INT. BROOKE’S ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Brooke enters her bedroom and slams the door.
She leans against it, trying to catch her breath.
Tears stream down her face.
She looks around her room.
Photos.
College information.
Memories.
Everything reminds her of the future she thought she had.
Brooke picks up a photograph of herself and Isaiah.
Her face crumbles.
BROOKE
Why did you leave me?
She drops the photo onto the bed.
Her breathing becomes heavier.
She wipes her face.
BROOKE
I lost him…
A pause.
BROOKE
And now I’m losing everything else.
She looks toward the doorway.
No one is there.
Brooke’s emotions spiral.
She begins acting recklessly, trying to hurt herself.
BROOKE
Maybe everybody would be better without me…
Just as she is about to make a dangerous move, a voice comes from behind her.
LARRY
BROOKE!
Brooke freezes.
Larry rushes into the room.
He immediately grabs her hand and stops her.
LARRY
No! No, Brooke!
She struggles through her tears.
BROOKE
Let me go!
LARRY
I’m not letting you do this!
Larry holds her hand firmly but carefully.
His voice is emotional.
LARRY
Look at me.
Brooke refuses.
LARRY
Brooke, look at me!
Slowly, she looks up.
Larry’s eyes are filled with fear.
LARRY
You scared me.
Brooke starts crying harder.
BROOKE
I don’t know what to do.
Larry kneels in front of her.
LARRY
You don’t have to know right now.
He keeps hold of her hand.
LARRY
You just have to stay here with me.
Brooke shakes her head.
BROOKE
Isaiah left me.
LARRY
I know.
BROOKE
And college doesn’t matter anymore.
LARRY
It matters.
Brooke looks away.
LARRY
But you matter more.
Those words hit her.
Brooke begins sobbing.
Larry carefully pulls her into a hug.
She finally stops fighting.
BROOKE
I tried so hard, Dad.
LARRY
I know you did.
BROOKE
I loved him.
LARRY
I know.
BROOKE
I thought he loved me too.
Larry closes his eyes for a moment.
LARRY
Sometimes people leave us even when we don’t deserve to be left.
Brooke cries against his shoulder.
LARRY
But that doesn’t mean your life ends with them.
Sharra appears at the doorway.
She sees Brooke crying in Larry’s arms.
Bethany stands behind her, visibly shaken.
Sharra slowly enters.
SHARRA
Brooke…
Brooke looks toward her.
SHARRA
I’m sorry.
Brooke wipes her tears.
BROOKE
I just wanted somebody to understand how much this hurts.
Sharra kneels beside her.
SHARRA
We understand now.
Bethany’s eyes fill with tears.
She steps closer.
BETHANY
I was so focused on convincing you to think about college that I forgot you were hurting.
Brooke looks at her.
BETHANY
I’m sorry.
Brooke doesn’t respond immediately.
Larry gently squeezes her hand.
LARRY
Nobody is going to pressure you tonight.
He looks at Sharra and Bethany.
LARRY
Tonight, we’re just going to stay with her.
Sharra nods.
SHARRA
Absolutely.
Bethany nods as well.
Brooke takes a shaky breath.
For the first time that evening, her body begins to relax.
Larry stays beside her.
LARRY
You don’t have to make any decisions tonight.
Brooke looks at him.
LARRY
Not about Isaiah.
A beat.
LARRY
Not about college.
Another beat.
LARRY
And definitely not about your life.
Brooke’s eyes fill with tears again, but this time they are different.
She nods.
BROOKE
Okay.
Larry gives her a gentle smile.
LARRY
That’s all I need from you right now.
Brooke leans against him.
Sharra sits beside them.
Bethany quietly takes a seat nearby.
The room becomes silent.
Not an uncomfortable silence.
A protective one.
Larry looks down at Brooke’s hand, still holding it.
He knows the night isn’t over.
He knows Brooke is still hurting.
But she is no longer facing that pain alone.