Larry Sends Brooke Toward a Job — But Dutchess Refuses

SCENE 1 — THE DECISION

The evening feels unusually tense.

Larry stands in the living room, pacing slowly with his phone in his hand. His expression is serious, as if he has already made a decision that cannot be undone.

Sharra sits nearby, watching him carefully.

Larry finally stops.

“I’ve made up my mind about Brooke.”

Sharra looks up.

“What are you planning now?”

Larry takes a deep breath.

“I’m going to send Brooke to work.”

Sharra studies his face, waiting for an explanation.

“You mean you want her to get a job?”

Larry nods.

“Yes. She needs something that will keep her focused. Sitting around the house and refusing to move forward isn’t helping her.”

Sharra remains quiet for a moment.

She knows Brooke has been struggling with several decisions lately, but she also understands that Larry believes responsibility could force Brooke to change.

“Maybe you’re right. If she starts working, she might become more independent.”

Larry looks relieved that Sharra isn’t fighting him on the idea.

“That’s exactly what I’m thinking.”

He immediately reaches for his phone.

There is only one person he believes might be able to help.

Dutchess.

SCENE 2 — LARRY CALLS DUTCHESS

Larry scrolls through his contacts and presses Dutchess’s name.

The phone rings.

Once.
Twice.

Then Dutchess answers.

“Larry?”

“Hey, Dutchess. I need to talk to you about something.”

Dutchess can immediately hear the seriousness in his voice.

“What happened?”

Larry leans against the wall.

“I’m thinking about sending Brooke to work. I was hoping she could come over there and get a job.”

There is a long silence.

Larry expects Dutchess to consider the idea.

Instead, her response comes quickly.

“No.”

Larry’s expression changes.

“No?”

“Absolutely not, Larry. Brooke is not coming here.”

Larry looks confused.

“Why are you saying that? I thought you might be able to help her.”

Dutchess lets out a frustrated breath.

“I’m telling you because I know Brooke. She’s not ready for this.”

“She needs something to do.”

“And I’m telling you that sending her here is not the answer.”

SCENE 3 — DUTCHESS WARNS LARRY

Larry walks toward the window, trying to remain calm.

But Dutchess’s next words catch him completely off guard.

“Brooke is never coming over here.”

Larry stays silent.

“She already has enough problems. I don’t need her bringing all of that here.”

Larry looks toward Sharra.

Sharra can tell from his expression that the conversation is going badly.

“Dutchess, I’m not asking you to fix her life. I’m asking you to give her an opportunity.”

Dutchess shakes her head on the other end.

“You don’t understand. Brooke could come here and make things worse.”

“Worse?”

“Yes. She’s already struggling, and I’m not going to let her drag Destiny into the same situation.”

Larry freezes.

He wasn’t expecting Destiny’s name to enter the conversation.

“What does Destiny have to do with this?”

Dutchess pauses.

“Everything. I’m protecting her too.”

Larry slowly sits down.

For the first time, he realizes Dutchess isn’t simply refusing to give Brooke a job.

She is afraid of what might happen if Brooke enters her world.

SCENE 4 — SHARRA HEARS EVERYTHING

Larry ends the call.

The room becomes silent.

Sharra looks at him.

“What did she say?”

Larry stares at his phone.

“She said Brooke isn’t coming.”

“She refused?”

Larry nods.

“She said Brooke could cause problems for Destiny.”

Sharra slowly shakes her head.

“That’s harsh.”

Larry stands up.

His frustration is obvious now.

“Everybody keeps talking about Brooke like she’s some kind of disaster.”

Sharra watches him carefully.

“Maybe people are scared of what she might do next.”

Larry turns toward her.

“Then maybe someone needs to stop treating her like a problem and start treating her like a person.”

Sharra has no immediate answer.

Larry walks away, but his mind is already racing.

SCENE 5 — LARRY MAKES A SHOCKING STATEMENT

Larry stops near the doorway.

He turns back toward Sharra.

His expression suddenly becomes calm.

Too calm.

“You know what?”

“What?”

Larry picks up his phone again.

“If nobody wants Brooke, I’ll find somewhere else for her.”

Sharra looks surprised.

“Larry, what are you saying?”

Larry looks directly at her.

“I’m saying Brooke is going to work somewhere. One way or another.”

Sharra steps closer.

“But where?”

Larry gives a small, unexpected smile.

“I already have an idea.”

Sharra’s expression changes.

“What idea?”

Larry refuses to answer.

Instead, he walks toward the door.

“Larry, wait. Where are you sending her?”

He stops.

For a moment, he says nothing.

Then he turns around.

“Somewhere nobody expects.”

Sharra stares at him.

She knows that tone.

Larry has made up his mind.

SCENE 6 — BROOKE KNOWS NOTHING

Meanwhile, Brooke sits alone in her room.

She scrolls through her phone, completely unaware of the conversation happening behind the scenes.

She has no idea Larry has already decided her next step.

Her phone suddenly buzzes.

Brooke looks at the screen.

A message from Larry.

She opens it.

Her expression immediately changes.

“What does he want now?”

She reads the message again.

Her eyes widen.

Whatever Larry has planned, it clearly isn’t what she expected.

SCENE 7 — THE UNEXPECTED MOVE

Back downstairs, Sharra watches Larry prepare to leave.

“You’re really going through with this?”

Larry grabs his keys.

“Yes.”

“Even after Dutchess said no?”

Larry looks at her.

“Especially after Dutchess said no.”

Sharra is stunned.

“Larry, what are you planning?”

Larry opens the door.

Before walking out, he delivers a sentence that leaves Sharra speechless.

“If Dutchess won’t give Brooke a chance, I’ll make sure Brooke gets one somewhere else—even if I have to put her in a place where she never expected to be.”

The door closes.

Sharra stands frozen.

Upstairs, Brooke reads Larry’s message again.

And somewhere else, Dutchess is still convinced Brooke will never enter her world.