umr ) Brooke Gets Money From Sharra’s ExLarry Walks In and Catches Them Red-Handed

INT. BROOKE’S HOUSE – DAY Brooke paces back and forth across the room, her phone tightly gripped in her hand. She looks stressed and desperate. She takes a deep breath and calls Sharra. BROOKE Sharra, I really need your help. I need some money. Sharra pauses on the other end of the call. SHARRA I wish I could help you, Brooke, but I don’t have any money right now. Brooke closes her eyes in disappointment. BROOKE Please, Sharra. I wouldn’t be calling you if I didn’t really need it. SHARRA Wait a minute… Sharra suddenly thinks of something. SHARRA My ex might have some money. I can ask him to help you. Brooke immediately stops pacing. BROOKE Really? You think he would give me some? SHARRA I don’t know for sure, but I can call him. Come over to my house, and I’ll ask him to meet us there. Brooke’s worried expression slowly turns hopeful. BROOKE Thank you, Sharra. I’m coming over right now. SHARRA Okay. Just get here safely. The call ends. Brooke grabs her things and quickly heads for the door, unaware that someone has been watching her movements from a distance. — EXT. SHARRA’S HOUSE – LATER Brooke arrives outside Sharra’s house and walks quickly toward the front door. Sharra opens it and lets her inside. SHARRA Come in. I already called him. BROOKE What did he say? SHARRA He said he’s on his way. Brooke exhales with relief. BROOKE I really hope this works. SHARRA Let’s just wait and see what he says. The two women sit down in the living room. A few moments later, there is a knock at the door. Sharra gets up and walks toward the entrance. She opens the door. Sharra’s ex stands outside. SHARRA Hey. Come in. He steps inside and looks toward Brooke. SHARRA’S EX So, you’re Brooke? BROOKE Yes. Thank you for coming. He walks into the living room, and all three of them sit down. For a moment, there is an uncomfortable silence. Brooke looks nervous. She keeps glancing toward Sharra, waiting for her to speak. Finally, Sharra breaks the silence. SHARRA I told you on the phone that Brooke needs some help. Her ex looks at Brooke. SHARRA’S EX What happened? Brooke hesitates before answering. BROOKE I’m dealing with some things right now, and I really need money. SHARRA’S EX How much do you need? Brooke looks surprised by how direct his question is. BROOKE Honestly, anything you can help me with would mean a lot. Sharra watches both of them carefully. SHARRA I told you she really needs it. Sharra’s ex leans back and thinks for a moment. SHARRA’S EX Alright. I can help her. Brooke’s eyes widen. BROOKE Really? SHARRA’S EX Yes. Brooke’s face immediately lights up. BROOKE Thank you so much. You have no idea how much this means to me. Sharra smiles, happy that her plan worked. SHARRA See? I told you I would try to help. Brooke looks at Sharra with gratitude. BROOKE Thank you, Sharra. Seriously. SHARRA You don’t have to thank me. That’s what friends are for. Sharra’s ex reaches into his pocket. Brooke watches him closely. He takes out some money. Brooke’s excitement becomes impossible to hide. — EXT. SHARRA’S STREET – SAME TIME Larry slowly walks down the street, his eyes searching from one house to another. He has been following Brooke. Larry stops when he sees Sharra’s house. His expression becomes suspicious. LARRY What is Brooke doing here? He looks toward the house and notices movement inside. His curiosity quickly turns into suspicion. LARRY She came here in such a hurry… and now she’s hiding inside? Larry walks toward the front door. He tries to look through the window but cannot see clearly. His frustration grows. LARRY Something isn’t right. Larry steps closer to the door. — INT. SHARRA’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – SAME TIME Sharra’s ex holds the money in his hand. Brooke leans forward. Her face is filled with relief and excitement. SHARRA’S EX Here. Take it. He begins handing the money toward Brooke. BROOKE Oh my goodness! Thank you! Brooke reaches for the money with a huge smile on her face. At that exact moment— THE FRONT DOOR SUDDENLY OPENS. Everyone freezes. Brooke slowly turns her head. Her smile disappears instantly. Larry is standing in the doorway. The room falls completely silent. Larry’s eyes move from Sharra… To her ex… And finally to Brooke. Then he sees it. Sharra’s ex is handing Brooke money. Larry’s expression changes immediately. LARRY Brooke? Brooke stands up quickly. BROOKE Larry? Larry stares at the money between Brooke and Sharra’s ex. LARRY What am I looking at right now? Sharra quickly rises from her seat. SHARRA Larry, calm down. It’s not what you think. Larry gives her a cold look. LARRY I didn’t ask you what I think, Sharra. He points toward Brooke. LARRY I asked her what she’s doing. Brooke nervously holds the money. BROOKE Larry, I can explain. LARRY Then explain. Larry steps further into the house. The tension in the room grows. LARRY Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you came all the way over here to get money from Sharra’s ex. Brooke looks toward Sharra, hoping for support. Sharra immediately speaks. SHARRA I’m the one who called him. Larry turns toward her. LARRY You called your ex over here? SHARRA Yes, because Brooke needed help. LARRY And you thought the best solution was to call your ex and have him give Brooke money? SHARRA He had money, and I didn’t. Larry looks back at Brooke. LARRY And you were happy to take it? Brooke’s face becomes serious. BROOKE I needed help, Larry. LARRY So you couldn’t tell me? BROOKE I tried to find a way to handle my own problem. Larry looks at the money again. LARRY By taking money from him? BROOKE He offered to help! SHARRA’S EX That’s true. Larry quickly turns toward him. LARRY Nobody asked you to speak. Sharra’s ex stands up. SHARRA’S EX You walked into Sharra’s house and saw me helping Brooke. That’s all this is. LARRY Helping her? Larry laughs bitterly. LARRY You expect me to believe that? SHARRA’S EX Believe whatever you want. Sharra called me because Brooke needed money. Brooke steps between them, worried that the argument will get worse. BROOKE Larry, please stop making this into something it isn’t. Larry looks deeply hurt. LARRY Then why did you look so shocked when you saw me? Brooke becomes quiet. Larry steps closer. LARRY Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here? BROOKE Because I knew you would react like this. Larry’s face tightens. LARRY So you hid it from me. BROOKE I didn’t hide anything. I just didn’t ask for your permission. The room becomes silent again. Sharra looks from Brooke to Larry. SHARRA Larry, Brooke is right. She needed money, and I tried to help her. LARRY And now she’s standing here taking money from your ex. SHARRA Because I couldn’t give her any! Brooke looks down at the money in her hand. Her earlier happiness is completely gone. BROOKE I was happy because I finally thought one of my problems was solved. Larry’s expression softens slightly. BROOKE But then you walked in and turned it into another problem. Larry says nothing. For the first time, he realizes how stressed Brooke has been. Sharra’s ex slowly lowers his hand. SHARRA’S EX If taking this money is going to cause all this drama, Brooke doesn’t have to take it. Brooke immediately looks at him. BROOKE No. Everyone turns toward her. Brooke takes a breath and looks directly at Larry. BROOKE I need this money. And I’m not going to feel guilty for accepting help. Larry stares at her in silence. BROOKE You followed me here, Larry. You opened the door, saw one moment, and immediately decided you knew the whole story. Larry’s expression becomes conflicted. Brooke closes her hand around the money. BROOKE But you don’t. Sharra quietly nods. Larry looks around the room. He realizes everyone is waiting for his response. For a moment, he says nothing. Then he slowly looks at Brooke. LARRY We’re going to talk about this. BROOKE Fine. Brooke’s eyes remain locked on his. BROOKE But this time, you’re going to listen first. Larry stares at her, his anger slowly fading into uncertainty. The room remains tense as Sharra and her ex watch silently. Brooke had come to Sharra’s house hoping to leave with money and relief. Instead, Larry’s unexpected arrival has turned a simple favor into a confrontation—and now, the real questions are only beginning. FADE OUT.