THE TRUTH CAMERON NEVER WANTED ISAIAH TO KNOW

INT. APARTMENT – LIVING ROOM – EVENING

The apartment is unusually quiet.

Warm evening light filters through the windows.

HOPE and FAITH sit together on the couch, talking quietly.

They look nervous.

A door suddenly opens.

CAMERON walks into the room.

His expression is tense.

He stops when he sees Hope and Faith.

For a moment, nobody says anything.

Cameron slowly walks toward them.

CAMERON

Why did you two tell Isaiah?

Hope and Faith exchange a quick look.

They know exactly what he means.

HOPE

Tell Isaiah what?

Cameron shakes his head.

He is already frustrated.

CAMERON

Don’t do that. You both know what I’m talking about.

FAITH

We told him the truth.

Cameron’s expression hardens.

CAMERON

The truth? You told Isaiah that I hurt Brooke.

Hope sits up straighter.

HOPE

Because he deserved to know what happened.

Cameron looks away for a moment.

His jaw tightens.

CAMERON

That wasn’t your story to tell.

FAITH

Then whose story was it?

Cameron looks back at them.

CAMERON

You two should have stayed out of it.

Hope stands.

She refuses to back down.

HOPE

We weren’t going to stand there and pretend nothing happened.

CAMERON

You don’t understand what you’re doing.

FAITH

No, Cameron. You don’t understand.

Cameron takes a deep breath.

His frustration continues to build.

CAMERON

I trusted you two.

HOPE

And you broke that trust yourself.

CAMERON

Watch what you’re saying.

FAITH

We’re not scared of you.

Cameron looks at Faith.

The room becomes completely silent.

CAMERON

You both need to stop acting like you know everything.

HOPE

We know enough.

CAMERON

Why did you tell Isaiah?

FAITH

Because he kept asking questions.

CAMERON

And you couldn’t keep your mouths shut?

HOPE

No. We couldn’t lie for you.

Cameron becomes even more upset.

He turns away and runs a hand over his face.

CAMERON

You two have made everything worse.

FAITH

No. You made it worse when you hurt Brooke.

Cameron immediately turns around.

His expression changes.

For a second, he looks furious.

He takes a step toward them.

Hope and Faith remain where they are.

CAMERON

You don’t get to judge me!

HOPE

Then stop giving people reasons to judge you.

Cameron stops.

He stares at Hope.

Faith steps beside her.

FAITH

You wanted us to stay quiet. But Isaiah deserved to know.

CAMERON

Both of you, leave.

Hope crosses her arms.

HOPE

No.

CAMERON

Excuse me?

HOPE

You heard me.

FAITH

We’re not leaving just because you’re angry.

Cameron starts pacing across the room.

His frustration is obvious.

CAMERON

You two don’t know what you’re talking about.

FAITH

Then explain it.

Cameron stops pacing.

He has no immediate answer.

HOPE

That’s what I thought.

Cameron looks down.

The anger on his face slowly turns into frustration.

CAMERON

I never wanted Isaiah involved.

FAITH

But now he is.

CAMERON

Because of you!

HOPE

Because of your actions.

Cameron looks toward the hallway.

He seems to realize that arguing isn’t going to change anything.

CAMERON

You both should have come to me first.

HOPE

Maybe. But you should have thought about the consequences before everything happened.

Cameron sits down.

He looks exhausted.

The room becomes quieter.

FAITH

Cameron, we’re not trying to destroy your life. We’re trying to protect Brooke.

CAMERON

You think I don’t care about Brooke?

HOPE

Then show it.

Cameron doesn’t respond.

HOPE

You keep asking why we told Isaiah. Maybe you should ask yourself why you gave us something we couldn’t ignore.

Cameron looks toward the floor.

His anger is slowly disappearing.

Now he looks conflicted.

CAMERON

Isaiah is going to come after me.

FAITH

Then talk to him.

CAMERON

You don’t know Isaiah.

HOPE

Neither do you if you think lying will make this disappear.

Cameron looks at both girls.

Their confidence catches him off guard.

CAMERON

You two really think you did the right thing?

HOPE

Yes.

FAITH

Absolutely.

Cameron exhales slowly.

He stands and walks toward the window.

Outside, the neighborhood is quiet.

Inside, the tension remains.

CAMERON

I just wanted everything to calm down.

HOPE

It won’t calm down until you tell the truth.

CAMERON

And what exactly do you want me to do?

FAITH

Take responsibility.

Cameron remains silent.

HOPE

And stop blaming everybody else.

Cameron lowers his eyes.

For the first time, he seems to understand that the problem isn’t going away.

A sound comes from the hallway.

Everyone turns.

The front door slowly opens.

ISAIAH appears.

Cameron freezes.

Hope and Faith look at each other.

Isaiah looks directly at Cameron.

The room suddenly feels much smaller.