LAUREN’S SECRET PLAN
The Secret Phone Call
The house is quiet. Lauren sits on the couch with her phone pressed against her ear. Her voice is low, and she keeps looking toward the hallway.
She has no idea that Wayne has just walked into the house.
Wayne stops when he hears Lauren talking. He realizes she is speaking with Dan. He quietly moves behind the wall and begins listening.
LAURENDan, I need you to listen to me carefully. I don’t want you coming around me right now.
Lauren takes a deep breath.
DANWhy are you telling me to stay away from you?
LAURENBecause I need some time. If you keep showing up, Wayne is going to become suspicious.
Wayne’s expression changes. He immediately realizes something is wrong.
DANSuspicious about what?
LAURENAbout us.
A long silence follows. Wayne stays completely still.
Closer To Wayne
Lauren, what exactly are you trying to do?
Lauren leans back against the couch and lowers her voice.
LAURENI’m trying to get closer to Wayne.
Wayne’s eyes widen. He keeps listening carefully.
DANCloser to Wayne?
LAURENYes. I need Wayne to trust me completely.
Wayne slowly shakes his head, realizing Lauren has been hiding something from him.
DANAnd what happens after he trusts you?
Lauren pauses. Then she reveals the part of her plan she has been keeping secret.
LAURENI’m going to make sure I become important to him.
DANLauren, what are you really after?
Lauren looks down at her hand.
LAURENWayne’s property.
Wayne’s face becomes completely stunned. He never expected to hear those words from Lauren.
Fifty Percent
What?
LAURENYou heard me. If everything goes according to plan, I can get Wayne to give me fifty percent of his property.
Wayne closes his eyes for a moment. The truth is finally coming out.
DANLauren, that’s your plan?
LAURENYes. But I can’t do it if you keep coming around.
DANSo you want me to disappear?
LAURENFor a little while. I need Wayne to believe that I’m completely focused on him.
Wayne remains hidden. His trust in Lauren begins to disappear.
DANAnd what happens after you get what you want?
LAURENThen everything changes.
Wayne hears every word. His expression becomes colder.
DANYou really want fifty percent of Wayne’s property?
LAURENYes. That’s why I need you to stay away.
Dan Agrees
Lauren looks toward the hallway again. She has no idea Wayne has heard everything.
DANLauren, this is risky.
LAURENI know.
DANWhat if he finds out?
LAURENHe won’t.
Wayne slowly steps farther back into the hallway. He doesn’t want Lauren to know that he has heard the conversation.
DANYou really think this is going to work?
LAURENIt will if you cooperate.
DANOkay. I’ll stay away for now.
Lauren smiles, believing her plan is still safe.
LAURENGood. Just don’t come near me for now.
DANAnd if you need me?
LAURENI’ll call you.
The call ends.
Lauren slowly lowers her phone. She has no idea that Wayne has heard everything.
Wayne Confronts Lauren
Wayne steps quietly into the hallway. He looks at Lauren from a distance.
WAYNELauren…
Lauren freezes. Her eyes widen as she turns around.
LAURENWayne?
Wayne doesn’t answer immediately. He simply looks at her.
WAYNEWho were you talking to?
LAURENNobody. It was just a phone call.
WAYNENobody?
Wayne takes a few steps toward her.
WAYNEI heard the phone call.
Lauren’s confidence disappears.
LAURENYou were listening?
WAYNEI heard enough.
LAURENWayne, you don’t understand.
WAYNEThen explain it. Tell me what you were talking about with Dan.
Lauren looks away. She struggles to find an answer.
WAYNEYou were planning to get close to me. You were planning to gain my trust.
The Truth Comes Out
And you were talking about getting fifty percent of my property.
Lauren’s face changes. She realizes Wayne knows the entire plan.
LAURENWayne, please let me explain.
WAYNEExplain what? That everything you’ve been telling me was part of a plan?
LAURENNo.
WAYNEThen why were you talking about my property?
Lauren remains silent.
WAYNEYou had a chance to tell me the truth.
LAURENI was scared.
WAYNEScared of what?
LAURENOf losing everything.
WAYNESo you decided to use me?
LAURENI never wanted to hurt you.
WAYNEBut you were willing to deceive me.
Lauren takes a step forward.
LAURENWayne, listen to me.
WAYNENo. I listened to you tonight. I heard exactly what you said.
Broken Trust
Wayne looks at Lauren with disappointment. The room becomes completely silent.
WAYNEYou told Dan to stay away from you so you could get closer to me. You told him that you wanted fifty percent of my property.
Lauren looks down. She has no answer.
WAYNEDo you know what hurts the most?
LAURENWayne…
WAYNEI trusted you. I believed you cared about me.
LAURENI do care about you.
WAYNEThen why did you make a plan behind my back?
LAURENI made a mistake.
WAYNEThis wasn’t a mistake, Lauren. You planned it. You thought about it. You discussed it with Dan.
Lauren becomes emotional.
LAURENI didn’t know what else to do.
WAYNEYou could have been honest.
LAURENWould you have stayed with me if I told you everything?
WAYNEAt least I would have known the truth.
Wayne turns away from Lauren.
WAYNENow I don’t know what to believe.
Lauren watches Wayne walk toward the hallway.
LAURENWayne, please.
WAYNEI need some time.
Wayne walks away and closes the door behind him.
Lauren remains alone in the living room, staring at her phone. She knows her entire plan has been exposed.
Meanwhile, Wayne sits alone in another room. He looks at Dan’s name on his phone.
WAYNENot yet. First, I need to know how deep this goes.
Wayne puts the phone down. His trust has been broken. But now he is determined to discover exactly what Lauren and Dan have been planning behind his back…