WHEN MR. NEWBURGER FINDS OUT LARRY GAVE BETHANY DIVORCE PAPERS
INT. LARRY AND BETHANY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – EVENING
The house is filled with tension. Brooke stands near the staircase, holding a small bag. Her eyes are filled with tears, and she looks emotionally exhausted.
Lynette stands nearby, visibly frustrated, while Larry paces across the room, struggling to control his anger. Bethany stands in the middle of the living room, defensive and emotional.
BROOKE
I can’t stay here anymore.
Brooke wipes a tear from her cheek.
BROOKE
Every time I come into this house, there’s another argument because of Bethany. I’m tired of feeling like I don’t belong here.
Larry stops walking and looks at Brooke.
LARRY
Brooke, please don’t make a decision while you’re this emotional.
BROOKE
I’ve already made my decision.
Brooke grabs her bag and heads toward the door.
BROOKE
I’m leaving.
LYNETTE CONFRONTS BETHANY
Bethany rolls her eyes, clearly frustrated.
BETHANY
Of course. Everybody wants to blame me for everything.
Lynette suddenly turns toward Bethany.
LYNETTE
Because you keep creating these problems!
Bethany looks shocked.
BETHANY
Excuse me?
LYNETTE
You heard me. Brooke is leaving because of all this drama, and you’re still acting like you’re the victim.
Larry looks from Lynette to Bethany. His anger continues to grow.
LARRY
Lynette is right.
Bethany stares at him.
BETHANY
Larry, don’t start with me.
Larry takes a deep breath.
LARRY
No. I’m done.
Suddenly, the entire room falls silent.
LARRY MAKES A SHOCKING DECISION
Larry walks toward Bethany.
LARRY
I’ve defended you. I’ve listened to you. I’ve tried to keep this family together.
He points toward the room.
LARRY
And somehow, every single day, there’s another problem.
BETHANY
So now everything is my fault?
LARRY
I’m not saying everything is your fault. I’m saying I’m tired of cleaning up the damage caused by your choices.
Brooke quietly walks toward the door.
BROOKE
I’m sorry.
LARRY
You don’t have to apologize.
Brooke opens the door and leaves.
Lynette looks at Bethany with disappointment.
LYNETTE
Look what happened.
BETHANY
Don’t you blame me too!
LYNETTE
Then stop giving people reasons to blame you!
THE DIVORCE PAPERS
Larry suddenly walks out of the room.
A few moments later, he returns holding an envelope.
Bethany notices the papers in his hand.
BETHANY
What’s that?
Larry places the envelope in front of her.
LARRY
Your divorce papers.
Bethany freezes in complete shock.
BETHANY
What?
LARRY
I’m done fighting.
Bethany slowly picks up the papers with trembling hands.
BETHANY
You can’t be serious.
LARRY
I’m completely serious.
Bethany’s eyes fill with tears.
BETHANY
You’re divorcing me because of Brooke?
LARRY
I’m divorcing you because this marriage has become something neither of us can live with anymore.
Bethany begins crying.
BETHANY
Larry, please…
LARRY
I can’t do this anymore.
Larry points toward the door.
LARRY
You need to leave.
Bethany looks at Lynette, hoping she will defend her. Lynette remains silent.
Bethany grabs her purse while crying and walks outside.
EXT. LARRY AND BETHANY’S HOUSE – NIGHT
Bethany walks down the driveway with tears streaming down her face. She looks at the divorce papers in her hand.
BETHANY
How could he do this to me?
She quickly pulls out her phone and calls her father.
BETHANY
Dad… I need you.
INT. MR. NEWBURGER’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – NIGHT
Mr. Newburger is sitting quietly in his living room when the front door suddenly opens.
Bethany walks inside crying.
Mr. Newburger immediately stands.
MR. NEWBURGER
Bethany? What happened?
Bethany falls into his arms.
BETHANY
Dad, Larry threw me out.
Mr. Newburger’s expression becomes serious.
MR. NEWBURGER
What?
Bethany holds up the divorce papers.
BETHANY
He gave me these.
Mr. Newburger takes the papers from her hand and looks at them carefully.
His face immediately turns red with anger.
MR. NEWBURGER
He gave you divorce papers?
BETHANY
Yes. He was so angry. He yelled at me and told me to leave.
Mr. Newburger clenches his jaw.
MR. NEWBURGER
And he made you leave at night?
BETHANY
Yes.
Bethany starts crying again.
BETHANY
I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.
Mr. Newburger puts an arm around her.
MR. NEWBURGER
You’re my daughter. And nobody gets to treat you like you’re worthless.
MR. NEWBURGER CONFRONTS LARRY
Mr. Newburger grabs his jacket.
BETHANY
Where are you going?
MR. NEWBURGER
To talk to Larry.
BETHANY
Dad, please don’t make things worse.
Mr. Newburger pauses and takes a deep breath.
MR. NEWBURGER
I’m angry, Bethany. But I’m going to handle this face-to-face.
Later that night, Mr. Newburger arrives at Larry’s house.
He knocks firmly on the door.
Larry opens it and immediately looks surprised.
LARRY
Mr. Newburger.
MR. NEWBURGER
We need to talk.
Larry steps outside.
LARRY
If this is about Bethany—
MR. NEWBURGER
It’s exactly about Bethany.
Mr. Newburger holds up the divorce papers.
MR. NEWBURGER
You gave my daughter these papers and threw her out of the house.
LARRY
I didn’t do it without reason.
MR. NEWBURGER
I don’t care how angry you were. You don’t destroy someone’s life in the middle of an argument and expect everyone to stay quiet.
Larry remains calm but firm.
LARRY
I have been dealing with Bethany’s behavior for a long time.
MR. NEWBURGER
Then you should have talked to her like a husband, not thrown her out like she meant nothing.
Larry looks toward the house.
LARRY
You don’t know everything that happened in that house.
Mr. Newburger steps closer.
MR. NEWBURGER
Then tell me.
A tense silence fills the air.
MR. NEWBURGER
Because before this night is over, I want the truth.
Larry finally looks directly into Mr. Newburger’s eyes.
LARRY
You really want to know everything?
MR. NEWBURGER
Everything.
Larry takes a deep breath.
LARRY
Then you better be ready for what I’m about to tell you.
TO BE CONTINUED…
What will Mr. Newburger do when he learns the full truth about Larry and Bethany’s marriage?