LARRY SHOULD HAVE KEPT HIS MOUTH SHUT
SCENE 1 — LIVING ROOM — EVENING
The house is unusually quiet.
Brooke sits on the couch, arms folded across her chest.
Larry stands a few feet away from her.
Their conversation has clearly been serious.
Brooke looks at him with a warning expression.
BROOKE
Larry, please don’t go back in that room and tell Bethany what you and I just got through talking about.
Larry raises both hands. He looks almost offended.
LARRY
Why would I do that?
Brooke gives him a look. She doesn’t even have to answer.
Larry knows exactly what she’s thinking.
BROOKE
Because that’s what you do.
LARRY
I’m not saying anything.
BROOKE
Promise?
Larry pauses.
That pause says everything.
BROOKE
Larry…
LARRY
Okay, okay. I promise.
Brooke finally relaxes and leans back against the couch.
SCENE 2 — HALLWAY — CONTINUOUS
Larry turns toward the hallway.
He takes one step. Then another.
Brooke watches him carefully.
BROOKE
Where are you going?
LARRY
I’m just going to the kitchen.
BROOKE
The kitchen is the other way.
Larry freezes.
He slowly looks behind himself.
He’s been caught.
LARRY
I knew that.
BROOKE
Uh-huh.
Larry walks away.
Brooke watches him disappear down the hallway.
She sighs.
BROOKE
Here we go.
SCENE 3 — BETHANY’S ROOM — MOMENTS LATER
Larry walks toward the room where Bethany is.
He stops outside the doorway.
Inside, Bethany is quietly doing something on her phone.
Larry debates whether he should walk away.
Then he knocks lightly.
BETHANY
What’s up?
LARRY
Nothing.
Bethany immediately becomes suspicious.
BETHANY
Whenever somebody says “nothing,” it’s always something.
LARRY
I was just talking to Brooke.
BETHANY
About what?
Larry should know better.
He hesitates.
BETHANY
Larry.
LARRY
Don’t make this a whole thing.
BETHANY
I’m not making anything a whole thing.
LARRY
You always make it a whole thing.
BETHANY
Me?
LARRY
Yes, you.
BETHANY
Well, now I definitely need to know.
Larry shakes his head.
He realizes he has walked directly into the trap.
SCENE 4 — BROOKE’S ROOM — MOMENTS LATER
Brooke is sitting on the edge of her bed.
She hears footsteps approaching.
Then she hears Bethany’s voice.
Brooke closes her eyes.
BROOKE
Oh my gosh.
The door opens.
Bethany walks in. Larry follows behind her.
Brooke looks directly at Larry.
BROOKE
You told her!
BETHANY
Told me what?
BROOKE
Ask him.
LARRY
It wasn’t even like that.
BETHANY
Then what was it like?
BROOKE
This is exactly why I told him not to tell you.
BETHANY
Why wouldn’t you want to tell me?
BROOKE
Because I knew you’d insert yourself in the mix!
BETHANY
I don’t insert myself.
LARRY
You kind of do.
BETHANY
What did you say?
LARRY
Nothing.
Brooke bursts out laughing.
SCENE 5 — LIVING ROOM — LATER
Bethany walks into the living room with Larry behind her.
She is clearly still thinking about the conversation.
Larry sits down.
Bethany stands in front of him.
BETHANY
So let me get this straight.
LARRY
Here we go.
BETHANY
Brooke had a conversation with you.
LARRY
Yes.
BETHANY
She specifically told you not to tell me.
LARRY
Yes.
BETHANY
And you came in here and told me anyway.
LARRY
I didn’t tell you everything.
BETHANY
That’s not the point!
LARRY
I knew this was going to happen.
BETHANY
What was that all about, Larry?
LARRY
It was a private conversation.
BETHANY
Private?
LARRY
Yes.
BETHANY
Well, why didn’t she call me in?
LARRY
That’s exactly what Brooke didn’t want!
BETHANY
I could’ve helped!
LARRY
You would’ve made it worse.
BETHANY
Larry!
SCENE 6 — HALLWAY — CONTINUOUS
Brooke stands around the corner.
She has been listening to everything.
She covers her mouth to keep from laughing.
Then she hears Bethany’s voice getting louder.
BETHANY
Brooke!
BROOKE
Here she comes.
Bethany walks into the hallway. Larry follows.
Bethany spots Brooke.
BETHANY
Girl, why didn’t you call me?
BROOKE
Because I wanted one conversation in this house that didn’t turn into a family meeting.
BETHANY
Don’t laugh, Larry.
LARRY
I’m not laughing.
BROOKE
You couldn’t even keep one conversation private.
LARRY
I didn’t mean for all this to happen.
BROOKE
But it did.
SCENE 7 — HALLWAY — MOMENTS LATER
Bethany steps closer.
BETHANY
Well, since I’m already here, what exactly were y’all talking about?
Brooke looks at her.
A long silence follows.
BROOKE
Nothing.
BETHANY
Nothing?
BROOKE
Nothing.
Larry starts smiling.
BETHANY
Larry?
Larry immediately wipes the smile from his face.
LARRY
Nothing.
Bethany looks between them.
She knows they’re messing with her.
BETHANY
Oh, so that’s how we’re doing this?
BROOKE
Yep.
Bethany turns around.
BETHANY
Fine.
She walks away.
Larry looks relieved.
SCENE 8 — HALLWAY — CONTINUOUS
Brooke looks at Larry.
BROOKE
See what happens when you can’t keep your mouth shut?
LARRY
Okay, okay. I learned my lesson.
Bethany suddenly turns around from the hallway.
BETHANY
I HEARD THAT!
Larry freezes.
Brooke bursts out laughing.
SCENE 9 — LIVING ROOM — NIGHT
Everyone is finally sitting down.
The tension has turned into laughter.
BETHANY
Y’all really thought I wasn’t going to find out?
BROOKE
I knew you were going to find out.
LARRY
Then why did you tell me not to tell her?
BROOKE
Because I wanted you to prove you could keep a secret.
LARRY
And I failed.
BETHANY
Immediately.
Brooke laughs.
LARRY
But you were listening at the door!
BETHANY
I was not!
BROOKE
Bethany, your big ears must’ve been glued to the wall.
Everyone starts laughing.
BETHANY
Y’all are wrong for that.
SCENE 10 — LIVING ROOM — LATER
Larry leans back on the couch.
LARRY
Next time, I’m keeping my mouth shut.
BROOKE
Please do.
BETHANY
And next time, call me in.
BROOKE
Absolutely not.
The room erupts in laughter.
Larry looks from Brooke to Bethany.
LARRY
I should’ve just stayed in my room.
BETHANY
Too late now.
Brooke leans back.
She knows exactly how this family works.
One private conversation.
One big mouth.
And somehow…
Everybody ends up involved.