SHARRA ASKS BETHANY FOR HELP
A Family Drama Filled With Emotion, Conflict, and Regret
SCENE 1 — BETHANY’S HOUSE
The afternoon is quiet. Bethany is sitting inside her house when she suddenly hears a knock at the door.
She gets up and opens it. Sharra is standing outside. Her face looks worried, and it is clear that she has come because something serious is happening.
Bethany
“What happened? Why do you look so worried?”
Sharra takes a deep breath before stepping inside.
Sharra
“Bethany, I need your help with something.”
Bethany looks at her with concern.
Bethany
“What kind of help do you need?”
Sharra looks down for a moment. She is clearly nervous about asking Bethany for this favor.
Sharra
“It’s about my Mom.”
Bethany immediately becomes serious.
Bethany
“What happened?”
Sharra explains that her Mom has escaped from jail and is now facing serious legal consequences.
Sharra: “My Mom is in a terrible situation. I know what happened is serious, but I don’t want to lose her.”
Sharra then makes her request.
Sharra
“Please ask your father, Mr. Newburger, if he can help reduce my Mom’s sentence.”
Bethany looks uncomfortable. She knows that asking her father for help with Sharra’s Mom could create another family conflict.
Bethany
“Sharra, I don’t think I can do that.”
Sharra becomes emotional.
Sharra
“Please, Bethany. I know I’ve asked a lot from you, but I don’t know who else to turn to.”
Bethany remains silent. She thinks about all the arguments she and Sharra have had in the past.
At first, Bethany wants to refuse. But when she sees how worried Sharra is, her heart begins to soften.
Bethany
“I don’t know if my father will agree, but I’ll talk to him.”
Sharra looks relieved.
Sharra
“Thank you, Bethany. That means more to me than you know.”
Bethany nods, but she has no idea how difficult the conversation with her father is going to be.
SCENE 2 — MR. NEWBURGER’S OFFICE
Later that day, Bethany arrives at her father’s office.
She stands outside the office door for several seconds. She knows her father may not like what she is about to ask.
Finally, she knocks.
Mr. Newburger
“Come in.”
Bethany walks inside. Mr. Newburger looks up from his desk.
Mr. Newburger
“Bethany? What are you doing here?”
Bethany slowly approaches his desk.
Bethany
“Dad, I need to talk to you about something important.”
Mr. Newburger puts down the papers in his hands.
Mr. Newburger
“Okay. What is it?”
Bethany takes a deep breath.
Bethany
“It’s about Sharra.”
The moment Mr. Newburger hears Sharra’s name, his expression changes.
Mr. Newburger
“What about Sharra?”
Bethany carefully explains the situation.
Bethany: “Sharra’s Mom escaped from jail. Sharra wants me to ask you if there is anything you can do to help reduce her sentence.”
Mr. Newburger stares at Bethany in disbelief. For a moment, there is complete silence in the office.
Then his anger begins to rise.
Mr. Newburger
“Bethany, are you serious?”
Bethany
“I’m only asking you to listen.”
Mr. Newburger stands up from his chair.
Mr. Newburger
“Why do you always get involved in Sharra’s problems?”
His voice becomes louder.
Mr. Newburger
“She constantly argues with you. She doesn’t treat you the way she should. Yet every time she has a problem, you come running to help her.”
Bethany lowers her eyes.
Bethany
“Dad, I’m not doing this for myself. I just think she needs help.”
Mr. Newburger shakes his head.
Mr. Newburger
“No. I’m not going to do this.”
Bethany looks disappointed.
Bethany
“Dad, please—”
Mr. Newburger
“No, Bethany!”
His voice echoes through the office.
Bethany becomes completely silent.
Mr. Newburger
“You always try to solve everyone else’s problems. You keep putting yourself in the middle of other people’s situations, and then you end up getting hurt.”
Bethany tries to control her emotions.
Bethany
“I was just trying to help someone.”
Mr. Newburger
“I don’t want to hear anything else about Sharra or her Mom. Leave my office.”
Bethany stands frozen for a moment.
Mr. Newburger
“And from now on, don’t come to me with Sharra’s problems.”
Bethany slowly turns toward the door. Her eyes begin to fill with tears.
SCENE 3 — BETHANY COLLAPSES
Bethany takes a few steps toward the door.
Suddenly, she stops.
The room begins to spin. She places one hand against the wall.
Bethany
“Dad…”
Her voice is weak.
Mr. Newburger looks at her.
Mr. Newburger
“Bethany?”
Bethany tries to stay standing, but the dizziness becomes stronger.
Her knees suddenly give way, and she collapses to the floor.
“BETHANY!”
Charlotte, who is nearby, immediately rushes toward her.
She kneels beside Bethany.
Charlotte
“Bethany! Bethany, open your eyes!”
Charlotte gently tries to help Bethany, but Bethany does not respond.
Charlotte becomes terrified.
Charlotte
“Bethany, please wake up!”
Mr. Newburger rushes over.
All of his anger disappears instantly.
He looks down at his daughter lying unconscious on the floor. His expression changes from anger to fear.
Mr. Newburger
“Oh my God…”
Charlotte looks at him through tears.
Charlotte
“She’s not waking up!”
Mr. Newburger kneels beside Bethany.
Mr. Newburger
“Bethany… please. Open your eyes.”
There is no response.
The man who was angry only moments earlier now looks completely helpless.
Mr. Newburger
“Bethany, I’m sorry.”
Charlotte begins crying too.
Charlotte
“Someone needs to call an ambulance!”
Mr. Newburger quickly takes out his phone. His hands are shaking as he makes the call.
Mr. Newburger
“My daughter collapsed. She’s unconscious. Please send an ambulance immediately.”
Charlotte stays beside Bethany and holds her hand while they wait anxiously for help to arrive.
SCENE 4 — A FATHER’S REGRET
The office suddenly feels completely different.
The argument is forgotten.
Mr. Newburger looks at Bethany and realizes that his harsh words may have deeply hurt his daughter.
He wipes away his tears.
Mr. Newburger
“I never wanted this to happen.”
Charlotte looks at him.
Charlotte
“She only came here because she wanted to help Sharra.”
Mr. Newburger says nothing.
He looks down at Bethany and begins to question whether he was too harsh with his daughter.
Mr. Newburger
“She was only trying to help.”
The sound of an ambulance can soon be heard approaching from outside.
Charlotte squeezes Bethany’s hand.
Mr. Newburger remains beside his daughter, waiting desperately for help to arrive.
The office that had been filled with anger is now filled with fear, regret, and tears.
THE BIG QUESTION
Will Bethany forgive her father after hearing his harsh words?
Or will this painful moment permanently change their relationship?
Only time will tell…