reh );Bethany Offered Sharra Money and Demanded That She Stay Away from Larry

THE PRICE OF DISTANCE

A CINEMATIC SCREENPLAY

SCENE 1 — SHARRA’S HOUSE — LATE AFTERNOON

The house is quiet.

Sharra sits on the couch, looking through some papers on the table. Her expression is serious and tired.

A car stops outside.

Sharra looks toward the window.

A moment later, there is a knock at the door.

She slowly gets up and opens it.

Bethany stands outside, holding a handbag.

Sharra looks surprised.

SHARRA
Bethany? What are you doing here?

Bethany forces a small smile.

BETHANY
I came because I need to talk to you.

Sharra steps aside.

SHARRA
Then come in.

Bethany enters and looks around the room.

Something about her expression makes Sharra uneasy.

SCENE 2 — SHARRA’S LIVING ROOM — MOMENTS LATER

They sit across from each other.

For several seconds, neither woman speaks.

Bethany places her handbag beside her.

SHARRA
You said you needed to talk. What is this about?

Bethany takes a deep breath.

BETHANY
It’s about your mother’s case.

Sharra immediately becomes more attentive.

SHARRA
What about it?

Bethany leans forward.

BETHANY
I spoke to my uncle about everything.

Sharra’s eyes widen.

SHARRA
You spoke to your uncle?

BETHANY
Yes.

Bethany pauses before continuing.

BETHANY
I explained your situation to him. I told him what you have been dealing with and how important this matter is to you.

Sharra watches her carefully.

SHARRA
And what did he say?

Bethany gives her a serious look.

BETHANY
He is willing to help you.

Sharra looks stunned.

SHARRA
He is?

Bethany nods.

BETHANY
Yes. He is prepared to give you the support you need.

Sharra slowly relaxes.

For the first time, hope appears on her face.

SHARRA
Bethany, if you’re telling me the truth, I don’t know what to say.

BETHANY
You don’t have to say anything.

Bethany opens her handbag.

She takes out an envelope and places it on the table.

Sharra looks down at it.

Then back at Bethany.

SHARRA
What’s that?

Bethany pushes the envelope toward her.

BETHANY
Money.

Sharra immediately pulls her hand back.

SHARRA
I can’t take this.

BETHANY
Please. Take it.

SHARRA
Why would you give me this much money?

Bethany’s expression changes.

The kindness disappears from her face.

She becomes serious.

SCENE 3 — THE REAL REASON — CONTINUOUS

Bethany sits back.

BETHANY
Because I need something from you.

Sharra stares at her.

SHARRA
I knew there was a reason.

BETHANY
I didn’t come here to fight with you.

SHARRA
Then tell me what you want.

Bethany takes a breath.

BETHANY
I want you to stay away from Larry.

Sharra freezes.

The room suddenly feels silent.

SHARRA
What?

BETHANY
You heard me.

SHARRA
You came here, offered me money, and now you’re telling me to stay away from Larry?

BETHANY
I’m asking you to keep your distance.

Sharra stands.

SHARRA
No. You don’t get to buy my silence.

Bethany remains seated.

BETHANY
I’m not trying to buy your silence.

SHARRA
Then what are you doing?

BETHANY
I’m trying to prevent another problem between you and Larry.

Sharra shakes her head.

SHARRA
Larry can decide for himself who he wants in his life.

BETHANY
That’s exactly why I’m asking you to step away.

Sharra looks at the envelope again.

SHARRA
And this money?

BETHANY
Consider it help for your mother’s case.

Sharra looks suspicious.

SHARRA
And what happens if I don’t accept it?

Bethany’s voice becomes firmer.

BETHANY
Then I don’t know how this situation will move forward.

SCENE 4 — THE WARNING — EVENING

Sharra walks toward the window.

Bethany watches her.

SHARRA
You think money gives you the right to control people?

BETHANY
No.

A pause.

BETHANY
But I believe sometimes people need to make difficult choices.

Sharra turns around.

SHARRA
You are making this choice for me.

BETHANY
I’m giving you an opportunity.

SHARRA
An opportunity to disappear from Larry’s life?

Bethany nods.

BETHANY
Yes.

Sharra’s expression hardens.

SHARRA
And you want me to stay away from you too?

Bethany looks directly at her.

BETHANY
Yes.

Sharra slowly approaches the table.

SHARRA
So let me understand this.

She points toward the envelope.

SHARRA
You talked to your uncle about my mother’s case.

Bethany nods.

SHARRA
He agreed to help me.

BETHANY
Yes.

SHARRA
And now you’re giving me money so I stay away from you and Larry.

BETHANY
That’s what I’m asking.

Sharra lets out a quiet, disappointed laugh.

SHARRA
You really thought this would work?

SCENE 5 — BETHANY’S PRESSURE — NIGHT

Bethany stands.

Her voice becomes emotional.

BETHANY
You don’t understand what Larry and I are going through.

SHARRA
Then talk to Larry.

BETHANY
I have.

SHARRA
Then why are you here?

Bethany looks away.

For a moment, she struggles to answer.

BETHANY
Because every time you become involved, everything becomes more complicated.

Sharra shakes her head.

SHARRA
That’s not my responsibility.

BETHANY
Maybe not.

Bethany looks back at her.

BETHANY
But I want peace in my marriage.

Sharra’s expression softens slightly.

SHARRA
Then stop creating secrets.

Bethany looks uncomfortable.

SHARRA
If Larry finds out you came here and offered me money, what do you think he’ll say?

Bethany says nothing.

That silence answers the question.

SCENE 6 — THE DECISION — LATER

Sharra picks up the envelope.

Bethany watches closely.

Sharra holds it for a moment.

Then she places it back on the table.

SHARRA
I will think about your offer.

Bethany looks surprised.

BETHANY
You will?

SHARRA
I said I’ll think about it.

Sharra points toward the door.

SHARRA
But don’t mistake that for agreement.

Bethany slowly picks up her handbag.

BETHANY
I just want you to understand what I’m asking.

SHARRA
I understand perfectly.

Bethany walks toward the door.

Before leaving, she turns around.

BETHANY
Please don’t tell Larry about this conversation.

Sharra stares at her.

SHARRA
That’s the one thing I can’t promise.

Bethany’s face changes.

She realizes the situation may be much more dangerous than she expected.

She walks out.

The door closes behind her.

SCENE 7 — SHARRA’S HOUSE — NIGHT

Sharra stands alone in the living room.

Her eyes remain fixed on the envelope.

She slowly picks it up.

Then she looks toward the closed door.

SHARRA
What are you really afraid of, Bethany?

Her phone suddenly rings.

Sharra looks at the screen.

LARRY.

She hesitates.

Her hand moves toward the answer button.

Before she answers, she looks once more at the envelope.

The phone continues ringing.

Sharra finally answers.

SHARRA
Larry?

Larry’s voice comes through the phone.

LARRY
Sharra, is everything okay?

Sharra looks down at the money.

She struggles with what to say.

SHARRA
Larry… we need to talk.

A long silence follows.

LARRY
About what?

Sharra looks toward the door Bethany just walked through.

SHARRA
About Bethany.

Larry immediately becomes concerned.

LARRY
What happened?

Sharra takes a deep breath.

SHARRA
She came here today.

Larry waits.

SHARRA
And she offered me money.

Silence.

Sharra closes her eyes.

SHARRA
But that wasn’t the real reason she came.

Larry’s voice becomes tense.

LARRY
Then why did she come?

Sharra looks at the envelope one last time.

SHARRA
She wants me to stay away from you.

Larry says nothing.

The call remains connected.

And for the first time, Larry realizes Bethany may have been keeping something important from him.

FADE OUT.