LARRY GETS ARRESTED — BETHANY WARNED HIM TO STAY AWAY

A quiet afternoon suddenly turns tense.

Several police cars pull into Larry’s driveway. Their lights flash as officers step out and move toward the house.

Larry stands near the garage, confused and worried.

LARRY
What’s going on? Why are all these officers here?

One officer approaches him with a serious expression.

POLICE OFFICER
Larry, we need you to come with us. You’re being taken into custody in connection with the case involving Sharra’s mother.

Larry freezes.

LARRY
Wait… what? I didn’t do anything.

The officers surround him.

Larry looks toward the house, trying to understand what is happening.

LARRY
I’ve been trying to help Sharra. That’s all I did.

POLICE OFFICER
You can explain everything at the station. Right now, you need to cooperate.

Larry looks nervous as the officers place him under arrest.

Bethany suddenly hears the commotion outside.

She rushes toward the window.

Her face changes when she sees Larry surrounded by police officers.

BETHANY
Oh my God…

She stares in disbelief.

BETHANY
Larry!

Bethany runs toward the front door.

Bethany steps outside and sees Larry being escorted toward a police vehicle.

She looks devastated.

BETHANY
Larry! What happened?

Larry turns his head toward her.

LARRY
Bethany, I don’t know what’s happening!

Bethany walks closer but stops when an officer raises a hand.

POLICE OFFICER
Ma’am, please stay back.

Bethany looks at Larry with fear in her eyes.

BETHANY
I told you this was going to happen.

Larry looks confused.

LARRY
What are you talking about?

Bethany’s voice becomes emotional.

BETHANY
I warned you, Larry. I told you to stay away from this situation.

Larry lowers his head.

LARRY
I thought I was helping Sharra.

BETHANY
I know you thought you were helping her. But I told you not to get involved in her mother’s case!

Larry looks at the officers standing around him.

LARRY
I never thought it would come to this.

The officers begin walking Larry toward the police vehicle.

Bethany follows a few steps behind.

BETHANY
Larry, listen to me!

Larry turns around.

BETHANY
Tell them the truth. Tell them everything you know.

LARRY
I will.

Bethany wipes away a tear.

BETHANY
And don’t let them make you take responsibility for something you didn’t do.

Larry nods.

LARRY
I won’t.

An officer opens the back door of the police vehicle.

Larry pauses before getting inside.

LARRY
Bethany…

She looks at him.

LARRY
Take care of everybody while I’m gone.

Bethany’s expression breaks.

BETHANY
You better come home, Larry.

Larry gets into the vehicle.

The door closes.

Bethany stands there silently as the police vehicle begins moving.

Larry sits quietly in the back seat.

He looks through the window at his house disappearing behind him.

His face is filled with worry.

LARRY
I should’ve listened to her.

The officer driving keeps his eyes on the road.

POLICE OFFICER
You’ll have a chance to explain your side.

Larry takes a deep breath.

LARRY
I just wanted to help Sharra. I never wanted any trouble.

The vehicle continues toward the police station.

Bethany walks back inside.

The house suddenly feels empty.

She sits down on the couch and stares at the floor.

Her mind goes back to the warning she gave Larry.

BETHANY
I told him to stay away…

She shakes her head.

BETHANY
Why didn’t he listen to me?

Her phone rings.

Bethany looks at the screen.

It’s a call from Sharra.

She hesitates before answering.

BETHANY
Hello?

Sharra sounds frightened.

SHARRA
Bethany… what happened? I heard Larry got arrested.

Bethany closes her eyes.

BETHANY
Yes. The police took him.

SHARRA
Because of my mom?

Bethany pauses.

BETHANY
That’s what they said.

Sharra becomes emotional.

SHARRA
I never wanted Larry to get involved.

BETHANY
Neither did I. I warned him to stay away from this case.

SHARRA
Bethany, please… I don’t want him going to jail because of my family.

Bethany takes a breath.

BETHANY
Then we need to find out exactly what happened.

Larry sits across from two officers.

A folder containing information about Sharra’s mother’s case sits on the table.

POLICE OFFICER
Larry, we need to understand your involvement.

Larry looks directly at him.

LARRY
I’ll tell you everything.

POLICE OFFICER
Did you knowingly help Sharra’s mother?

Larry thinks carefully.

LARRY
I was trying to help Sharra. I didn’t want her family to fall apart.

POLICE OFFICER
But you understood there was an active case?

LARRY
Yes.

The room becomes quiet.

LARRY
But understanding there was a case doesn’t mean I was trying to break the law.

The officers exchange a look.

LARRY
I should’ve stayed out of it. Bethany told me that from the beginning.

Bethany walks back and forth across the living room.

She finally sits down and looks at her phone.

She calls Larry.

After several rings, someone answers.

LARRY
Bethany?

Her expression softens.

BETHANY
Larry, are you okay?

LARRY
I’m okay for now.

BETHANY
What did they ask you?

LARRY
Everything about Sharra’s mom.

Bethany closes her eyes.

BETHANY
I told you, Larry. I told you to stay away.

LARRY
I know.

There is a long silence.

LARRY
You were right.

Bethany’s eyes fill with tears.

BETHANY
I wasn’t trying to control you. I was scared this exact thing would happen.

LARRY
I understand that now.

BETHANY
We’re going to figure this out.

Larry takes a deep breath.

LARRY
I hope so.

The call ends.

Bethany sits quietly in the darkened room.

The police station stands under bright lights.

Larry remains inside, waiting for the next step.

Back at home, Bethany looks out the window.

She knows the situation is far from over.

BETHANY
You should have listened to me, Larry…

She takes a deep breath.

BETHANY
But I’m not going to abandon you now.

The camera pulls away from Bethany’s worried face.

Larry’s future is uncertain, Sharra’s family is under pressure, and the case involving her mother has now changed everything.

FADE OUT.