SHARRA, LARRY & BETHANY — THE FAMILY WAR

SCENE 1 — LARRY’S HOUSE — LATE AFTERNOON

The house is quiet.

Larry is standing in the living room, looking through some papers on the table. Bethany sits nearby, holding her phone. The tension between them has been building for days.

A sudden knock comes from the front door.

Larry looks toward the door.

Bethany looks up.

LARRY

Who could that be?

Larry walks toward the door and opens it.

Sharra is standing outside.

She looks nervous, but determined.

Larry’s expression immediately becomes serious.

LARRY

Sharra?

SHARRA

Larry, I need to talk to you.

LARRY

About what?

Sharra takes a deep breath.

SHARRA

About my mom.

Larry steps aside.

LARRY

Come in.

Sharra slowly walks inside.

Bethany sees her.

Her face changes immediately.

She stands up.

BETHANY

What is she doing here?

Sharra turns toward Bethany.

The room suddenly becomes tense.

SHARRA

I came here to talk to Larry about my mother.

BETHANY

You could have called.

SHARRA

I don’t want to call.

She takes a step closer.

SHARRA

I want answers.

Bethany crosses her arms.

BETHANY

Answers about what?

Sharra looks directly into her eyes.

SHARRA

You know exactly what I’m talking about.

Bethany remains silent.

Larry watches both women carefully.

SHARRA

My mother is in trouble because somebody gave the police information about her.

Her voice begins to shake.

SHARRA

And I want to know if that person was you.

Bethany looks away.

BETHANY

I didn’t do what you’re accusing me of.

SHARRA

Then tell me the truth!

Sharra’s voice rises.

SHARRA

Did you give the police information about my mom?

Bethany finally looks at her.

BETHANY

You don’t know what you’re talking about.

SHARRA

My mother was taken away!

A painful silence fills the room.

SHARRA

Do you understand what that did to my family?

Bethany becomes defensive.

BETHANY

I didn’t arrest your mother.

SHARRA

But you could have been the reason they found her!

Larry steps between them.

LARRY

Enough.

Sharra looks at Larry.

SHARRA

Larry, I’m not here to fight.

LARRY

Then don’t start one.

SHARRA

I’m asking a simple question.

She points toward Bethany.

SHARRA

Did she tell the police?

Bethany shakes her head.

BETHANY

I already told you. I didn’t do this.

SHARRA

You’re lying!

Bethany’s expression hardens.

BETHANY

Watch your mouth.

SHARRA

Why should I?

Sharra steps closer.

SHARRA

My mother is sitting behind bars, and you expect me to stand here and pretend nothing happened?

Bethany gets angry.

BETHANY

You came into this house looking for somebody to blame!

SHARRA

Because somebody needs to take responsibility!

Larry raises his voice.

LARRY

Both of you, stop!

But Sharra and Bethany are too angry to listen.

SHARRA

You betrayed my family!

BETHANY

I didn’t betray anyone!

SHARRA

Then why does everything keep pointing back to you?

Bethany takes a step toward Sharra.

BETHANY

Get out of my face.

SHARRA

I’m not leaving until I get the truth.

Larry looks frustrated.

He had warned Sharra before.

LARRY

Sharra, I told you already.

Sharra looks at him.

LARRY

We don’t know what happened yet.

SHARRA

But you know something.

LARRY

No, I don’t.

SHARRA

Then why are you protecting her?

Larry looks toward Bethany.

Bethany remains silent.

The accusation hits him hard.

LARRY

I’m not protecting anybody.

SHARRA

It sure looks like it.

Larry’s patience finally breaks.

LARRY

That’s enough!

The room goes silent.

Larry walks toward Sharra.

LARRY

I told you before that you needed to stay calm.

SHARRA

I am calm!

LARRY

No, you’re not.

He points toward the door.

LARRY

You’re angry, and you’re coming into my house accusing people without knowing the whole story.

Sharra shakes her head.

SHARRA

My mother is the one paying for this!

LARRY

And I understand that.

His voice becomes firm.

LARRY

But you don’t know yet whether Bethany had anything to do with it.

Sharra looks at Bethany.

SHARRA

I know what I believe.

LARRY

That’s the problem.

Sharra’s eyes fill with frustration.

SHARRA

Larry, please. I’m asking you to help me.

For a moment, Larry softens.

But the tension quickly returns.

LARRY

I told you to wait.

SHARRA

I waited.

LARRY

Not long enough.

Sharra shakes her head.

SHARRA

You don’t understand what it’s like watching your mother get taken away.

Larry takes a deep breath.

LARRY

I understand more than you think.

Sharra looks confused.

SHARRA

Then help me.

Larry looks toward the door.

LARRY

You need to leave.

Sharra stares at him.

SHARRA

What?

LARRY

I said you need to leave.

SHARRA

Larry, I’m not finished.

LARRY

Yes, you are.

Sharra steps backward.

SHARRA

You’re really doing this?

Larry walks toward her.

LARRY

You came here angry. You started fighting with Bethany, and now you’re accusing me of protecting her.

He opens the front door.

LARRY

I’m not going to let this turn into something worse.

Sharra refuses to move.

SHARRA

I came here because I trusted you.

Larry’s face becomes serious.

LARRY

And I’m telling you right now, you need to trust me enough to leave.

Sharra looks at Bethany one last time.

SHARRA

This isn’t over.

Bethany doesn’t answer.

Larry gestures toward the outside.

LARRY

Go home, Sharra.

Sharra finally walks toward the door.

Larry follows behind her.

She stops on the porch and turns around.

SHARRA

If I find out Bethany really gave the police information about my mother, I’m coming back.

Larry looks directly at her.

LARRY

Don’t make threats.

SHARRA

It’s not a threat.

She pauses.

SHARRA

It’s a promise.

Sharra walks away.

Larry watches her disappear down the driveway.

He slowly closes the door.

Inside, Bethany stands silently.

Larry turns toward her.

LARRY

What was that?

Bethany looks nervous.

BETHANY

I told you. I didn’t call the police.

Larry studies her face.

LARRY

I hope you’re telling me the truth.

Bethany looks down.

BETHANY

I am.

Larry walks back into the living room.

LARRY

Because if Sharra finds out you were involved…

He stops.

Bethany looks at him.

BETHANY

What?

Larry turns toward her.

LARRY

Then this family isn’t going to have a disagreement.

A heavy silence follows.

LARRY

It’s going to have a war.

Bethany’s expression changes.

Outside, Sharra continues walking, wiping tears from her eyes.

She pulls out her phone.

She stares at the screen.

Her anger slowly replaces her sadness.

SHARRA

I’m going to find out the truth.

She walks away.

The camera pulls back from Larry’s house.

Inside, Larry and Bethany stand in silence.

Outside, Sharra disappears into the distance.

The conflict is only beginning.