LARRY ENDS HIS MARRIAGE WITH BETHANY —
“MARRY ANYONE YOU WANT!”

SCENE 1 — THE LIVING ROOM — EVENING

The living room is quiet, but the tension between Larry and Bethany is impossible to ignore. Bethany sits on the couch, watching Larry pace back and forth. His expression is cold, and his decision seems final.

Bethany senses that something terrible is about to happen. She stands slowly, hoping Larry will finally explain what has been bothering him.

BETHANY

Larry, why have you been acting like this lately? You barely speak to me anymore. Every time I try to get close to you, you find a reason to walk away.

Larry stops pacing and looks directly at her. He takes a deep breath before speaking.

LARRY

Bethany, I don’t want to pretend anymore. I’ve been thinking about our marriage for a long time, and I’ve finally made my decision.

Bethany’s face changes. She takes a small step toward him, desperately searching his eyes for some sign that he might reconsider.

BETHANY

What decision? Larry, you’re frightening me. Whatever it is, please talk to me. We are married, and we should be able to discuss our problems together.

Larry shakes his head.

LARRY

There is nothing left to discuss. I can’t fulfill your physical desires anymore, and I don’t want to continue living in a marriage that neither of us seems happy in.

Bethany stares at him in disbelief.

BETHANY

Are you seriously saying this to me? After everything we’ve shared, you’re standing in our living room and telling me that you can’t give me what I need?

Larry looks away, unwilling to soften his words.

LARRY

I’m telling you that I want a divorce.

The room falls silent. Bethany’s eyes fill with tears as the reality of his words begins to sink in.

SCENE 2 — THE DIVORCE DECISION

Bethany sits down heavily on the couch. She presses her hands together, trying to control her emotions. Larry remains standing, keeping his distance.

BETHANY

Larry, please think about what you’re doing. Marriage isn’t just about physical needs. It’s about love, companionship, trust, and standing beside each other when life becomes difficult.

Larry gives a bitter laugh.

LARRY

And what if I don’t want to continue anymore? Am I supposed to stay married simply because we’ve been together for years?

BETHANY

No, but I deserve an honest explanation. If something has changed between us, tell me. Don’t throw our entire marriage away as if it never meant anything.

Larry walks toward the window and looks outside.

LARRY

I’ve made up my mind, Bethany. I don’t want to keep arguing about this. I want to be free to live my life, and I want you to be free to live yours.

Bethany wipes her tears.

BETHANY

So that’s it? You’re just going to leave me and expect me to accept everything without asking questions?

Larry turns around.

LARRY

I’m telling you that you should marry someone else.

Bethany looks at him as though she cannot believe what she has heard.

BETHANY

Marry someone else? You’re my husband, Larry. How can you stand here and tell me to find another man?

LARRY

Because I don’t want you to spend the rest of your life waiting for something I can no longer give you.

He pauses before delivering the words that hurt her most.

LARRY

Marry whoever you want, Bethany. I don’t care anymore. Choose any man you like. If you believe someone else can make you happy, then go ahead.

Bethany slowly rises from the couch.

BETHANY

You don’t care who I marry? You don’t care if I share my life with another man? You don’t care if I eventually fall in love with someone else?

Larry’s jaw tightens.

LARRY

That’s exactly what I’m saying. You can marry whoever you want. What you do after our divorce is no longer my concern.

Bethany covers her mouth for a moment, struggling to process his cruelty.

SCENE 3 — BETHANY DEMANDS THE TRUTH

Bethany walks closer to Larry. Her sadness begins to turn into frustration.

BETHANY

I need you to look me in the eyes and tell me the truth. Is there another woman? Is that why you’re suddenly telling me to marry someone else?

Larry immediately shakes his head.

LARRY

This isn’t about another woman. Stop looking for someone to blame. I’ve simply decided that I don’t want this marriage anymore.

BETHANY

Then why are you talking as if my happiness means absolutely nothing to you?

Larry folds his arms.

LARRY

Because I’m tired of pretending that everything is fine. I don’t want to make promises I cannot keep, and I don’t want to spend another year having the same arguments.

Bethany takes a shaky breath.

BETHANY

I never asked you to be perfect, Larry. I asked you to be my husband. I wanted us to work through our problems instead of running away from them.

LARRY

And I don’t want to work through them anymore.

His answer leaves Bethany speechless. She looks around the living room, noticing the photographs of them together on the walls. Once, those pictures represented a future they both believed in. Now, they seem like memories from another lifetime.

BETHANY

Was any of it real to you? All those years, all those promises, all those times you told me that we would grow old together?

Larry looks at the photographs briefly.

LARRY

There was a time when I believed those promises. But things change, Bethany. People change, and sometimes marriages come to an end.

BETHANY

And you can accept that so easily?

LARRY

No. But I’ve accepted that I want to leave.

SCENE 4 — THE FINAL WARNING

Bethany walks toward the fireplace and picks up a framed photograph from their wedding day. She studies their smiling faces, remembering the happiness they once shared.

Larry watches her silently.

BETHANY

I remember this day. You held my hands and promised that you would never stop choosing me. You told everyone that I was the woman you wanted beside you for the rest of your life.

She turns toward him, holding the photograph.

BETHANY

What happened to that man, Larry?

Larry looks uncomfortable but refuses to change his decision.

LARRY

That was years ago. We cannot keep living in the past.

BETHANY

I’m not living in the past. I’m trying to understand how the man who made those promises can now look me in the face and tell me to marry someone else.

Larry approaches her, his voice firm.

LARRY

Then understand this: I want a divorce. After that, you can do whatever you want. If you find someone who makes you happy, marry him. If you want to start over, start over. I won’t stop you.

Bethany places the photograph back on the fireplace.

BETHANY

You really believe I can walk away from this marriage and immediately begin a new life?

LARRY

That’s your choice, not mine.

BETHANY

And if I fall in love with another man?

Larry pauses for a moment before answering.

LARRY

Then that’s your business. You won’t need my permission.

Bethany nods slowly, although tears continue to run down her cheeks.

BETHANY

Fine, Larry. If that’s what you want, I won’t force you to stay with me. But don’t expect me to pretend that your words haven’t changed everything between us.

Larry looks toward the hallway.

LARRY

I don’t expect anything from you anymore.

He turns and walks away. Bethany remains standing in the living room, alone with the memories of their marriage.

SCENE 5 — THE BEDROOM — LATER THAT NIGHT

Bethany enters the bedroom and closes the door quietly. Larry is already packing a small suitcase.

She watches him fold his clothes and place them inside without looking at her.

BETHANY

Are you leaving tonight?

LARRY

I need some space. I think it’s better if we don’t spend the night arguing.

Bethany sits on the edge of the bed.

BETHANY

I keep waiting for you to tell me that you didn’t mean what you said. I keep hoping you’ll turn around and tell me that we can still fix this.

Larry closes the suitcase.

LARRY

I’m sorry you’re hurting, Bethany, but I won’t lie to you just to make tonight easier.

BETHANY

Then answer one last question. When you told me to marry whoever I wanted, did you mean that you would never care about me again?

Larry looks at her for several seconds.

LARRY

I mean that once our marriage is over, you have the right to make your own decisions. You shouldn’t have to live according to what I want.

Bethany looks down at her hands.

BETHANY

I never wanted to marry someone else. I wanted my marriage to work.

Larry picks up his suitcase.

LARRY

Sometimes wanting something isn’t enough to save it.

He walks toward the door.

BETHANY

Larry?

He stops but doesn’t turn around.

BETHANY

I hope that one day, when you look back on this night, you remember that I was willing to fight for us.

Larry remains silent before leaving the bedroom. Bethany listens to his footsteps fade down the hallway.

SCENE 6 — THE FRONT ENTRANCE — MIDNIGHT

Larry stands near the front door with his suitcase. Bethany follows him, hoping he might hesitate before leaving.

He reaches for the handle.

BETHANY

If you walk out of that door tonight, I don’t know what our future will look like.

Larry finally turns toward her.

LARRY

Neither do I. But I know I cannot continue this marriage.

BETHANY

And you still want me to marry another man?

LARRY

If that’s what makes you happy someday, do it. Marry whoever you want, Bethany. You don’t owe me the rest of your life.

Bethany wipes her tears and straightens her shoulders.

BETHANY

Then I will make my own decisions from now on. But I won’t marry someone just to prove that I can move on. I need time to understand who I am without this marriage.

Larry nods.

LARRY

That’s your choice.

He opens the door and steps outside. Bethany stands motionless as he walks away into the darkness. She wants to call his name, but the words never leave her mouth.

The door slowly closes. For several moments, she remains at the entrance, staring at the place where her husband stood.

Then she turns toward the living room, where their wedding photograph rests on the fireplace.

BETHANY

Whispering through tears.

You told me to marry someone else, Larry. You told me you didn’t care anymore.

She pauses, looking at the photograph one last time.

BETHANY

But you never asked me what I wanted.

Bethany walks away from the photograph and switches off the living room lights. The house falls into darkness.

Their marriage may be ending, but the consequences of Larry’s decision have only just begun.