INT. LARRY AND BETHANY’S BEDROOM — NIGHT
Rain taps against the windows. Bethany stands beside the window while Larry sits silently on the edge of their bed. Years of unspoken feelings fill the room.
Larry, can I ask you something? And please, for once, don’t avoid my question.
Of course. What’s wrong?
When you feel lonely, when you need affection and physical closeness, what do you do? I’m your wife, Larry. We’ve been married for years, yet you hardly ever come near me. If you don’t come to me, then what do you do with those feelings?
Larry looks up, stunned. He has never heard Bethany speak so honestly about their marriage.
Why are you asking me this tonight?
Because I’m tired of pretending that I’m not hurt. Sometimes I lie beside you and feel as though I’m sleeping next to a stranger.
Her eyes fill with tears. Larry realizes that her question is not an accusation. It is a cry for the love she has been missing.
INT. BEDROOM — CONTINUOUS
Bethany, look at me. I never wanted you to feel unwanted.
But I did feel unwanted. Every single time I tried to get close to you and you turned away, I wondered what was wrong with me. Was I not beautiful enough? Was I too difficult to love?
Larry lowers his head. Her words reveal the damage caused by years of emotional distance.
You always said I was irritable. You complained about my temper, but did you ever ask yourself why I was unhappy? I wasn’t asking for expensive gifts or a perfect husband. I just wanted to feel that you wanted me in your life.
I didn’t understand how deeply I was hurting you.
You never asked, Larry. That’s what hurts the most. You decided what was wrong with me without ever asking what was happening inside my heart.
Larry takes a step toward her, then stops, afraid that even his kindness might come too late.
You’re right. I should have listened instead of making assumptions.
INT. LIVING ROOM — LATER THAT NIGHT
They sit together on the sofa. An untouched cup of tea rests on the table between them.
Sometimes I wonder what our marriage would have been like if we’d learned to talk to each other from the beginning.
Maybe we would have made fewer mistakes.
Maybe I wouldn’t have spent so many nights crying quietly because I didn’t want you to know how lonely I felt.
Larry turns toward her. The realization brings tears to his eyes.
You cried because of me?
I’m not telling you this to punish you. I’m telling you because I don’t want to keep pretending everything is fine. I don’t want to be your roommate, Larry. I want to be your wife.
And I want to become the husband you deserved.
He slowly extends his hand toward hers.
Can I hold your hand?
Bethany looks at him in surprise. After a moment, she places her hand in his. His fingers gently close around hers.
I never thought you’d ask me something so simple.
Maybe I should have asked more questions over the years.
INT. LIVING ROOM — MOMENTS LATER
Larry watches Bethany with a gentle smile. She notices and raises an eyebrow.
What are you staring at?
My wife. Am I not allowed to look at her?
Your wife? That’s interesting. I thought you’d forgotten who she was.
Larry laughs, and Bethany struggles to hide her smile.
That was cruel.
Good. Maybe now you’ll remember it.
He gently cups her cheeks and gives them a playful squeeze.
Larry! What are you doing?
Trying to make my beautiful wife smile.
Bethany catches his cheeks between her fingers and playfully tugs them.
Then let me remind you that your wife can be quite troublesome.
I’ve noticed. I think I’m going to need a lifetime to manage you.
A lifetime? You’d better be prepared to work hard.
They burst into laughter. Their faces remain close even after the laughter fades. Larry gently brushes a strand of hair away from her cheek.
I’ve missed seeing you smile like this.
Then give me more reasons to smile.
INT. LIVING ROOM — CONTINUOUS
Larry’s expression becomes serious. He takes both of Bethany’s hands and looks into her eyes.
Bethany, I’m sorry. We have been married for so many years, and I failed to give you the closeness and affection you deserved. You must have felt invisible beside me, and I hate knowing that I made you feel that way.
Bethany looks down, struggling to hold back her tears.
I used to blame your irritability. I thought your temper was the reason we stayed apart. But perhaps you were hurting because I kept pushing you away. Maybe your anger was the only way you knew how to tell me that something was wrong.
I should have tried to understand you instead of judging you. I was wrong, sweetheart. Please forgive me.
I didn’t need you to be perfect, Larry. I just needed you to notice me. To hold my hand sometimes. To ask how I was feeling. To look at me as if I still mattered.
Larry gently wipes a tear from her cheek.
You matter more than you know. I should have told you that every day. I can’t give you back the years we’ve lost, but I can try to make the years ahead different.
Don’t promise me a perfect future. Promise me that when things become difficult, you won’t shut me out again.
I promise I’ll try. I’ll listen, even when the conversation is difficult. And when I make a mistake, I’ll own it.
Bethany rests her head against his chest. Larry wraps his arms around her and kisses her forehead.
I’ve missed you, Larry. Even when you were sitting right beside me, I missed you.
I’ve missed you too. Especially then.
INT. BEDROOM — LATER THAT NIGHT
The rain has stopped. Bethany stands before the mirror, removing her earrings. Larry appears in the doorway.
Can I come in?
You don’t have to ask permission to enter your own bedroom.
Perhaps I should have asked more questions instead of assuming I knew what you wanted.
You’re learning.
She smiles, and Larry steps closer. He gently cups her face in his hands.
You’re beautiful, Bethany. You always have been. I should have told you that more often.
Then don’t stop telling me.
I won’t.
He kisses her forehead. Bethany smiles and playfully pinches his cheek again.
You’re going to keep doing that, aren’t you?
For the rest of our lives.
I suppose I’ll have to accept my fate.
She laughs and rests her head against his shoulder. They sit together, talking about the years they have lost and the future they might still build.
Larry, promise me tonight won’t become just another beautiful memory we never talk about again.
I promise.
Tomorrow, when we’re tired or irritated, remember this conversation. I wasn’t asking you to change overnight. I was asking you to stop leaving me alone inside our marriage.
Then I’ll show up. I’ll listen. And when I don’t understand you, I’ll ask instead of walking away.
Bethany holds him closer. For the first time in years, the bedroom feels like a place where love might finally live.
INT. BEDROOM — A FEW MINUTES LATER
Bethany rests beside Larry, finally feeling safe enough to believe in their new beginning. Then Larry’s phone vibrates on the bedside table.
Once. Twice. Three times.
Aren’t you going to answer that?
Not tonight. Whoever it is can wait until morning.
The phone vibrates again. Larry glances at the screen, and the color suddenly drains from his face.
Larry? What’s wrong?
He reaches for the phone, but Bethany catches sight of the name glowing on the screen. It belongs to a woman she has never heard him mention.
A message appears beneath the name.
“We need to talk about what happened before you make another mistake.”
Who is she?
Larry locks the phone and places it facedown on the table.
Bethany, please. Not tonight.
Not tonight? You just promised me honesty. You told me we would stop hiding things from each other. And now you can’t even tell me who is messaging you?
Larry looks away. Bethany’s newfound happiness begins to crumble.
You asked me to trust you tonight, Larry. Was everything you said just another lie?
No. I meant every word I said.
His phone vibrates again. This time, a photograph appears on the screen. Bethany catches a glimpse before Larry can turn it away.
Her face turns pale. She stares at him as if she no longer recognizes the man standing before her.
No… Tell me that’s not what I think it is.
Larry closes his eyes. He looks like a man whose carefully guarded secret has finally caught up with him.
Larry, who is that woman? And what happened before our marriage that you’ve never told me?
Larry opens his mouth, but before he can answer, three sharp knocks echo through the bedroom.
KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.
Both turn toward the door.
Larry? I know you’re in there. We need to talk. Now.
Bethany stares at her husband. Larry looks as though he has just seen a ghost.
The door handle begins to turn.