SCENE 1: SHARRA’S HOUSE — AFTERNOON

Sharra is sitting on her bed, thinking about her upcoming trip to Atlanta to visit her mother. Suddenly, an idea comes to her mind. She picks up her phone and smiles.

SHARRA

I’m going to Atlanta to see my mom. Why shouldn’t I ask Larry to come with me? Maybe we can spend some time together, too.

Sharra immediately dials Larry’s number.

SCENE 2: LARRY AND BETHANY’S BEDROOM — AFTERNOON

Larry and Bethany are sitting together in their bedroom when Larry’s phone starts ringing. He sees Sharra’s name. Bethany notices it, and her expression changes immediately.

BETHANY

Who is calling you now?

LARRY

It’s Sharra. I’ll answer it.

Larry answers while Bethany watches him closely.

LARRY

Hey, Sharra! What’s up?

SHARRA

Larry, I wanted to ask you something. Would you come with me?

LARRY

Come with you? Where?

SHARRA

Atlanta. I’m going there to visit my mom, and I thought you could come along with me.

Larry suddenly goes quiet and looks toward Bethany. She stares at him angrily, her eyes filled with disbelief. Instead of refusing Sharra, Larry makes a decision that leaves Bethany speechless.

LARRY

Yeah, Sharra. I’ll come with you.

Bethany’s mouth falls open. She cannot believe what she has heard.

SHARRA

Really? Okay, then get ready. I’m coming to pick you up.

LARRY

Okay. I’ll be ready.

Sharra ends the call. Larry lowers his phone, and an uncomfortable silence fills the bedroom.

BETHANY

You’re actually going with her?

LARRY

Yes. I told her I would.

BETHANY

Larry, are you serious right now? You’re sitting here with your wife, and you just agreed to travel with another woman!

LARRY

Bethany, I’m not going to argue with you about this.

BETHANY

One day, Larry, you’re going to regret treating me like this.

Larry says nothing.

SCENE 3: LARRY AND BETHANY’S HOUSE — LATER

Larry finishes getting dressed and picks up his belongings. Bethany hopes he will change his mind, but then she hears a car pull up outside. Sharra has arrived.

BETHANY

Larry, please tell me you’re not really leaving with her.

LARRY

I’m going, Bethany. You’re not going to stop me.

BETHANY

So you’re choosing her over your own wife?

LARRY

I’m choosing to make my own decisions. You don’t get to control every move I make.

Sharra enters the house and stands beside Larry.

SHARRA

Larry, are you ready? We should get going.

BETHANY

Why do you keep coming here and dragging Larry into everything? Can’t you do anything without involving him?

SHARRA

What’s your problem, Bethany? I asked Larry to come with me. He agreed. If you have a problem with that, take it up with him.

BETHANY

He is my husband! Of course I have a problem with you taking him away!

SHARRA

And what exactly are you going to do about it?

BETHANY

You think you can walk into my home and take my husband whenever you want?

SHARRA

I don’t have to take anybody. Larry is standing right here, and he’s the one choosing to come with me.

LARRY

Enough! I’m leaving now.

Bethany rushes toward the doorway and stands in front of him.

BETHANY

You’re not going anywhere!

LARRY

Move, Bethany.

BETHANY

Not until you tell me why Sharra is more important to you than your own marriage!

LARRY

I don’t owe you an explanation every time I want to go somewhere.

Sharra steps forward and grabs Bethany by the arm, pushing past her to clear the doorway. Bethany loses her balance and falls to the ground. For a moment, everyone freezes.

BETHANY

You will pay for this! Both of you!

Larry follows Sharra outside. Bethany watches as they get into the car and drive away. Her heart breaks, but sadness soon turns into determination.

BETHANY

Larry, you have no idea what you’ve just started.

SCENE 4: MR. NEWBURGER’S HOUSE — EVENING

Bethany arrives at her father Mr. Newburger’s house carrying a suitcase. He opens the door and notices her red eyes and trembling hands.

MR. NEWBURGER

Bethany? What happened to you? Why are you carrying a suitcase?

Bethany tries to speak, but her voice breaks. Mr. Newburger guides her inside and sits her down.

MR. NEWBURGER

Take a breath, sweetheart. Tell me what happened.

BETHANY

Dad, Larry humiliated me today. He left with Sharra to go to Atlanta, even after I begged him not to.

MR. NEWBURGER

He left you to travel with Sharra?

BETHANY

Yes! And when I tried to stop them, Sharra pushed past me, and I fell to the ground. Larry didn’t even care. He just left with her!

MR. NEWBURGER

That man has some explaining to do. You’re his wife, Bethany. He cannot keep treating you as though your feelings mean nothing.

BETHANY

Dad, I don’t even know if Larry wants to be married to me anymore.

MR. NEWBURGER

Listen to me. You’re not going to face this alone. I’m going to speak to Larry myself.

Mr. Newburger takes out his phone and dials Larry’s number.

SCENE 5: ATLANTA — NIGHT

Larry and Sharra have arrived in Atlanta. They are sitting inside a quiet restaurant when Larry’s phone rings. He sees Mr. Newburger’s name, and his smile disappears.

SHARRA

Who is it?

LARRY

It’s Mr. Newburger.

SHARRA

Bethany’s father?

Larry nods and answers.

LARRY

Hello, Mr. Newburger.

MR. NEWBURGER

Larry, where are you?

LARRY

I’m in Atlanta with Sharra. We came to visit her mother.

MR. NEWBURGER

I see. So you had enough time to travel to Atlanta with another woman, but you didn’t have enough time to think about your wife?

LARRY

Sir, I don’t think you understand the situation.

MR. NEWBURGER

Then you’d better explain it to me. Because my daughter is sitting in my house crying over what you did!

Larry looks at Sharra. Her smile fades as she realizes how serious the situation has become.

LARRY

Sir, Bethany and I had an argument. That’s all.

MR. NEWBURGER

An argument? You left your wife behind, and now you’re calling it an argument?

Larry remains silent. Then Mr. Newburger delivers an unexpected demand.

MR. NEWBURGER

I don’t care where you are or what you’re doing. You will come to my house immediately when you return. And Larry, you’d better be prepared to answer every question I have.

LARRY

Yes, sir. I’ll come and speak to you.

MR. NEWBURGER

Good. Because this conversation is going to determine what happens next in your marriage.

Mr. Newburger ends the call. Larry slowly puts his phone down.

SHARRA

What did he say?

LARRY

He wants me to come to his house when we get back.

SHARRA

And what are you going to tell him?

Larry looks away, unable to answer.

SCENE 6: MR. NEWBURGER’S HOUSE — LATE NIGHT

Bethany is sitting quietly on the couch when her father returns to the living room.

BETHANY

Dad, what did Larry say?

MR. NEWBURGER

He agreed to come here. When he does, I’m going to ask him one simple question: does he actually want to remain married to you?

BETHANY

And if he says he doesn’t?

MR. NEWBURGER

Then we’ll have to decide what’s best for you. I won’t force you to stay in a marriage where you feel unwanted.

Bethany lowers her head. For the first time, she begins to wonder whether Larry’s decision to leave with Sharra is the beginning of the end of their marriage.

SCENE 7: A FATHER’S PROMISE — LATE NIGHT

Mr. Newburger watches Bethany sitting silently. He knows that the next conversation with Larry could change the family forever.

MR. NEWBURGER

You deserve honesty, Bethany. I’m going to make sure Larry tells us the truth.

BETHANY

I just want to know why he keeps putting Sharra before me.

MR. NEWBURGER

And that is exactly what I intend to find out.

SCENE 8: ATLANTA — A SECRET QUESTION

Across town, Larry sits quietly while Sharra watches him. The call has ruined their peaceful evening, and Larry seems lost in thought.

SHARRA

Are you worried about what Bethany’s father is going to say?

LARRY

I’m not worried. I just don’t want this to turn into a bigger problem than it already is.

SHARRA

Then you should be ready to tell him why you came with me.

Larry looks at her, but before he can answer, his phone lights up with another notification. He stares at the screen, then turns it face down without explaining what he saw.

Sharra notices his reaction and begins to wonder whether Larry is hiding something from her, too.

SCENE 9: MR. NEWBURGER MAKES ANOTHER CALL

Back at the house, Mr. Newburger picks up his phone again. Bethany watches him carefully, sensing that he has another plan.

BETHANY

What are you doing, Dad?

MR. NEWBURGER

There’s something else I need to find out before Larry gets here.

BETHANY

What is it, Dad?

MR. NEWBURGER

I want to know exactly what is going on between Larry and Sharra.

Bethany freezes. Could her father be about to uncover a secret that changes everything?

SCENE 10: THE CONFRONTATION IS COMING

Mr. Newburger puts his phone away and looks toward the front door, as if he can already picture Larry standing there, forced to answer for his choices.

Bethany sits beside him, caught between the hope that Larry will fight for their marriage and the fear that he has already chosen another path.

Meanwhile, in Atlanta, Larry knows that his return will not be easy. Sharra has questions of her own, and Mr. Newburger is determined to hear the truth.