The house is unusually quiet.
Brooke sits on the couch, staring at her phone.
Her freshly done nails tap against the screen.
She smiles to herself.
There is something different about her tonight.
Bethany walks into the room and notices immediately.
She stops.
Looks at Brooke.
Then looks at the nails.
BETHANY
Girl…
Brooke slowly looks up.
BROOKE
What?
Bethany points at her hands.
BETHANY
Those nails.
Brooke looks down at them proudly.
BROOKE
You like them?
Bethany shakes her head.
BETHANY
I liked you better before you got those things.
Brooke laughs.
BROOKE
Why?
BETHANY
Because ever since you got those nails, you’ve been on demon time.
Brooke smiles innocently.
BROOKE
Maybe I’m just feeling confident.
Bethany gives her a suspicious look.
BETHANY
Uh-huh.
Brooke goes back to her phone.
Her smile grows.
Something is clearly on her mind.
Momma stands at the kitchen counter preparing dinner.
The sound of pots moving around fills the room.
Brooke walks in.
She opens the refrigerator.
MOMMA
You hungry?
BROOKE
A little.
Momma continues cooking.
Brooke grabs a drink and leans against the counter.
There is a long silence.
Momma finally looks at her.
MOMMA
Why you smiling like that?
Brooke shrugs.
BROOKE
I’m not smiling.
Momma raises an eyebrow.
MOMMA
Yes, you are.
Brooke takes a sip.
BROOKE
Maybe I’m just happy.
Momma watches her carefully.
MOMMA
That usually means somebody is about to have a bad day.
Brooke laughs.
BROOKE
Not me.
Momma turns back toward the stove.
She doesn’t realize just how right she is.
Larry walks into the room.
He sees Brooke sitting on the couch.
She immediately looks up.
LARRY
What’s up?
BROOKE
Nothing.
Larry sits across from her.
LARRY
You sure?
BROOKE
I’m good.
Larry studies her face.
LARRY
You don’t look good.
Brooke slowly places her phone down.
BROOKE
Larry…
He waits.
BROOKE
Do you remember what you told me?
Larry’s smile disappears.
LARRY
About what?
Brooke leans forward.
BROOKE
Exactly.
Larry sighs.
LARRY
Brooke, I don’t know what you’re talking about.
She smiles.
Not a friendly smile.
A dangerous one.
BROOKE
You’ll remember.
Larry looks confused.
Brooke stands.
Her nails click against the phone as she picks it up.
She walks away.
Larry watches her leave.
LARRY
What just happened?
From the kitchen, Momma hears him.
She says nothing.
Larry walks into the kitchen.
Momma is still preparing dinner.
LARRY
What’s wrong with Brooke?
Momma pauses.
MOMMA
Nothing.
LARRY
She’s acting weird.
Momma slowly turns around.
MOMMA
Larry…
She looks him directly in the eyes.
MOMMA
What did you do?
LARRY
I didn’t do anything.
Momma gives him a look.
MOMMA
That’s what everybody says.
LARRY
I swear.
Momma turns back toward the stove.
MOMMA
Well, whatever it is…
She pauses.
MOMMA
Fix it.
Larry nods.
But before he can respond, Brooke walks into the kitchen.
Everyone becomes quiet.
Brooke looks at Larry.
Larry looks back at her.
The tension is obvious.
Brooke walks closer.
BROOKE
Larry.
LARRY
Yeah?
BROOKE
I asked you to be honest with me.
Larry looks uncomfortable.
LARRY
I was honest.
Brooke’s expression changes.
BROOKE
No.
She takes another step.
BROOKE
You told me what you thought I wanted to hear.
LARRY
That’s not what happened.
Brooke laughs quietly.
BROOKE
Okay.
Momma watches from the side.
She can tell this conversation is heading somewhere bad.
MOMMA
Brooke…
Brooke doesn’t look at her.
BROOKE
I’m talking to Larry.
Momma stops.
Larry raises his hands.
LARRY
Let’s calm down.
Brooke’s eyes narrow.
BROOKE
I’m calm.
Momma looks at Brooke’s nails.
Then at Larry.
She already knows.
MOMMA
Oh boy.
Larry continues talking.
LARRY
You asked me a question, and I gave you an answer.
Brooke stares at him.
BROOKE
And you thought I was just going to accept that?
LARRY
I didn’t say that.
Brooke takes a breath.
Silence.
Then—
SMACK!
The slap echoes through the kitchen.
Larry freezes.
Momma freezes.
Brooke stands there breathing heavily.
Her hand slowly drops.
Nobody says a word.
Larry touches his cheek.
LARRY
Brooke!
MOMMA
Brooke!
Brooke looks at Momma.
For a second, everyone expects Momma to go off.
Momma takes one step toward Brooke.
Brooke braces herself.
But Momma stops.
She looks at Brooke.
Then at Larry.
Then back at Brooke.
Her expression changes.
She slowly shakes her head.
MOMMA
Girl…
Brooke says nothing.
Momma walks away.
LARRY
That’s it?
Momma keeps walking.
She doesn’t turn around.
MOMMA
Yep.
Larry looks confused.
Momma finally glances over her shoulder.
MOMMA
I did the same thing to his daddy too.
Larry’s mouth drops open.
Brooke tries not to laugh.
Momma walks out.
Momma walks down the hallway.
She shakes her head.
A tiny smile appears on her face.
MOMMA
These kids…
Behind her, Larry follows.
LARRY
Wait a minute!
Momma keeps walking.
LARRY
You can’t just say something like that and walk away!
Momma turns around.
MOMMA
Why not?
Larry points toward the kitchen.
LARRY
She just slapped me!
Momma shrugs.
MOMMA
And you’re still standing.
Larry stares at her.
LARRY
That’s your advice?
Momma smiles.
MOMMA
My advice is to watch what you say.
Larry shakes his head.
LARRY
This family is crazy.
Momma walks away again.
Brooke sits on the couch.
Her phone is in her hand.
She looks at her nails.
Then at her hand.
She smiles.
Bethany walks in.
She immediately notices Brooke’s expression.
BETHANY
You did it, didn’t you?
BROOKE
Did what?
BETHANY
Don’t play with me.
Brooke starts laughing.
BROOKE
I don’t know what you’re talking about.
Bethany sits beside her.
BETHANY
Girl, that slap was premeditated.
Brooke covers her mouth, trying not to laugh.
BROOKE
Maybe.
Bethany shakes her head.
BETHANY
I knew those nails were trouble.
BROOKE
He deserved it.
Bethany pauses.
BETHANY
I’m not saying he didn’t.
They both start laughing.
LARRY
I CAN HEAR YOU TWO!
Brooke and Bethany look at each other.
They laugh even harder.
Larry walks back into the kitchen.
He opens the refrigerator.
Momma is sitting at the table.
Larry looks at her.
LARRY
So we’re just going to pretend that didn’t happen?
MOMMA
Pretend what didn’t happen?
Larry points toward his cheek.
LARRY
This!
Momma smiles.
MOMMA
You’ll be fine.
Larry shakes his head.
LARRY
I can’t believe this.
Momma stands.
She walks past him.
Then stops.
MOMMA
Larry…
He looks at her.
MOMMA
Next time, choose your words carefully.
She walks away.
Larry stands there silently.
He looks toward the living room.
Brooke is sitting there with a satisfied smile.
Larry sighs.
LARRY
Those nails have changed her.
Brooke hears him.
She smiles.
BROOKE
No.
She looks down at her nails.
BROOKE
They just brought out the real me.
Larry closes his eyes.
LARRY
Lord, help me.
Brooke laughs.
The house fills with laughter.