LARRY DEFENDS HIS DAUGHTER
INT. LARRY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – EVENING
The house is unusually quiet.
Warm evening light filters through the windows.
BETHANY stands near the couch, tense and defensive.
BROOKE sits quietly, looking overwhelmed.
LARRY stands between them, his expression serious.
He has clearly had enough.
Larry looks at Bethany.
His voice is calm, but firm.
LARRY
Why are you bothering my daughter?
Bethany looks surprised by the question.
BETHANY
Larry, I’m not bothering her. I’m just trying to—
Larry raises a hand, stopping her.
LARRY
You just got here, Bethany.
He takes a step closer.
LARRY
And already, you’re frightening her and threatening her.
Brooke lowers her eyes.
She looks uncomfortable with the tension in the room.
BETHANY
I never threatened Brooke.
LARRY
Then what do you call it?
Bethany pauses.
Larry’s frustration grows.
LARRY
You came into this house and immediately started putting pressure on my daughter.
Bethany looks toward Brooke.
BETHANY
I was only trying to talk some sense into her.
LARRY
She doesn’t need you intimidating her.
A tense silence fills the room.
Brooke looks at Larry.
She seems relieved that someone is finally standing up for her.
LARRY
And now you’re trying to send her over to Sharra?
Bethany looks confused.
BETHANY
I’m trying to help her.
LARRY
By deciding where she should go?
Larry shakes his head.
LARRY
You don’t get to walk in here and start making decisions for my daughter.
Bethany takes a breath.
BETHANY
Larry, you’re misunderstanding me.
LARRY
No.
Larry’s voice becomes more serious.
LARRY
I understand exactly what you’re doing.
He looks toward Brooke.
LARRY
She’s already dealing with enough.
Brooke slowly looks up.
LARRY
She doesn’t need another person making her feel trapped.
Bethany folds her arms.
BETHANY
I care about Brooke too.
LARRY
Then act like it.
Before Bethany can respond, the front door suddenly opens.
SHARRA walks inside.
She immediately notices the tension.
Her expression changes.
She looks from Larry to Bethany.
Then she sees Brooke sitting quietly on the couch.
Sharra’s face becomes serious.
SHARRA
What’s going on?
Larry turns toward her.
LARRY
Perfect timing.
Sharra steps farther into the room.
SHARRA
Why does everybody look so angry?
Bethany looks at Sharra.
BETHANY
This is between Larry and me.
Sharra’s eyes narrow.
SHARRA
Then why does it look like my daughter is caught in the middle?
Bethany looks surprised.
BETHANY
Your daughter?
Sharra takes another step forward.
Her voice becomes firm.
SHARRA
Yes.
She points toward Brooke.
SHARRA
Her.
Brooke looks between them.
Larry remains silent for a moment.
Sharra turns directly toward Bethany.
SHARRA
Who are you to question my daughter?
Bethany looks offended.
BETHANY
Excuse me?
SHARRA
You heard me.
Sharra’s tone is controlled, but her anger is obvious.
SHARRA
You just walked into her life and started telling her what she should do.
Bethany shakes her head.
BETHANY
That is not what happened.
SHARRA
Then explain it.
Bethany looks toward Larry.
BETHANY
Larry thinks I’m threatening Brooke.
SHARRA
Are you?
Bethany hesitates.
That hesitation makes the room even quieter.
LARRY
That’s exactly what I’ve been asking her.
Sharra looks at Larry.
SHARRA
And you were right to ask.
Bethany looks frustrated.
BETHANY
I was trying to protect her.
Sharra immediately responds.
SHARRA
Protect her from what?
Bethany doesn’t answer.
Sharra steps closer.
SHARRA
From making her own choices?
Bethany shakes her head.
BETHANY
No. From making a mistake.
SHARRA
Brooke is old enough to make her own decisions.
Larry nods slightly.
LARRY
Exactly.
Brooke finally speaks.
BROOKE
Can everyone please stop arguing because of me?
The room becomes quiet.
Sharra looks at Brooke.
Her expression softens.
SHARRA
Baby, nobody is blaming you.
Brooke looks down.
BROOKE
It just feels like everyone is deciding what happens to me.
Larry looks at her.
His anger disappears for a moment.
LARRY
Nobody is going to force you to do anything.
Bethany looks at Brooke.
She seems to realize how overwhelmed she has become.
BETHANY
Brooke, I wasn’t trying to control you.
Brooke looks at her.
BROOKE
Then why did you keep telling me where I should go?
Bethany struggles to answer.
Sharra crosses her arms.
SHARRA
That’s what I want to know.
Bethany takes a deep breath.
BETHANY
Because I was scared for her.
Larry’s expression changes slightly.
LARRY
Being scared doesn’t give you the right to scare her.
Bethany looks at him.
His words hit hard.
BETHANY
I never meant to hurt her.
LARRY
Then apologize.
Bethany looks at Brooke.
For a moment, nobody says anything.
BETHANY
Brooke…
She pauses.
BETHANY
I’m sorry if I made you feel threatened or pressured.
Brooke looks surprised.
Sharra remains serious.
BROOKE
Thank you.
Larry nods.
But the tension isn’t completely gone.
Sharra turns back toward Bethany.
SHARRA
And next time, talk to me before you start questioning my daughter.
Bethany looks at her.
BETHANY
I understand.
SHARRA
Good.
Sharra walks toward Brooke and sits beside her.
She puts an arm around her.
Brooke leans back slightly, finally feeling calmer.
Larry watches them.
His protective expression remains.
LARRY
We’re all supposed to be helping Brooke.
He looks at Bethany.
LARRY
Not making her feel like she’s being pulled in ten different directions.
Bethany nods slowly.
BETHANY
You’re right.
A long silence follows.
The atmosphere begins to settle.
Brooke looks around the room.
BROOKE
I just want everyone to listen to me.
Larry nods.
LARRY
Then we’ll listen.
Sharra smiles faintly.
SHARRA
And nobody is going to make decisions for you.
Bethany looks at Brooke.
BETHANY
You have my word.
Brooke takes a deep breath.
For the first time that evening, her shoulders relax.
Larry walks toward the window.
Sharra stays beside Brooke.
Bethany remains standing near the couch.
The three adults exchange uneasy looks.
The argument may be over for now.
But everyone knows the family tension isn’t going away that easily.
Larry looks back at Bethany.
LARRY
We’re going to handle this together.
Bethany nods.
Sharra watches Larry carefully.
SHARRA
As long as everybody remembers one thing.
Larry looks at her.
LARRY
What’s that?
Sharra looks at Brooke.
Then back at Larry and Bethany.
SHARRA
She’s not a problem to be passed around.
Brooke looks up.
Her eyes become emotional.
BROOKE
Thank you.
The room falls silent again.
This time, it is not filled with anger.
It is filled with understanding.
Larry walks over and sits beside Brooke.
Sharra remains on her other side.
Bethany watches them.
She realizes that Brooke doesn’t need another person controlling her choices.
She needs people willing to stand beside her.
The evening light slowly fades through the windows.
The family remains together in the living room.
Still hurt.
Still frustrated.
But finally willing to listen.