BROOKE, LARRY & BETHANY — THE FAMILY WAR

SCENE 1 — LARRY’S HOUSE — LIVING ROOM — EVENING

The house is unusually quiet.

Outside, the last light of the evening fades behind the windows.

Larry stands near the center of the living room, his expression serious.

Bethany sits on the sofa, visibly nervous.

Brooke stands across from them, her arms folded tightly across her chest.

She looks angry.

Her eyes are filled with frustration.

Larry takes a slow breath before speaking.

LARRY

Brooke, you need to listen to me.

Brooke says nothing.

Larry steps closer.

LARRY

Bethany had nothing to do with your grandmother being arrested.

Brooke immediately looks at Bethany.

Her expression becomes colder.

BROOKE

Nothing to do with it?

Bethany looks down.

Larry continues.

LARRY

That’s exactly what I’m telling you. You can’t keep blaming her for something she didn’t do.

Brooke lets out a bitter laugh.

BROOKE

You really expect me to believe that?

Larry’s jaw tightens.

LARRY

Yes. Because it’s the truth.

Brooke shakes her head.

BROOKE

You always defend her.

Bethany finally looks up.

BETHANY

Brooke, I never wanted your grandmother to get arrested.

Brooke turns toward her.

BROOKE

Then why did it happen after all of this started?

Bethany struggles to answer.

BETHANY

I don’t know everything that happened. But I know I didn’t call the police to have your grandmother arrested.

Larry immediately steps between them.

LARRY

Enough.

Brooke looks at him angrily.

BROOKE

Why are you protecting her?

LARRY

I’m not protecting anyone. I’m telling you what I know.

BROOKE

No, Larry. You’re taking Bethany’s side again.

Larry’s expression hardens.

LARRY

Because she doesn’t deserve to be blamed for something she didn’t do!

A tense silence fills the room.

Brooke stares at him.

Bethany watches both of them, clearly uncomfortable.

SCENE 2 — THE ARGUMENT ESCALATES

Brooke steps closer to Larry.

Her voice becomes louder.

BROOKE

You don’t understand what my family is going through!

LARRY

I understand more than you think.

BROOKE

Then you should understand why I’m angry!

LARRY

Being angry doesn’t give you the right to accuse people without knowing the truth.

Brooke points toward Bethany.

BROOKE

She’s standing right there!

Bethany looks away.

Brooke continues.

BROOKE

And somehow, every time something happens, you find a way to defend her.

Larry’s patience begins to disappear.

LARRY

Watch how you’re talking to me.

Brooke doesn’t back down.

BROOKE

Or what?

Larry stares at her.

Bethany quietly stands from the sofa.

BETHANY

Brooke, please. Let’s not make this worse.

Brooke turns toward Bethany.

BROOKE

Stay out of this.

Bethany freezes.

Larry’s face immediately changes.

LARRY

Don’t talk to her like that.

Brooke looks back at Larry.

BROOKE

You see? That’s exactly what I’m talking about!

She gestures angrily toward Bethany.

BROOKE

You don’t care what she does. You always stand beside her.

Larry takes a deep breath.

LARRY

That’s enough.

BROOKE

No, it’s not enough!

Larry’s voice rises.

LARRY

I said enough!

The room suddenly falls silent.

Brooke looks shocked for a moment.

But her anger quickly returns.

BROOKE

You can’t tell me what to say.

Larry walks toward the front door.

His expression is now completely serious.

LARRY

If you’re going to come into my house and disrespect me, then you don’t need to stay here.

Brooke stares at him.

BROOKE

Are you seriously kicking me out?

Larry opens the door.

LARRY

Yes.

Bethany looks surprised.

BETHANY

Larry…

He raises one hand, stopping her.

LARRY

No, Bethany. I’m done arguing.

He looks directly at Brooke.

LARRY

You’ve crossed the line.

Brooke’s eyes fill with anger.

BROOKE

You would really choose her over me?

Larry shakes his head.

LARRY

This isn’t about choosing sides.

He points toward the open door.

LARRY

This is about respect.

Brooke stands still.

Larry’s voice becomes firm.

LARRY

You need to leave.

SCENE 3 — OUTSIDE THE HOUSE — CONTINUOUS

Brooke slowly walks toward the doorway.

She turns around one last time.

Larry remains standing inside.

Bethany stands behind him.

Brooke looks at both of them.

BROOKE

This isn’t over.

Larry doesn’t move.

LARRY

Maybe it isn’t.

Brooke steps outside.

Larry continues.

LARRY

But you’re not staying here tonight.

Brooke turns around.

LARRY

Go to Sharra’s house.

Brooke’s face changes.

LARRY

Go stay with Sharra.

He pauses.

LARRY

And don’t come back here until you can talk to people without disrespecting them.

Brooke looks hurt.

BROOKE

You really want me gone?

Larry’s expression softens for only a second.

But he remains firm.

LARRY

Right now, yes.

Brooke looks down.

She wipes a tear from the corner of her eye.

BROOKE

Fine.

She turns and walks away.

Larry watches her leave.

Bethany quietly closes her eyes.

SCENE 4 — LIVING ROOM — MOMENTS LATER

Larry closes the front door.

The room becomes silent again.

Bethany looks at him.

BETHANY

You didn’t have to do that.

Larry turns toward her.

LARRY

Yes, I did.

Bethany looks worried.

BETHANY

She’s angry because she thinks I had something to do with her grandmother’s arrest.

LARRY

I know.

He walks back toward the sofa.

LARRY

But that doesn’t mean she can come into this house and treat you like you’re guilty.

Bethany sits down.

BETHANY

I don’t want this family fighting because of me.

Larry looks at her seriously.

LARRY

This isn’t because of you.

Bethany remains quiet.

Larry sits across from her.

LARRY

People are angry. They’re scared. And when people don’t know the truth, they start blaming whoever is closest.

Bethany looks toward the window.

BETHANY

What if Brooke never forgives me?

Larry pauses.

LARRY

Then she’ll have to find the truth first.

Outside, Brooke walks down the street toward Sharra’s house.

She looks back at Larry’s home one last time.

Her face is filled with hurt and anger.

She pulls out her phone.

Her fingers hover over Sharra’s name.

Then she presses CALL.

BROOKE

Sharra… I need somewhere to stay.

A pause.

Brooke listens.

Her eyes become watery.

BROOKE

Larry just kicked me out.

She looks back toward the house.

BROOKE

And he chose Bethany’s side again.

Inside the house, Larry stands silently beside the window.

Bethany watches him.

Neither of them knows that Brooke’s anger is about to create an even bigger conflict.

The family war is far from over.

FADE OUT.