BROOKE LEARNS THE TRUTH ABOUT MARIAH
A CINEMATIC SCREENPLAY
SCENE 1 — ISAIAH’S HOUSE — AFTERNOON
The house is quiet.
Sunlight falls through the windows as Isaiah’s uncle sits in the living room, looking through his phone.
A knock comes from the front door.
He looks up.
Another knock.
He walks toward the door and opens it.
Brooke stands outside with a small bag in her hand.
She smiles politely.
BROOKE
Hi. Is Isaiah here?
Isaiah’s uncle pauses.
He looks at Brooke carefully.
Something about his expression makes Brooke’s smile disappear.
BROOKE
What happened?
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
Isaiah is inside.
Brooke steps into the house.
She looks around, expecting Isaiah to come running toward her.
But he doesn’t.
She turns back toward his uncle.
BROOKE
Where is he?
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
He went upstairs for a minute.
Brooke nods.
She places her bag near the sofa.
She seems happy to finally be there.
But Isaiah’s uncle remains unusually serious.
SCENE 2 — LIVING ROOM — CONTINUOUS
Brooke notices his expression.
She slowly turns toward him.
BROOKE
You look worried.
Isaiah’s uncle takes a breath.
He doesn’t answer immediately.
BROOKE
Is something wrong?
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
Brooke, there is something you need to know.
Brooke becomes serious.
BROOKE
What is it?
He gestures toward the sofa.
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
Sit down.
Brooke sits.
Her eyes remain fixed on him.
BROOKE
Please just tell me.
Isaiah’s uncle sits across from her.
He chooses his words carefully.
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
Before you came here, Isaiah was talking to Mariah.
Brooke’s expression changes.
She immediately becomes uncomfortable.
BROOKE
Mariah?
Her uncle nods.
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
Yes.
Brooke leans forward.
BROOKE
Why was he talking to her?
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
Because he asked her to come here.
Brooke stares at him.
For a moment, she says nothing.
BROOKE
He asked Mariah to come here?
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
That’s what he told me.
Brooke looks away.
Her hands tighten together.
BROOKE
When?
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
Recently.
Brooke slowly looks back at him.
BROOKE
Did Isaiah tell me that?
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
No.
The answer hits her hard.
Brooke stands.
She begins pacing across the room.
SCENE 3 — THE TRUTH COMES OUT
Brooke turns around.
Her voice becomes sharper.
BROOKE
So Isaiah invited Mariah here and never told me?
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
I don’t know what Isaiah’s intentions were.
BROOKE
But you knew?
Her uncle looks uncomfortable.
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
I knew he had spoken to her.
Brooke shakes her head.
BROOKE
Why would he hide that from me?
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
That’s something you need to ask Isaiah.
Brooke looks toward the staircase.
Her anger is growing.
BROOKE
Where is he?
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
Upstairs.
Brooke starts walking toward the stairs.
Her uncle calls after her.
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
Brooke, don’t make this worse.
She stops.
Slowly, she turns around.
BROOKE
I just want the truth.
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
Then let him explain it himself.
Brooke takes a deep breath.
She walks upstairs.
SCENE 4 — ISAIAH’S BEDROOM — MOMENTS LATER
Isaiah is standing near the window, looking at his phone.
He hears footsteps.
He turns around.
His expression changes when he sees Brooke.
ISAIAH
Brooke?
Brooke stands in the doorway.
She looks furious.
Isaiah immediately notices something is wrong.
ISAIAH
What’s going on?
Brooke walks into the room.
BROOKE
Did you invite Mariah here?
Isaiah freezes.
He looks toward the hallway.
ISAIAH
Who told you that?
Brooke’s expression becomes even more upset.
BROOKE
So it’s true?
Isaiah puts his phone down.
ISAIAH
Brooke, listen to me.
BROOKE
Answer me!
Isaiah takes a step toward her.
ISAIAH
Yes, I talked to Mariah.
Brooke shakes her head.
BROOKE
You asked her to come here?
Isaiah hesitates.
That hesitation tells Brooke everything.
BROOKE
I can’t believe you.
ISAIAH
It’s not what you think.
BROOKE
Then tell me what it is!
SCENE 5 — THE ARGUMENT
Isaiah tries to remain calm.
ISAIAH
Mariah needed to talk to me.
BROOKE
And you couldn’t tell me?
ISAIAH
I didn’t think it would become a problem.
BROOKE
You didn’t think it would become a problem?
Brooke lets out a frustrated laugh.
BROOKE
You knew I was coming here, Isaiah.
ISAIAH
I know.
BROOKE
And you still talked to her behind my back.
ISAIAH
I wasn’t trying to hurt you.
BROOKE
But you did.
Isaiah looks down.
ISAIAH
Brooke, please calm down.
She steps closer.
BROOKE
Don’t tell me to calm down.
Isaiah tries to explain.
ISAIAH
Mariah and I were only talking.
BROOKE
Then why didn’t you tell me?
Isaiah doesn’t immediately answer.
Brooke becomes more frustrated.
She pushes his shoulder away as he approaches.
BROOKE
Stay away from me!
Isaiah steps back.
ISAIAH
Okay. I’m listening.
BROOKE
You should have told me the truth from the beginning.
SCENE 6 — BROOKE LOSES HER PATIENCE
Brooke’s anger reaches its peak.
She points toward Isaiah.
BROOKE
You made me look foolish.
ISAIAH
That’s not what I wanted.
BROOKE
But that’s what happened!
Isaiah tries to speak again.
ISAIAH
Brooke—
She interrupts him.
BROOKE
No!
She angrily grabs the front of his shirt for a moment.
Isaiah looks shocked.
ISAIAH
Brooke, let go.
She holds on while demanding an answer.
BROOKE
Why did you call Mariah?
ISAIAH
I already told you.
BROOKE
I don’t believe you!
Brooke releases his shirt, then angrily pushes him back toward the edge of the bed.
Isaiah sits down.
ISAIAH
I’m not going to fight with you.
Brooke points at him.
BROOKE
You should have thought about that before you lied to me.
SCENE 7 — ISAIAH’S UNCLE HEARS THE ARGUMENT
Downstairs, Isaiah’s uncle hears raised voices.
He immediately stands.
He walks toward the staircase.
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
Isaiah?
The argument upstairs suddenly becomes quieter.
He climbs the stairs.
When he reaches the bedroom, he sees Brooke standing near Isaiah.
Isaiah is sitting on the edge of the bed.
His uncle looks concerned.
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
What’s happening here?
Brooke turns toward him.
BROOKE
Ask him.
Isaiah looks frustrated.
ISAIAH
Uncle, please.
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
Brooke, I told you the truth because I didn’t want you to hear it from someone else.
Brooke looks at him.
BROOKE
I appreciate that.
She turns back to Isaiah.
BROOKE
But I still need answers from him.
Isaiah stands slowly.
ISAIAH
I’ll explain everything.
BROOKE
Then explain it.
SCENE 8 — ISAIAH EXPLAINS
Isaiah takes a deep breath.
ISAIAH
I spoke to Mariah because she wanted to talk about everything that happened.
BROOKE
And that’s all?
ISAIAH
Yes.
BROOKE
Then why hide it?
Isaiah looks down.
ISAIAH
Because I knew you would be upset.
Brooke stares at him.
BROOKE
So you knew it was wrong to hide it.
ISAIAH
I knew you would misunderstand.
BROOKE
Maybe I wouldn’t have misunderstood if you had trusted me enough to tell me.
Isaiah has no immediate response.
His uncle watches silently.
Brooke wipes away a tear of frustration.
Her anger slowly turns into disappointment.
BROOKE
I came here because I trusted you.
Isaiah looks at her.
ISAIAH
I know.
BROOKE
And now I don’t know what to believe.
SCENE 9 — A MOMENT OF SILENCE
The room becomes quiet.
Isaiah takes a step forward.
Brooke doesn’t move.
ISAIAH
I’m sorry.
Brooke looks away.
BROOKE
Sorry isn’t enough right now.
Isaiah nods.
ISAIAH
I understand.
His uncle steps forward.
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
You both need to calm down before this becomes something worse.
Brooke looks at him.
BROOKE
You’re right.
She takes a deep breath.
Isaiah sits down again.
Brooke remains standing.
BROOKE
I don’t want another secret.
Isaiah looks directly at her.
ISAIAH
There won’t be one.
BROOKE
You promise?
ISAIAH
I promise.
Brooke doesn’t immediately forgive him.
She simply looks at him, trying to decide whether she can trust him again.
SCENE 10 — THE CONFRONTATION ENDS
Isaiah’s uncle walks toward the door.
ISAIAH’S UNCLE
I’ll give you two some privacy.
He leaves the room.
Brooke and Isaiah remain silent.
Finally, Brooke speaks.
BROOKE
I came here expecting to be happy.
Isaiah looks at her.
ISAIAH
I wanted that too.
BROOKE
Then don’t give me another reason to question you.
Isaiah nods.
ISAIAH
I won’t.
Brooke picks up her bag.
Isaiah looks worried.
ISAIAH
Are you leaving?
Brooke pauses.
BROOKE
I don’t know yet.
Isaiah stands.
ISAIAH
Brooke—
She raises her hand, asking him to stop.
BROOKE
I need some time.
Isaiah respects her decision.
Brooke walks toward the door.
Before leaving, she turns back.
BROOKE
If Mariah is important enough for you to call her, then I deserve to know why.
Isaiah looks at her seriously.
ISAIAH
I’ll tell you everything.
Brooke walks out.
Isaiah remains standing in the room.
His uncle watches from the hallway.
The house falls silent again.
But the truth about Mariah has changed everything between Brooke and Isaiah.