BETHANY — GIVE ME WHAT IS MINE

SCENE 1 — NEWBURGER OFFICE — LATE AFTERNOON

The office is quiet.

Golden sunlight cuts through the large windows, falling across a desk covered with files and documents.

MR. NEWBURGER sits behind his desk, reading through paperwork.

His expression is serious.

The door suddenly opens.

Bethany walks in.

She looks upset, but she is trying hard to remain calm.

Mr. Newburger looks up.

MR. NEWBURGER
Bethany, I’m busy right now.

Bethany slowly closes the door behind her.

She walks toward the desk.

BETHANY
I know you’re busy, Dad.

She pauses.

Her eyes are filled with disappointment.

BETHANY
But I need to talk to you.

Mr. Newburger puts the papers down.

MR. NEWBURGER
About what?

Bethany takes a breath.

BETHANY
About the way you’ve been treating me.

Mr. Newburger looks confused.

MR. NEWBURGER
What are you talking about?

Bethany steps closer to the desk.

BETHANY
You know exactly what I’m talking about.

Her voice begins to shake.

BETHANY
You haven’t been standing by me.

MR. NEWBURGER
Bethany—

BETHANY
No, Dad. Please let me finish.

She wipes away a tear.

BETHANY
I came to you because I thought you were the one person who would support me.

Mr. Newburger looks away.

Bethany notices.

Her disappointment grows.

---

SCENE 2 — THE CONFRONTATION

Bethany places both hands on the edge of the desk.

BETHANY
I have done everything I could to protect this family.

MR. NEWBURGER
And you think I haven’t?

BETHANY
That’s exactly what I think.

The room falls silent.

Mr. Newburger stares at his daughter.

BETHANY
Sharra is trying to destroy everything I have.

MR. NEWBURGER
You need to be careful with what you’re saying.

BETHANY
I am being careful.

Her voice becomes stronger.

BETHANY
She is trying to ruin my home.

She takes another breath.

BETHANY
She is trying to turn people against me.

BETHANY
And now she is trying to destroy my life.

Mr. Newburger slowly stands.

MR. NEWBURGER
This situation is more complicated than you understand.

Bethany shakes her head.

BETHANY
No.

She looks directly into his eyes.

BETHANY
I understand it perfectly.

BETHANY
What I don’t understand is why my own father is refusing to stand beside me.

Mr. Newburger remains silent.

Bethany’s eyes fill with tears again.

BETHANY
You watched everything happen.

BETHANY
You watched Sharra come after me.

BETHANY
And instead of defending me, you chose to stay silent.

---

SCENE 3 — A DAUGHTER’S DEMAND

Bethany steps away from the desk.

She looks around the office.

The room suddenly feels different to her.

This is the place where she once believed she had a future.

BETHANY
Maybe I was wrong about you.

Mr. Newburger looks hurt.

MR. NEWBURGER
Don’t say that.

BETHANY
Then give me a reason not to.

She turns back toward him.

BETHANY
I came here because I wanted your support.

BETHANY
I wanted you to tell me that I wasn’t alone.

BETHANY
But you haven’t done that.

Mr. Newburger walks around the desk.

MR. NEWBURGER
Bethany, I’m trying to keep this family from falling apart.

BETHANY
And what about me?

He stops.

Bethany points toward herself.

BETHANY
Who is protecting me?

There is no answer.

Bethany laughs bitterly through her tears.

BETHANY
Exactly.

---

SCENE 4 — THE OFFICE SHARE

Bethany looks toward the documents on the desk.

Her expression changes.

She becomes determined.

BETHANY
If you refuse to support me, then I want something else.

Mr. Newburger looks at her.

MR. NEWBURGER
What?

Bethany speaks clearly.

BETHANY
My share of this office.

Mr. Newburger freezes.

MR. NEWBURGER
Bethany, this isn’t the time to talk about ownership.

BETHANY
It is exactly the time.

She steps closer.

BETHANY
If I’m not good enough to have your support, then I shouldn’t have to beg you for what belongs to me.

MR. NEWBURGER
You’re talking about something very serious.

BETHANY
So am I.

Her voice cracks.

BETHANY
I have worked for this.

BETHANY
I have sacrificed for this family.

BETHANY
And now you want me to stand outside while everyone decides my future for me?

Mr. Newburger looks at the papers.

MR. NEWBURGER
You don’t understand what that share means.

BETHANY
Then explain it to me.

He remains silent.

Bethany nods slowly.

BETHANY
That silence tells me everything.

---

SCENE 5 — FATHER AND DAUGHTER

Mr. Newburger walks toward the window.

Outside, cars move through the city.

He looks exhausted.

MR. NEWBURGER
I never wanted things to become like this.

BETHANY
Neither did I.

A long silence.

BETHANY
But they have.

Mr. Newburger turns around.

MR. NEWBURGER
Sharra is dangerous when she feels cornered.

BETHANY
Then why are you letting her corner me?

Mr. Newburger has no immediate answer.

BETHANY
Dad, I’m not asking you to fight my battles for me.

BETHANY
I’m asking you to stand beside your daughter.

Her voice softens.

BETHANY
Just once.

Mr. Newburger looks at her.

For a moment, the anger disappears.

He sees the hurt behind her words.

MR. NEWBURGER
I do love you.

Bethany’s eyes fill with tears.

BETHANY
Then show me.

---

SCENE 6 — THE ULTIMATUM

Bethany takes one final look around the office.

BETHANY
I came here today hoping you would choose me.

Mr. Newburger looks down.

BETHANY
But if you can’t do that…

She pauses.

BETHANY
Then give me what is mine.

Mr. Newburger looks up.

BETHANY
Give me my share of the office.

MR. NEWBURGER
And what will you do with it?

Bethany wipes her tears.

Her voice becomes firm.

BETHANY
I’ll build something of my own.

BETHANY
Something nobody can take away from me.

Mr. Newburger studies his daughter.

MR. NEWBURGER
You really mean this?

BETHANY
More than anything.

---

SCENE 7 — A DECISION

Mr. Newburger walks back to his desk.

He opens a drawer and pulls out a folder.

Bethany watches carefully.

He places it on the desk.

MR. NEWBURGER
There are documents in here.

Bethany looks at the folder.

MR. NEWBURGER
Your share is complicated.

BETHANY
But it exists?

Mr. Newburger nods.

Bethany exhales.

BETHANY
Then I want it.

He looks at her.

MR. NEWBURGER
Once this happens, things may never be the same between us.

Bethany’s eyes become emotional.

BETHANY
Things already aren’t the same.

That sentence hits him hard.

He looks down at the folder.

Bethany slowly reaches for it.

Before taking it, she looks at her father one last time.

BETHANY
I didn’t come here to fight you.

BETHANY
I came here because I needed my father.

Mr. Newburger looks at her with regret.

MR. NEWBURGER
Bethany…

She picks up the folder.

BETHANY
I hope one day you understand why I had to do this.

She turns toward the door.

MR. NEWBURGER
Where are you going?

Bethany stops.

She looks back.

BETHANY
To protect what’s left of my life.

She opens the door.

BETHANY
Because if Sharra wants a war…

Bethany looks directly at him.

BETHANY
I’m not going to let her destroy me.

She walks out.

The door slowly closes.

Mr. Newburger remains alone in the office.

He looks at the empty doorway.

Then at the papers on his desk.

His expression is filled with regret.

Outside, Bethany walks down the hallway holding the folder tightly against her chest.

Her tears are gone.

Her fear is gone.

Only determination remains.

She stops at the end of the hallway.

Looks ahead.

And keeps walking.