SCENE 1 — BROOKE’S ROOM — LATE AFTERNOON

Brooke stands beside her bed, carefully organizing a few things into a travel bag. Her expression is hopeful, but there is nervousness behind her eyes.

A few papers for school are placed neatly inside the bag.

Brooke takes a breath and looks toward the window.

She is thinking about Philadelphia.

For her, the trip represents more than simply leaving town. It is a chance to make her own decisions and spend time with Isaiah.

Just as Brooke reaches for another item, the bedroom door suddenly opens.

Bethany walks in.

Her face is tense.

She immediately notices the travel bag.

She stops.

Her eyes narrow.

BETHANY

“What are you doing?”

Brooke turns around, surprised by Bethany’s sudden appearance.

BROOKE

“I’m getting my things ready.”

Bethany takes a few steps into the room.

Her voice becomes sharper.

BETHANY

“For Philadelphia?”

Brooke pauses.

She knows exactly where this conversation is going.

BROOKE

“Yes.”

Bethany shakes her head.

She looks at the bag as if it represents everything she has been trying to prevent.

BETHANY

“You are not going to Philadelphia.”

Brooke looks confused.

BROOKE

“Why not?”

Bethany folds her arms.

BETHANY

“Because I said so.”

SCENE 2 — THE CONFRONTATION BEGINS

Brooke slowly puts the item in her hand down.

She turns fully toward Bethany.

BROOKE

“Bethany, I already made my decision.”

Bethany immediately steps closer.

BETHANY

“And I’m telling you that decision is not happening.”

Brooke’s expression changes.

She realizes Bethany is not there to discuss the situation calmly.

BROOKE

“You can’t just decide where I can go.”

Bethany lets out a frustrated breath.

BETHANY

“Yes, I can when I know what is going to happen.”

Brooke stares at her.

BROOKE

“What exactly do you think is going to happen?”

Bethany points toward the travel bag.

BETHANY

“You’re going to Philadelphia, you’re going to spend all your time with Isaiah, and you’re going to forget about everything you’re supposed to be doing.”

Brooke shakes her head.

BROOKE

“That isn’t true.”

BETHANY

“It is exactly what is going to happen.”

Brooke remains calm, but her voice becomes firmer.

BROOKE

“I can handle my own time.”

Bethany gives a skeptical look.

BETHANY

“You keep saying that, but every time you make a decision, Isaiah is somehow involved.”

Brooke’s expression hardens.

BROOKE

“Isaiah has nothing to do with my decision to go to Philadelphia.”

Bethany immediately responds.

BETHANY

“Then why are you so determined to go?”

SCENE 3 — BETHANY’S NEW PLAN

Bethany walks across the room.

She stops near Brooke’s bag.

For a moment, she says nothing.

Then she turns back.

BETHANY

“I already have a better plan for you.”

Brooke looks suspicious.

BROOKE

“What plan?”

Bethany speaks with complete confidence.

BETHANY

“You’re going to work for Charlotte.”

Brooke’s eyes widen.

BROOKE

“What?”

BETHANY

“You heard me.”

Bethany gestures toward Brooke.

BETHANY

“Instead of wasting your time in Philadelphia, you can go work for Charlotte.”

Brooke shakes her head.

BROOKE

“I don’t want to do that.”

BETHANY

“That doesn’t matter.”

Brooke takes a step forward.

BROOKE

“It matters to me.”

Bethany’s frustration grows.

BETHANY

“You need to start thinking about your future instead of running after Isaiah.”

Brooke looks offended.

BROOKE

“I am thinking about my future.”

BETHANY

“Then prove it.”

A tense silence fills the room.

SCENE 4 — BROOKE PUSHES BACK

Brooke picks up her bag.

Bethany watches her closely.

BROOKE

“I don’t understand why you’re trying so hard to stop me.”

Bethany looks away for a moment.

Her expression reveals that there is more behind her anger than she wants to admit.

BETHANY

“Because I know what is best for you.”

Brooke responds immediately.

BROOKE

“You don’t always know what’s best for me.”

Bethany turns toward her.

BETHANY

“I know enough to see that you’re wasting your time.”

Brooke’s voice becomes emotional.

BROOKE

“Going to Philadelphia doesn’t mean I’m wasting my time.”

BETHANY

“It does if you’re going there just to be with Isaiah.”

BROOKE

“I never said that’s the only reason.”

Bethany steps closer.

BETHANY

“You don’t have to say it.”

Brooke looks directly into her eyes.

BROOKE

“You’ve already made up your mind about me.”

Bethany remains silent.

SCENE 5 — THE ULTIMATUM

Bethany finally speaks.

Her tone is cold and determined.

BETHANY

“Listen carefully.”

Brooke waits.

BETHANY

“You are not going to Philadelphia.”

Brooke’s jaw tightens.

BETHANY

“I am sending you to Charlotte to work.”

Brooke shakes her head.

BROOKE

“No.”

Bethany looks surprised by the immediate refusal.

BETHANY

“No?”

BROOKE

“No. I’m not going to Charlotte just because you want me there.”

Bethany’s expression becomes even more serious.

BETHANY

“You’re going to work because you need something productive to do.”

BROOKE

“I already have plans.”

BETHANY

“And I’m changing them.”

Brooke takes a breath.

BROOKE

“You can’t control everything I do.”

Bethany looks directly at her.

BETHANY

“Maybe not everything.”

A pause.

BETHANY

“But I’m going to make sure you don’t run off to Philadelphia.”

Brooke looks stunned by her words.

SCENE 6 — THE CHALLENGE

Brooke places her bag on the bed.

She refuses to back down.

BROOKE

“Why are you so afraid of me going to Philadelphia?”

Bethany’s expression changes.

For a second, she seems caught off guard.

BETHANY

“I’m not afraid.”

BROOKE

“Then let me go.”

Bethany says nothing.

Brooke continues.

BROOKE

“If you really believe I’m wasting my time, then let me make that mistake myself.”

Bethany shakes her head.

BETHANY

“No.”

BROOKE

“Why?”

BETHANY

“Because I’m not going to stand here and watch you throw away your time.”

Brooke looks toward the door.

BROOKE

“I have a right to choose what I do.”

Bethany responds firmly.

BETHANY

“And I have a right to tell you when you’re making the wrong choice.”

Brooke looks back at her.

BROOKE

“You’re not giving me advice anymore. You’re giving me an order.”

Bethany pauses.

She knows Brooke is right about that.

SCENE 7 — THE NAME OF ISAIAH

Bethany’s voice lowers.

BETHANY

“Isaiah.”

Brooke looks at her.

BETHANY

“That’s the real reason you’re fighting me, isn’t it?”

Brooke does not answer.

Bethany continues.

BETHANY

“You want to go to Philadelphia because of him.”

BROOKE

“That’s not your decision to make.”

BETHANY

“It becomes my concern when you start changing everything for him.”

Brooke shakes her head.

BROOKE

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Bethany points toward the door.

BETHANY

“Then go to Charlotte.”

Brooke stares at her.

BETHANY

“Go work. Focus on yourself.”

Bethany’s tone becomes challenging.

BETHANY

“Then I’ll see whether you still find a way to run to Isaiah.”

SCENE 8 — BROOKE’S SILENCE

Brooke looks down.

For a moment, she says nothing.

Bethany watches her carefully.

The room becomes quiet.

Brooke finally lifts her eyes.

BROOKE

“You really think you can stop me?”

Bethany answers without hesitation.

BETHANY

“Yes.”

Brooke gives a small, disbelieving smile.

BROOKE

“Then you’re going to have to try.”

Bethany’s expression hardens.

BETHANY

“I will.”

Brooke picks up her bag again.

Bethany watches her.

BETHANY

“Put that bag away.”

Brooke stops.

BROOKE

“No.”

Bethany takes a breath.

BETHANY