BROOKE REVEALS THE SECRET — BETHANY LOSES HER TEMPER
INT. LARRY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – AFTERNOON
The house is unusually quiet.
Larry sits on the couch, looking through his phone. Brooke stands nearby, nervous and hesitant. She keeps looking toward the hallway as if she is worried someone might overhear them.
Larry notices her expression.
LARRY
What’s going on, Brooke?
Brooke takes a slow breath.
She sits down across from him.
BROOKE
Larry, I need to tell you something.
Larry puts his phone down.
LARRY
Okay. Tell me.
Brooke looks toward the hallway again.
Her voice becomes quieter.
BROOKE
It’s about Bethany’s grandmother.
Larry’s expression changes.
LARRY
What about her?
Brooke hesitates.
BROOKE
I don’t think she should be living with Bethany anymore.
Larry stares at her.
LARRY
Why would you say that?
Brooke gathers her courage.
BROOKE
Because she has a problem with drugs.
Larry looks shocked by the accusation.
He leans forward.
LARRY
Brooke, are you sure about what you’re saying?
BROOKE
I’m telling you what I believe is happening. I don’t think Bethany should have to deal with that situation.
Larry becomes serious.
LARRY
Does Bethany know?
Brooke shakes her head.
BROOKE
I don’t think she knows that I told you.
Larry slowly stands.
LARRY
You understand this is serious, right?
BROOKE
Yes.
Brooke looks down.
BROOKE
But somebody needed to say something.
Larry walks a few steps across the room.
He looks concerned.
Before he can respond, footsteps are heard from the hallway.
Brooke looks up.
Bethany enters the room.
She immediately notices the serious expressions on their faces.
BETHANY
What are y’all talking about?
Larry looks at Brooke.
Brooke becomes nervous.
Bethany studies them.
BETHANY
Why did both of you get quiet when I walked in?
Larry tries to calm the situation.
LARRY
Bethany, just sit down.
Bethany doesn’t move.
BETHANY
No. What happened?
Brooke finally speaks.
BROOKE
Bethany, I was just telling Larry something.
Bethany’s eyes narrow.
BETHANY
Something about what?
Silence.
Larry looks uncomfortable.
Brooke realizes the truth is about to come out.
BETHANY
Brooke, what did you tell him?
Brooke takes a breath.
BROOKE
I told Larry that I’m worried about your grandmother.
Bethany freezes.
BETHANY
My grandmother?
Brooke nods.
BROOKE
Yes.
Bethany looks at Larry, then back at Brooke.
BETHANY
What did you say about her?
Brooke speaks carefully.
BROOKE
I said that she has a drug problem and that I don’t think she should be living with you.
Bethany’s face changes instantly.
Her anger rises.
BETHANY
You said WHAT?
Brooke steps back.
BROOKE
Bethany, listen to me—
BETHANY
You had no right to tell Larry that!
Larry steps between them.
LARRY
Bethany, calm down.
Bethany points toward Brooke.
BETHANY
She is talking about my grandmother behind my back!
BROOKE
I wasn’t trying to hurt you!
BETHANY
Then why did you tell Larry?
BROOKE
Because I was worried!
Bethany shakes her head.
BETHANY
You were worried?
Her voice trembles with anger.
BETHANY
You could have come to me first!
Brooke looks down.
BROOKE
I didn’t know how you would react.
BETHANY
And now you know!
Larry raises his voice slightly.
LARRY
Both of you need to stop.
Bethany continues staring at Brooke.
BETHANY
You always think you know what’s best for everybody.
BROOKE
That’s not what I’m doing.
BETHANY
Yes, it is!
Brooke tries to walk away.
Bethany becomes overwhelmed by anger and moves toward her.
Larry immediately steps between them.
LARRY
Bethany! Back up.
Bethany stops.
For a moment, nobody speaks.
Brooke looks shaken by the confrontation.
BROOKE
I was only trying to protect you.
Bethany’s anger begins mixing with hurt.
BETHANY
Protect me?
She looks away.
BETHANY
You embarrassed my grandmother and you embarrassed me.
BROOKE
I didn’t mean to embarrass anybody.
LARRY
Then everybody needs to take a breath.
Larry looks at Brooke.
LARRY
You should have talked to Bethany first.
Brooke nods slowly.
BROOKE
Maybe I should have.
Larry turns toward Bethany.
LARRY
And you can’t let your anger turn into something worse.
Bethany takes a deep breath.
She looks at Brooke.
BETHANY
I’m angry because you went behind my back.
Brooke wipes away a tear.
BROOKE
I understand.
Bethany looks toward the floor.
The room becomes quiet again.
A few seconds pass.
BETHANY
You don’t know everything that’s happening with my grandmother.
BROOKE
Then tell me.
Bethany looks at her.
BETHANY
I’m not ready to talk about it right now.
She turns away.
Larry watches both women carefully.
LARRY
Then maybe that’s where we start.
Bethany looks back.
LARRY
No more secrets.
Brooke nods.
LARRY
If there’s a serious problem, you talk about it together.
Bethany remains silent.
Brooke slowly approaches her, but stops a few feet away.
BROOKE
Bethany, I’m sorry for telling Larry before I talked to you.
Bethany looks at her.
BETHANY
I’m still upset.
BROOKE
I know.
BETHANY
But I heard what you said.
Brooke nods.
BROOKE
And I meant that I was worried about you.
Bethany takes another breath.
Her anger begins to settle.
BETHANY
I need some time.
Brooke accepts that.
BROOKE
Okay.
Bethany walks toward the hallway.
Before leaving, she turns around.
BETHANY
And Brooke?
Brooke looks up.
BROOKE
Yeah?
BETHANY
Next time, come to me first.
Brooke nods.
BROOKE
I will.
Bethany walks away.
Larry looks at Brooke.
LARRY
You okay?
Brooke nods, though she still looks emotional.
BROOKE
I just didn’t want something bad to happen to her.
Larry sits back down.
LARRY
Then remember that caring about somebody also means choosing the right way to help them.
Brooke sits quietly.
The house falls silent.
In the hallway, Bethany stops for a moment.
She looks deeply troubled by everything she has just heard.
Her grandmother’s situation is clearly weighing on her.
But now she knows there is a problem that can no longer be ignored.