ISAIAH’S MOM ORDERS HIM TO GO MEET BROOKE
INT. ISAIAH’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – EVENING
The house is quiet.
The front door opens.
ISAIAH walks inside slowly.
He looks distracted.
He drops his keys onto the table.
Before he can take another step, his MOM appears from the hallway.
She looks angry.
Her arms are crossed.
She has clearly been waiting for him.
Isaiah notices her expression.
He stops.
MOM
Isaiah.
Her voice is firm.
Isaiah looks at her.
ISAIAH
Yes, Mom?
She takes a step closer.
MOM
Did you go see Brooke?
Isaiah immediately looks away.
There is a short silence.
ISAIAH
No.
His mother stares at him.
Her expression becomes even more serious.
MOM
No?
Isaiah shakes his head.
ISAIAH
No, I didn’t.
His mother lets out a frustrated breath.
She walks toward the couch.
MOM
Then why didn’t you go?
Isaiah remains standing.
ISAIAH
I didn’t think it was the right time.
His mother turns around sharply.
MOM
The right time?
She looks at him in disbelief.
MOM
Isaiah, when are you going to understand what is happening?
Isaiah stays quiet.
His mother continues.
MOM
Brooke left college.
Isaiah’s expression changes.
He already knows.
MOM
She left because of everything that happened.
Isaiah looks down.
ISAIAH
Mom…
She raises her hand slightly.
MOM
No. Let me finish.
Isaiah falls silent.
His mother walks closer.
MOM
She walked away from her college plans.
She pauses.
MOM
She left the house.
Another pause.
MOM
And you still couldn’t go see her?
Isaiah looks hurt.
ISAIAH
I wanted to.
MOM
Then why didn’t you?
Isaiah struggles to answer.
ISAIAH
I was scared.
His mother looks at him.
Her anger softens for only a moment.
MOM
Scared of what?
Isaiah takes a breath.
ISAIAH
I didn’t know how Brooke would react.
MOM
Of course she’s hurt.
Isaiah looks at the floor.
MOM
But that doesn’t mean you disappear.
Isaiah remains silent.
His mother shakes her head.
MOM
You keep thinking avoiding Brooke will make everything easier.
She points toward him.
MOM
It won’t.
Isaiah finally looks at her.
ISAIAH
I didn’t want to make things worse.
MOM
You are making things worse by doing nothing.
The words hit Isaiah hard.
He looks away.
His mother takes a deep breath.
MOM
Brooke needs answers.
Isaiah slowly nods.
MOM
And you need to give them to her.
ISAIAH
What if she doesn’t want to see me?
His mother looks directly at him.
MOM
Then let her tell you that herself.
Isaiah says nothing.
His mother continues.
MOM
Don’t make that decision for her.
A long silence fills the room.
Isaiah sits down.
He rubs his hands together nervously.
ISAIAH
I don’t know what to say to her.
His mother sits across from him.
MOM
Then start with the truth.
Isaiah looks at her.
MOM
Tell her you’re sorry.
MOM
Tell her why you stayed away.
MOM
And listen to what she has to say.
Isaiah nods slowly.
ISAIAH
I should have gone earlier.
His mother looks at him firmly.
MOM
Yes.
She pauses.
MOM
You should have.
Isaiah takes a deep breath.
ISAIAH
I thought maybe giving her space would help.
MOM
Space is one thing.
Her voice becomes more emotional.
MOM
Ignoring someone who is already hurting is another.
Isaiah looks down.
His mother’s words are clearly affecting him.
MOM
You know Brooke better than that.
Isaiah slowly nods.
ISAIAH
I know.
His mother stands.
She walks toward the door.
Isaiah watches her.
She turns back.
MOM
Did you even call her?
Isaiah hesitates.
ISAIAH
No.
His mother’s frustration returns.
MOM
Isaiah!
He quickly stands.
ISAIAH
I know, Mom.
MOM
No, I don’t think you do.
She takes a breath.
MOM
She left college.
MOM
She left home.
MOM
And you are standing here wondering whether you should go see her?
Isaiah’s face becomes emotional.
ISAIAH
I was afraid she’d blame me.
His mother looks at him.
MOM
Maybe she will.
Isaiah looks surprised.
MOM
And maybe you deserve to hear how she feels.
Isaiah remains silent.
MOM
But you won’t know unless you go.
Isaiah looks toward the front door.
He seems to be thinking about Brooke.
ISAIAH
What if she doesn’t forgive me?
His mother walks closer.
MOM
Forgiveness isn’t something you demand.
She pauses.
MOM
You earn trust by being honest.
Isaiah nods.
His mother points toward the door.
MOM
Go see her.
Isaiah doesn’t move.
She becomes firmer.
MOM
Why are you still standing here?
Isaiah looks at her.
MOM
Go.
He takes a breath.
MOM
Right now.
Isaiah slowly reaches for his keys.
He picks them up.
His mother watches him.
ISAIAH
Okay.
He walks toward the door.
Then he stops.
He turns around.
ISAIAH
Mom?
She looks at him.
ISAIAH
What if Brooke is really done with me?
His mother’s expression softens.
MOM
Then at least she’ll know you cared enough to come.
Isaiah absorbs her words.
He nods.
ISAIAH
You’re right.
He opens the door.
His mother calls after him.
MOM
Isaiah.
He turns.
MOM
Don’t go there to defend yourself.
Isaiah listens carefully.
MOM
Go there to listen.
Isaiah nods.
ISAIAH
I will.
He steps outside.
The door closes behind him.
His mother remains standing in the living room.
She looks worried.
But she knows she has finally pushed her son to do what he should have done earlier.
EXT. ISAIAH’S HOUSE – CONTINUOUS
Isaiah walks toward his car.
He stops beside the driver’s door.
He looks down at his phone.
Brooke’s name appears on the screen.
He hesitates.
His thumb moves toward her name.
He stops.
Instead, he puts the phone away.
He takes a deep breath.
ISAIAH
I’m going to face this.
He opens the car door.
INT. ISAIAH’S CAR – EVENING
Isaiah sits behind the wheel.
He starts the engine.
His face is nervous but determined.
He knows the conversation ahead won’t be easy.
But his mother’s words remain in his mind.
“Go there to listen.”
Isaiah drives away.
INT. BROOKE’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – EVENING
Brooke sits alone on the couch.
She looks at the window.
She has no idea that Isaiah is on his way.
Her phone rests beside her.
She takes a slow breath.
Then—
A car pulls up outside.
Brooke looks toward the window.
Her expression changes.
She slowly stands.
The front door remains closed.
She waits.
A few seconds pass.
A knock comes from outside.
Brooke freezes.
She looks toward the door.
Another knock.
Her heart races with uncertainty.
She takes a careful step forward.
The camera stays on Brooke’s face as she reaches for the door.