BROOKE LEAVES HOME AFTER LARRY AND SHARRA WARN HER ABOUT ISAIAH

The house is quiet.

BROOKE stands near the center of the room, holding her phone tightly in her hand.

Her eyes are filled with anger and disappointment.

LARRY sits across from her.

SHARRA stands nearby, watching Brooke carefully.

The tension in the room is impossible to ignore.

Larry takes a slow breath before speaking.

LARRY

Brooke, we’re not trying to control your life.

We’re trying to protect you.

Brooke looks away.

BROOKE

Protect me?

You both keep saying that like I’m a little kid.

Sharra steps closer.

SHARRA

You’re not a little kid, Brooke.

That’s exactly why we’re talking to you like this.

You have to understand that some people can hurt you without you realizing it.

Brooke looks at her sharply.

BROOKE

You’re talking about Isaiah again.

SHARRA

Yes.

We’re talking about Isaiah.

Larry stands up.

His expression becomes serious.

LARRY

Brooke, listen to me.

Don’t let Isaiah ruin your life.

You have so much ahead of you.

Your future.

Your education.

Your dreams.

Everything you’ve worked for.

Larry pauses.

LARRY

Don’t throw all of that away because of one person.

Brooke’s eyes begin to water.

She quickly wipes them.

BROOKE

You don’t understand what I’m going through.

LARRY

Maybe I don’t understand everything.

But I understand what it looks like when someone is bringing nothing but problems into your life.

Brooke shakes her head.

BROOKE

Isaiah isn’t the only problem.

Sharra looks confused.

SHARRA

Then what is?

Brooke looks between them.

Her frustration finally explodes.

BROOKE

You!

Both Larry and Sharra fall silent.

BROOKE

Every time I make a decision, somebody tells me I’m wrong.

Every time I try to handle something myself, somebody steps in.

I’m tired of everybody acting like they know what’s best for me.

Larry’s voice softens.

LARRY

Because we love you.

Brooke looks down.

For a moment, her anger disappears.

But only for a moment.

BROOKE

Sometimes love feels like a cage.

Larry looks hurt.

Sharra slowly approaches Brooke.

SHARRA

Brooke, we’re not your enemies.

We’re trying to make you see that Isaiah may not be the person you think he is.

Brooke clenches her phone.

BROOKE

I said I can handle it.

LARRY

No, Brooke.

You shouldn’t have to handle everything alone.

Brooke looks toward the staircase.

Her breathing becomes heavier.

BROOKE

I need to get out of here.

Larry immediately notices the change in her expression.

LARRY

Brooke…

She turns toward the hallway.

LARRY

Where are you going?

Brooke doesn’t answer.

She walks quickly toward her bedroom.

Sharra looks at Larry.

SHARRA

This isn’t good.

Larry follows Brooke.

Brooke throws open her closet.

She grabs a few clothes and begins putting them into a travel bag.

Her movements are fast and emotional.

Larry appears in the doorway.

LARRY

Brooke, stop.

Brooke doesn’t look at him.

BROOKE

I’m leaving.

Larry steps inside.

LARRY

You don’t have to leave.

BROOKE

Yes, I do.

LARRY

Where are you going?

Brooke zips the bag.

BROOKE

Somewhere I can breathe.

Larry looks at her with concern.

LARRY

You’re angry right now.

Don’t make a decision you’ll regret because you’re angry.

Brooke picks up another bag.

BROOKE

Maybe leaving is the only decision I’ve made that everyone can’t control.

Sharra appears behind Larry.

SHARRA

Brooke, please.

Brooke turns around.

BROOKE

No.

I’m done listening.

SHARRA

We’re only asking you not to destroy your future over Isaiah.

Brooke’s expression hardens.

BROOKE

Maybe I don’t need Isaiah.

Maybe I don’t need any of you either.

Sharra looks shocked.

Larry lowers his voice.

LARRY

Don’t say that.

Brooke looks at her father.

For a second, she looks like she might change her mind.

Then her eyes fill with tears again.

BROOKE

I just need some space.

She walks past them.

Larry follows.

Brooke carries her bags toward the front door.

Larry and Sharra follow behind her.

LARRY

Brooke, please.

Just put the bags down and let’s talk.

Brooke keeps walking.

BROOKE

I’ve already talked.

Nobody listened.

LARRY

I listened.

BROOKE

You heard me.

That’s different.

Larry stops.

Those words hit him hard.

Brooke opens the front door.

Cold evening air enters the house.

SHARRA

Brooke, don’t walk away like this.

Brooke looks back.

BROOKE

I love you both.

But I can’t stay here tonight.

Larry’s eyes become emotional.

LARRY

At least tell me where you’re going.

Brooke hesitates.

BROOKE

I’ll figure it out.

Larry shakes his head.

LARRY

Brooke, that’s not enough.

She steps outside.

BROOKE

I’ll be okay.

The door slowly closes behind her.

Larry immediately walks toward the window.

Sharra follows.

Brooke walks quickly toward her car.

She opens the trunk.

One by one, she places her bags inside.

Her hands tremble slightly.

She looks back at the house.

Through the window, Larry and Sharra are watching her.

Brooke’s eyes fill with tears.

She quickly looks away.

She places the final bag into the car.

Larry rushes outside.

LARRY

BROOKE!

Brooke freezes.

She turns around.

Larry walks toward her.

LARRY

Please don’t leave like this.

Brooke looks at him.

BROOKE

Dad, I need to go.

LARRY

Then let me come with you.

BROOKE

No.

Larry stops.

LARRY

Why?

Brooke takes a deep breath.

BROOKE

Because I need to figure out who I am without everyone telling me what to do.

Larry looks devastated.

Sharra steps outside.

SHARRA

Brooke…

Brooke looks at her.

SHARRA

Please remember something.

Whatever happens with Isaiah, don’t let it define your life.

Brooke’s eyes become watery.

BROOKE

I’ll remember.

She gets into the driver’s seat.

Larry stands beside the car.

LARRY

Call me.

Brooke looks through the window.

BROOKE

I will.

Larry steps back.

Brooke starts the engine.

The sound fills the quiet street.

Larry and Sharra stand together, watching.

Brooke slowly pulls away from the driveway.

Larry takes a step forward.

LARRY

Brooke…

But she doesn’t stop.

The car disappears down the street.

Larry remains standing in the driveway.

Sharra places a hand on his shoulder.

SHARRA

She’s angry right now.

Larry keeps staring at the empty road.

LARRY

She’s my daughter.

His voice breaks slightly.

LARRY

I should’ve known something was wrong before it got this far.

Sharra looks toward the road.

SHARRA

She’ll come back when she’s ready.

Larry doesn’t answer.

Brooke drives alone.

Streetlights pass across her face.

Her phone sits on the passenger seat.

It begins to ring.

The screen reads:

DAD

Brooke looks at it.

Her eyes fill with tears.

She doesn’t answer.

The phone stops ringing.

A moment later, another message appears.

Brooke glances down.

She wipes her eyes and keeps driving.

For the first time, the anger on her face begins to disappear.

All that’s left is uncertainty.

She looks ahead.

BROOKE

I just need to figure things out.

The car continues down the empty road.

Larry remains outside.

Sharra stands beside him.

The street is completely quiet now.

Larry looks toward the direction Brooke drove.

LARRY

I hope she knows we weren’t trying to hurt her.

Sharra nods.

SHARRA

She knows.

Larry looks down.

LARRY

I just hope she doesn’t learn the hard way that some people aren’t worth losing yourself over.

Sharra says nothing.

The two continue watching the empty road.

FADE OUT.

TO BE CONTINUED…