MARIAH CONFRONTS BROOKE
SCENE 1 — ISAIAH’S HOUSE — EVENING
The house is unusually quiet.
ISAIAH sits alone on the couch, staring at his phone. His expression is tense. The events of the day are clearly weighing on him.
His phone suddenly rings.
The screen shows MARIAH.
Isaiah hesitates before answering.
ISAIAH
Hello?
Mariah’s voice sounds worried.
MARIAH
Isaiah, I heard what happened.
Isaiah looks away.
ISAIAH
You heard about Brooke?
MARIAH
Yes. I heard she slapped you.
Isaiah stays silent.
MARIAH
I want you to come to me.
Isaiah looks confused.
ISAIAH
Mariah, this isn’t the right time.
MARIAH
Please, Isaiah. Just come here. I don’t want you dealing with this alone.
Isaiah slowly stands.
ISAIAH
I’ll come.
He ends the call.
Isaiah grabs his jacket and walks toward the door.
SCENE 2 — OUTSIDE MARIAH’S HOUSE — NIGHT
Isaiah arrives at Mariah’s house.
Mariah is already waiting outside.
The moment she sees him, she notices the sadness and frustration on his face.
MARIAH
Isaiah…
She walks toward him.
MARIAH
Are you okay?
ISAIAH
I’m fine.
Mariah shakes her head.
MARIAH
You’re not fine.
Isaiah looks down.
ISAIAH
Brooke and I had another argument.
Mariah takes a breath.
MARIAH
And she slapped you?
Isaiah doesn’t answer.
His silence tells her everything.
Mariah becomes visibly angry.
MARIAH
She had no right to do that.
ISAIAH
Mariah, please don’t make this worse.
MARIAH
I’m not going to hurt anyone. But I need to talk to Brooke.
Isaiah looks concerned.
ISAIAH
Maybe you shouldn’t.
Mariah looks directly at him.
MARIAH
I’m coming with you.
Isaiah hesitates.
Finally, he nods.
SCENE 3 — OUTSIDE BROOKE’S HOUSE — NIGHT
A car pulls up outside Brooke’s house.
Isaiah and Mariah step out.
Mariah walks quickly toward the front door.
Isaiah follows behind her.
ISAIAH
Mariah, wait.
She stops.
MARIAH
I’m going to talk to her. That’s all.
Isaiah looks uncertain.
ISAIAH
Just stay calm.
Mariah takes a deep breath.
MARIAH
I will.
She knocks on the door.
A few seconds pass.
The door opens.
BROOKE stands there.
She immediately sees Isaiah.
Then she sees Mariah beside him.
Brooke’s expression changes.
BROOKE
Mariah?
Mariah steps forward.
MARIAH
Yes. Me.
Brooke looks at Isaiah.
BROOKE
Why did you bring her here?
Isaiah tries to answer.
ISAIAH
Brooke, just listen—
MARIAH
No. I need to say something.
Brooke folds her arms.
BROOKE
Then say it.
Mariah looks furious.
MARIAH
I heard you slapped Isaiah.
Brooke’s eyes narrow.
BROOKE
That’s between Isaiah and me.
MARIAH
It stopped being private when you put your hands on him.
Isaiah steps between them.
ISAIAH
Enough. Both of you.
Brooke looks at Isaiah.
BROOKE
So now you’re bringing Mariah to confront me?
ISAIAH
I didn’t come here to fight.
BROOKE
But she did.
Mariah steps forward.
MARIAH
I came because I care about Isaiah.
Brooke laughs bitterly.
BROOKE
You care about Isaiah?
MARIAH
Yes.
The tension immediately rises.
SCENE 4 — BROOKE’S LIVING ROOM — CONTINUOUS
Brooke steps inside.
Mariah follows.
Isaiah remains near the doorway, watching both women carefully.
BROOKE
You think you can walk into my house and tell me what to do?
MARIAH
No. But I can tell you that what happened was wrong.
BROOKE
You don’t know what happened between us.
MARIAH
Maybe I don’t know everything. But I know Isaiah was hurt by what happened.
Brooke looks toward Isaiah.
BROOKE
Is that what you told her?
Isaiah sighs.
ISAIAH
Brooke, I didn’t want this argument.
BROOKE
Then why did you come here with her?
MARIAH
Because I asked him to come with me.
Brooke turns toward Mariah.
BROOKE
Stay out of my relationship.
Mariah’s expression hardens.
MARIAH
You should have thought about that before you hurt him.
Brooke takes a step closer.
BROOKE
Don’t lecture me.
Mariah steps closer too.
Isaiah immediately moves between them.
ISAIAH
Stop!
Both women pause.
ISAIAH
This isn’t helping anything.
Mariah looks at Isaiah.
MARIAH
I’m trying to protect you.
ISAIAH
I appreciate that, but I don’t want another fight.
Brooke’s eyes fill with frustration.
BROOKE
You two came here together, and now you’re standing there defending her.
ISAIAH
I’m not defending anyone. I’m asking both of you to calm down.
SCENE 5 — THE CONFRONTATION — NIGHT
Brooke points toward the door.
BROOKE
Mariah, you need to leave.
Mariah refuses to move.
MARIAH
Not until you understand that Isaiah deserves respect.
Brooke becomes more upset.
BROOKE
You don’t get to come into my house and act like you’re better than me.
MARIAH
This isn’t about being better than you.
She pauses.
MARIAH
It’s about what happened to Isaiah.
Brooke suddenly moves toward Mariah.
Isaiah quickly steps between them.
ISAIAH
Brooke! Stop!
Mariah backs away.
MARIAH
See? This is exactly why I came.
Brooke stares at her.
BROOKE
You think you’re saving him?
MARIAH
I’m trying to make sure nobody gets hurt again.
Isaiah looks at Brooke.
ISAIAH
Brooke, please. We need to talk when everyone is calm.
Brooke looks at him, hurt and angry.
BROOKE
You already made your choice.
Isaiah shakes his head.
ISAIAH
That’s not what I’m saying.
BROOKE
It feels like it.
Mariah reaches for Isaiah’s arm.
MARIAH
Come on. Let’s go.
Isaiah looks back at Brooke.
For a moment, nobody speaks.
Finally, Isaiah follows Mariah toward the door.
Brooke watches them leave.
Her anger slowly turns into disappointment.
SCENE 6 — OUTSIDE BROOKE’S HOUSE — NIGHT
Isaiah and Mariah walk toward the car.
Mariah looks back at the house.
MARIAH
I couldn’t just ignore what happened.
Isaiah nods.
ISAIAH
I understand.
MARIAH
But I don’t want this to turn into something bigger.
Isaiah looks serious.
ISAIAH
Neither do I.
Behind them, Brooke remains standing at the doorway.
She watches their car disappear down the street.
Brooke wipes away a tear and closes the door.
Inside the house, she stands alone.
Her anger hasn’t disappeared.
Neither has the pain.
The night ends with three people facing the consequences of a relationship that has become impossible to control.