INT. LIVING ROOM – MORNING
The house is unusually quiet.
BROOKE sits stubbornly on the couch, arms crossed, refusing to move. Her college bag rests untouched nearby.
LARRY stands in front of her, staring at her with a mixture of frustration, disbelief, and determination.
Bethany watches from a short distance, already sensing that this conversation is about to get heated.
Larry takes a deep breath.
Brooke doesn’t even look at him.
Larry raises an eyebrow.
Larry looks toward the ceiling, trying desperately to keep his patience.
He points toward the front door.
Brooke finally looks up.
Larry pauses.
Brooke nods confidently.
Larry slowly shakes his head.
Brooke’s eyes widen.
Larry points toward the kitchen.
Brooke immediately shakes her head.
Larry folds his arms.
The two stare at each other. For a moment, neither one speaks.
Bethany quietly watches the argument unfold.
Brooke turns toward her.
Larry’s expression becomes more serious.
He steps closer.
Brooke looks away.
Larry’s jaw tightens.
Brooke stands up.
Larry looks directly at her.
Brooke grabs her phone from the table.
She starts walking away.
Larry watches her go. His frustration reaches its limit.
He pulls out his phone.
Bethany looks at him.
Larry doesn’t answer immediately. He scrolls through his contacts. Then he finds the name he is looking for.
SHARRA.
He presses CALL. The phone rings.
Brooke stops in the hallway when she hears him. She slowly turns around.
His voice is calm, but there is unmistakable anger underneath it.
Brooke’s eyes widen.
Larry raises one hand, signaling her to wait.
He listens. His expression becomes more serious.
A pause.
Another pause.
Brooke crosses her arms.
Larry looks at her.
He turns away and continues speaking to Sharra.
Brooke rolls her eyes.
Larry hears her.
He returns his attention to the phone.
Sharra says something on the other end. Larry listens carefully. His expression softens for just a second.
He looks at Brooke.
Brooke’s face changes.
Larry lowers the phone slightly.
Brooke looks angry.
Larry takes a breath.
He pauses.
Brooke shakes her head.
Larry looks at her firmly.
He puts the phone back to his ear.
Brooke starts walking toward the door. Larry immediately notices.
She stops.
Brooke turns around.
Larry looks exhausted.
Brooke remains silent. Larry waits.
Nothing.
Nothing.
Brooke looks down. She doesn’t have an answer. The room becomes quiet.
Larry’s anger slowly turns into concern.
He lowers his voice.
Brooke’s eyes begin to water, but she quickly looks away.
Larry nods slowly.
Brooke hesitates.
Larry’s expression changes. For the first time, he sees the fear behind her stubbornness.
He takes a step closer.
Brooke looks at him.
Brooke wipes her eyes.
Larry almost smiles.
Brooke shakes her head.
Larry nods.
Brooke lets out a frustrated sigh.
Bethany finally steps closer.
Larry looks at Bethany. Then at Brooke. His voice becomes firm again.
Brooke looks toward the door.
He points toward the hallway.
Brooke stares at him.
Larry sighs.
Brooke looks nervous.
Larry’s expression remains serious.
A long silence follows.
Brooke looks down at her untouched college bag. For the first time that morning, she doesn’t argue.
Larry puts his phone away.
The tension in the room remains heavy. But beneath the anger, there is something stronger.
A father’s fear that his daughter might lose her way.
And a daughter’s fear that everyone else expects her to already know where she’s going.
The morning isn’t over.
The argument isn’t finished.
And Brooke still has a decision to make.