The house is unusually quiet.
Warm evening light spills through the windows.
BROOKE stands near the couch, looking exhausted and emotionally drained.
She holds her phone loosely in one hand.
A knock comes at the door.
Brooke looks up.
The door opens.
LYNETTE walks inside.
She immediately notices Brooke’s expression.
Lynette walks closer.
Brooke looks surprised.
Lynette gently places a hand on the back of the couch.
You can stay there as long as you need.
You can do whatever you want.
If you want to study, study.
If you don’t feel like studying, then don’t.
Nobody is going to pressure you.
Brooke looks down.
Her eyes become emotional.
For the first time that evening, she seems relieved.
Lynette nods.
You shouldn’t feel like you have nowhere to go.
Brooke takes a slow breath.
She looks toward the hallway.
Then back at Lynette.
I’ll go with you.
Brooke immediately stands.
She walks toward the hallway.
Brooke enters her room.
She opens the closet.
She starts pulling out clothes.
She places them into a suitcase.
Her hands move quickly.
She adds a few books and personal belongings.
She pauses.
She looks around the room.
There is sadness in her eyes. She has spent so much time here. But tonight, she feels like she needs a change.
Lynette appears at the doorway.
I just want to leave.
Brooke closes the suitcase.
Brooke grabs the suitcase handle.
They begin walking toward the living room.
Brooke and Lynette walk down the hallway.
Brooke looks determined.
Then suddenly—
The front door opens.
LARRY walks inside.
He stops when he sees Brooke carrying a suitcase.
His expression immediately changes.
Brooke stops.
Lynette remains calm.
Larry’s face becomes tense.
Larry looks at the suitcase.
His anger grows.
A tense silence fills the room.
Larry walks toward Brooke.
He points toward the hallway.
Lynette watches the argument carefully.
Larry suddenly reaches for Brooke’s suitcase.
Brooke tightens her grip.
Larry takes the suitcase from her.
He carries it toward the hallway.
Larry places the suitcase down inside the hallway.
He turns around.
Brooke’s eyes fill with frustration.
Larry pauses.
He doesn’t immediately answer.
Larry remains silent.
I need to clear my head.
I’m not disappearing.
I’m just going somewhere I can breathe.
Larry looks between them.
His anger slowly turns into frustration.
He walks toward the window.
For a moment, nobody speaks.
The room becomes completely silent.
Larry closes his eyes briefly.
He seems torn between anger and concern.
You just have to trust Brooke enough to let her make a choice.
Larry turns around.
Brooke watches him carefully.
Another long silence follows.
Larry finally looks at the suitcase.
Then back at Brooke.
Larry exhales slowly.
He walks over and picks up the suitcase again.
Brooke watches him.
For a second, she thinks he is going to stop her.
Instead, Larry places the suitcase beside the couch.
Brooke says nothing.
Lynette looks surprised.
Brooke’s expression softens.
Lynette picks up the suitcase.
Brooke looks back at Larry one final time.
He gives a reluctant nod.
Brooke turns toward the door.
She walks beside Lynette.
Larry remains standing in the living room.
The door slowly closes behind them.
Larry stares at it.
His anger is still there.
But underneath it is something deeper—
Concern.
He slowly sits on the couch.
The house becomes quiet again.