BETHANY OPENS UP TO LARRY — AND HE RUSHES HER TO THE HOSPITAL
🎬 SCENE 1 — LIVING ROOM — EVENING
The house is unusually quiet.
Bethany sits on the couch, staring down at her hands.
Her breathing is slow, but her expression is overwhelmed.
Larry notices something is wrong.
He walks over and sits beside her.
For a moment, neither of them speaks.
Bethany… talk to me. What’s going on?
Bethany looks up at him.
Her eyes are filled with confusion.
I don’t understand what’s happening to me.
Larry listens without interrupting.
I don’t even know what’s wrong with me anymore.
She looks away.
Larry gently leans forward.
You don’t have to figure everything out by yourself.
Bethany takes a deep breath.
Sometimes I just feel like I’m not myself.
Larry remains quiet, giving her time to speak.
One minute I’m okay… and then suddenly everything gets to me.
She shakes her head.
I get angry. I say things I don’t mean. Then afterward, I sit there wondering why I acted that way.
How long have you been feeling like this?
Bethany pauses.
I don’t know.
She looks down again.
Sometimes I feel like I’m going into these really difficult emotional states, and I don’t know how to handle them.
Larry reaches for her hand.
Then we need to get you some help.
That’s why I’m angry all the time.
Her voice becomes quieter.
I don’t know how to control what I’m feeling.
Larry gives her a reassuring smile.
You don’t have to control everything alone.
Bethany looks at him, surprised by how calm he is.
We’re going to figure this out together.
🎬 SCENE 2 — LIVING ROOM — CONTINUOUS
Bethany wipes away a tear and takes another breath.
Larry stands up.
His expression suddenly becomes more serious.
We’re going to the hospital.
The hospital?
Yes.
I already called the doctor.
Larry, I don’t know if I need to go to the hospital.
Larry sits back down beside her.
I understand.
But I want you to be checked by a doctor. We need to know what’s going on instead of guessing.
Bethany nods slowly.
Okay.
Good.
You’re not doing this alone.
Bethany looks down at their hands.
For the first time that evening, she seems a little calmer.
🎬 SCENE 3 — LIVING ROOM — MOMENTS LATER
Larry stands and starts gathering a few things they might need.
Bethany watches him.
Larry…
Yeah?
Thank you.
You don’t have to thank me.
Bethany takes a slow breath.
I just don’t want everyone thinking I’m crazy.
Larry immediately shakes his head.
Nobody is saying that.
You’re going through something, and we’re going to get answers.
Bethany nods.
Larry picks up his phone again.
He looks at the screen for a moment before calling Brooke.
The phone rings.
🎬 SCENE 4 — PHONE CALL — EVENING
Hello?
Larry speaks quickly but calmly.
Brooke, I need you to come here as soon as you can.
Why? What happened?
Larry looks over at Bethany.
I need to take Bethany to the hospital.
There is a brief silence.
Is she okay?
She’s having a difficult time right now.
The doctor is going to check on her.
Okay. I’m coming.
All right. Just get here as soon as you can.
I will.
The call ends.
Larry puts his phone away.
🎬 SCENE 5 — LIVING ROOM — CONTINUOUS
You called Brooke?
Yeah.
I don’t want her to worry about me.
She’s family. She should know what’s happening.
Bethany nods.
I just don’t want this to become another big situation.
It doesn’t have to be.
Right now, the only thing that matters is making sure you’re okay.
You really think I should go?
Yes.
Let the doctor talk to you. Tell them exactly how you’ve been feeling.
Okay.
That’s all I need from you.
🎬 SCENE 6 — BETHANY’S ROOM — LATER
Bethany walks into her room to get ready.
Larry waits outside.
The house remains quiet.
Bethany looks at herself in the mirror.
I just want to understand what’s happening to me.
She takes another breath.
Then she grabs her things and walks out.
Larry is waiting in the hallway.
Ready?
Yeah.
Okay. Let’s go.
They begin walking toward the front door.
🎬 SCENE 7 — FRONT DOOR — NIGHT
Larry opens the door.
Bethany stops for a moment.
She looks back at the house.
You okay?
Yeah.
I’m just scared.
Larry steps closer.
You don’t have to be scared.
We’re going to the hospital, you’re going to talk to the doctor, and we’ll take it one step at a time.
Okay.
Come on.
Bethany walks outside.
Larry follows.
🎬 SCENE 8 — OUTSIDE THE HOUSE — NIGHT
Larry walks toward the car.
Bethany follows slowly behind him.
Larry opens the passenger door for her.
Bethany gets inside.
Larry closes the door carefully.
He walks around to the driver’s side and gets in.
Before starting the car, he looks at Bethany.
You ready?
As ready as I can be.
That’s enough.
He starts the car.
Bethany looks out the window as they pull away from the house.
For once, she isn’t trying to hide how she feels.
And Larry isn’t trying to solve everything himself.
They are simply taking the next step.
The car disappears down the road toward the hospital.
FADE OUT.
TO BE CONTINUED…