THE OWNER QUESTION
INT. WAYNE’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – EVENING
The house is quiet.
Soft evening light spills through the windows. Wayne sits comfortably on the couch, scrolling through his phone.
Lauren enters the room.
She stops.
Her expression is tense.
She has clearly been holding something in.
LAUREN
Wayne, can I ask you something?
Wayne looks up.
He immediately notices the seriousness on her face.
WAYNE
Sure. What’s going on?
Lauren walks closer.
She folds her arms.
LAUREN
Why did you make D’Nisha the owner of the podcast?
Wayne pauses.
He slowly puts his phone down.
WAYNE
Lauren—
She cuts him off.
LAUREN
No. I want an answer.
Wayne leans back.
Lauren’s eyes remain fixed on him.
LAUREN
I’m your wife, Wayne. How does D’Nisha suddenly become the owner?
Wayne takes a slow breath.
He can tell this conversation is about to become heated.
WAYNE
It’s not what you think.
Lauren lets out a frustrated laugh.
LAUREN
Then tell me what it is.
Wayne stands up.
He tries to keep his voice calm.
WAYNE
D’Nisha has been putting in work. She’s been helping with the podcast, handling things, and showing that she can take responsibility.
Lauren shakes her head.
LAUREN
And that means you make her the owner?
Wayne looks at her.
WAYNE
I made a business decision.
Lauren steps closer.
LAUREN
A business decision that affects me too.
Silence.
Wayne looks away for a moment.
WAYNE
Lauren, you’re taking this personally.
LAUREN
Because it IS personal!
Her voice echoes through the room.
Wayne watches her carefully.
Lauren points toward him.
LAUREN
You expect me to stand here and smile while another woman gets something that I thought was supposed to be part of our future?
Wayne’s expression becomes serious.
WAYNE
Nobody is taking anything away from you.
Lauren immediately responds.
LAUREN
Then why her?
Wayne doesn’t answer right away.
That silence makes Lauren even more upset.
LAUREN
Exactly.
She turns away.
Wayne takes a step toward her.
WAYNE
Lauren, listen to me.
She turns back.
WAYNE
Just be patient.
Lauren stares at him.
LAUREN
Patient?
Wayne nods.
WAYNE
Yes. Be patient.
Lauren waits for more.
Wayne continues.
WAYNE
I know what I’m doing. When the time is right, I’ll make you part of it too.
Lauren’s eyes narrow.
LAUREN
“You’ll make me part of it”?
She shakes her head.
LAUREN
Wayne, I’m not asking you for a favor. I’m your wife.
Wayne rubs his forehead.
WAYNE
I understand that.
LAUREN
Then act like it.
A long silence follows.
The tension between them grows.
Wayne tries to lower the temperature.
WAYNE
I said be patient.
Lauren takes another step toward him.
LAUREN
And what exactly am I supposed to be patient for?
Wayne looks directly into her eyes.
WAYNE
You’ll see.
Lauren stares at him, waiting for an explanation.
None comes.
Her frustration turns into anger.
LAUREN
You always say that.
Wayne remains quiet.
LAUREN
“You’ll see.”
She shakes her head.
LAUREN
But I’m tired of waiting to see where I fit into your plans.
Wayne’s jaw tightens.
WAYNE
Lauren, don’t turn this into something bigger than it is.
That sentence pushes her over the edge.
LAUREN
Bigger than it is?
She laughs bitterly.
LAUREN
You gave D’Nisha ownership of the podcast!
Wayne raises his hands.
WAYNE
Lower your voice.
Lauren steps closer.
LAUREN
No!
Wayne looks surprised by her reaction.
LAUREN
You want me to stay calm while you make decisions like this behind my back?
WAYNE
I didn’t do anything behind your back.
LAUREN
Then why am I finding out like this?
Wayne doesn’t immediately respond.
Lauren watches his face.
She knows his silence says more than his words.
LAUREN
You know what?
She turns away.
WAYNE
Lauren—
She stops.
Wayne walks closer.
WAYNE
I’m telling you to trust me.
Lauren slowly turns around.
LAUREN
Trust you?
Wayne nods.
WAYNE
Yes.
LAUREN
You want trust, but you won’t give me answers.
Wayne takes a breath.
WAYNE
Because everything doesn’t need to happen today.
Lauren’s expression changes.
She looks hurt now, not just angry.
LAUREN
Maybe it doesn’t.
She pauses.
LAUREN
But I deserve to know where I stand.
Wayne looks at her.
For a moment, neither of them speaks.
Then Wayne reaches for his phone.
Lauren watches him.
LAUREN
Are you seriously going back to your phone?
Wayne stops.
WAYNE
I’m not trying to argue with you.
LAUREN
Neither am I.
She walks toward him.
LAUREN
I’m trying to understand my husband.
Wayne looks up.
Lauren’s frustration is visible in her eyes.
WAYNE
And I’m trying to tell you that you need to be patient.
Lauren clenches her jaw.
LAUREN
You keep saying that.
Wayne nods.
WAYNE
Because I mean it.
Lauren stares at him.
Her breathing becomes heavier.
Suddenly, she reaches forward and grabs Wayne by the collar.
Wayne freezes.
WAYNE
Lauren!
She holds his collar tightly.
LAUREN
Then stop talking in circles!
Wayne looks down at her hand.
Then back at her face.
WAYNE
Let go of my shirt.
Lauren doesn’t move.
LAUREN
Not until you answer me.
Wayne’s expression becomes firm.
WAYNE
Lauren, this isn’t the way to handle this.
LAUREN
Maybe you should have thought about that before making D’Nisha the owner.
Wayne gently tries to remove her hand.
WAYNE
I’m not going to fight with you.
Lauren finally loosens her grip slightly.
But she remains standing directly in front of him.
LAUREN
I need you to understand something.
Wayne waits.
LAUREN
I don’t want to compete with D’Nisha.
Wayne looks at her.
LAUREN
I don’t want to fight over a podcast.
She pauses.
LAUREN
I want respect.
Wayne’s expression softens.
WAYNE
You have my respect.
Lauren shakes her head.
LAUREN
Then show me.
Wayne takes a deep breath.
WAYNE
I will.
Lauren studies his face.
LAUREN
When?
Wayne hesitates.
That hesitation tells her everything.
Lauren slowly releases his collar.
She steps backward.
LAUREN
That’s what I thought.
Wayne watches her.
WAYNE
Lauren—
She raises her hand.
LAUREN
No.
She wipes the frustration from her face.
LAUREN
I’m done arguing tonight.
She turns toward the hallway.
Wayne remains still.
WAYNE
You really think I don’t have a plan?
Lauren stops but doesn’t turn around.
LAUREN
I think your plan keeps everyone waiting except D’Nisha.
Wayne’s face falls.
Lauren walks away.
Her footsteps echo through the hallway.
Wayne looks down at his shirt, then toward the direction she disappeared.
He knows the argument isn’t over.
Across the room, his phone suddenly buzzes.
Wayne picks it up.
A message appears.
His expression changes.
He reads it silently.
The message is from D’Nisha.
Wayne looks toward the hallway again.
The situation has just become even more complicated.