SCENE 1 — THE ARGUMENT

INT. IMAN’S HOUSE — LATE AFTERNOON

The room is tense.

Shayla stands across from Iman, visibly angry. Her breathing is heavy as she tries to control her emotions.

Iman remains near the doorway, watching her carefully.

SHAYLA
You think you can just stand there and ignore me?

IMAN
Shayla, I’m not ignoring you. I’m trying to calm things down.

Shayla shakes her head.

She takes a step closer.

SHAYLA
Calm down?
After everything that happened, you want me to calm down?

IMAN
I don’t want us fighting anymore.

SHAYLA
Then stop acting like I’m the problem!

Iman looks away for a moment.

The tension in the room grows.

IMAN
I never said that.

SHAYLA
You don’t have to say it.
Your face says everything.

Shayla becomes more frustrated.

Iman takes a small step backward, trying to create distance between them.

SCENE 2 — THINGS ESCALATE

INT. LIVING ROOM — CONTINUOUS

Shayla points toward Iman.

SHAYLA
You think you can just walk away from me?

IMAN
I’m not walking away.
I’m trying to keep this from getting worse.

SHAYLA
It’s already worse!

Shayla moves toward him angrily.

Iman immediately raises his hands, asking her to stop.

IMAN
Shayla, please.
Don’t do anything you’re going to regret.

SHAYLA
Move!

IMAN
I’m not going anywhere until you calm down.

IMAN
Shayla! Stop!

For a moment, everything becomes quiet.

Shayla looks at him, still furious.

Iman realizes the situation is no longer something he can handle alone.

He reaches for his phone.

SCENE 3 — THE CALL

INT. LIVING ROOM — MOMENTS LATER

Iman steps several feet away from Shayla.

He looks at his phone and calls the police.

IMAN
Hello? I need help.
There’s an argument at my house, and I’m worried the situation is getting out of control.

Shayla hears him.

Her eyes widen.

SHAYLA
Are you seriously calling the police on me?

Iman keeps his distance.

IMAN
I don’t want anybody getting hurt.

SHAYLA
You’re making me look crazy!

IMAN
I’m asking for help because I don’t know what else to do.

Shayla turns away angrily.

Iman gives the dispatcher the address.

After ending the call, he puts his phone down.

SHAYLA
You really did it.
You called them.

IMAN
Yes.
Because I need this situation to stop.

Shayla stares at him in disbelief.

SCENE 4 — POLICE ARRIVE

EXT. IMAN’S HOUSE — MINUTES LATER

A police vehicle arrives outside.

The sound of the vehicle immediately changes the atmosphere.

An officer walks toward the front door.

Iman opens it.

POLICE OFFICER
Are you Iman?

IMAN
Yes, officer.

POLICE OFFICER
We received a call about a disturbance.
Can you tell me what happened?

Iman looks back toward Shayla.

IMAN
We were arguing, but things got worse.
I was afraid she was going to attack me.

The officer listens carefully.

POLICE OFFICER
Is anyone injured?

IMAN
No.
But I don’t feel safe with the situation continuing.

The officer nods.

POLICE OFFICER
Okay. We need everyone to remain calm while we figure out what happened.

SCENE 5 — SHAYLA SPEAKS

Shayla steps forward.

She looks angry and embarrassed.

SHAYLA
He’s making everything sound worse than it was.

POLICE OFFICER
I’m going to hear both sides.
Please take a breath and tell me what happened from your perspective.

Shayla pauses.

Her anger begins turning into frustration.

SHAYLA
We were arguing.
That’s all.

POLICE OFFICER
And did you threaten Iman or try to attack him?

Shayla looks toward Iman.

She doesn’t answer immediately.

SHAYLA
I was angry.

POLICE OFFICER
I understand.
But being angry doesn’t give anyone permission to hurt someone else.

Iman stands quietly nearby.

Shayla looks down.

SCENE 6 — IMAN MAKES HIS REQUEST

The officer speaks privately with Iman.

POLICE OFFICER
Is there anything else I should know?

IMAN
I just don’t think she’s in control of herself right now.
I don’t want this situation to become more dangerous.

The officer nods.

IMAN
Please take her with you.
I think she needs help calming down before something worse happens.

Shayla overhears him.

Her expression changes.

SHAYLA
You want them to arrest me?

IMAN
I want everyone to be safe.

SHAYLA
After everything between us?

IMAN
That’s exactly why I think we need some distance.

Shayla becomes quiet.

SCENE 7 — THE ARREST

INT. LIVING ROOM — CONTINUOUS

The officer approaches Shayla.

POLICE OFFICER
Shayla, based on what we’ve heard and what we’ve observed here, you’re being taken into custody while we deal with this situation.

Shayla looks shocked.

SHAYLA
Wait.
You’re actually arresting me?

POLICE OFFICER
Please remain calm and cooperate.

Shayla looks toward Iman.

For the first time, her anger seems to disappear.

SHAYLA
Iman…

He doesn’t respond immediately.

SHAYLA
You really called them.

IMAN
I didn’t want it to come to this.

SHAYLA
Then why did you do it?

Iman looks at her sadly.

IMAN
Because I was scared of what might happen if we kept fighting.

Shayla lowers her head.

The officer gently directs her toward the door.

SCENE 8 — OUTSIDE

EXT. IMAN’S HOUSE — NIGHT

Shayla is escorted outside.

The neighborhood is quiet.

She looks back at the house one last time.

Iman remains standing inside the doorway.

Their eyes meet.

Neither says anything for several seconds.

SHAYLA
This isn’t over.

Iman takes a breath.

IMAN
Maybe it doesn’t have to be.
But we can’t keep hurting each other.

Shayla looks away.

The officer continues escorting her toward the police vehicle.

Iman watches silently.

The door closes.

The vehicle begins to pull away.

SCENE 9 — THE AFTERMATH

INT. IMAN’S HOUSE — LATER THAT NIGHT

Iman closes the front door.

The house is finally quiet.

He sits down and looks at his phone.

There are several missed calls and messages.

He doesn’t answer any of them.

He simply stares at the floor.

IMAN
I never wanted things to end like this.

He takes a deep breath.

Outside, the police vehicle disappears into the distance.

Iman looks toward the window.

The anger is gone.

All that’s left is uncertainty about what happens next.