SCENE 1: THE FIRST MEETING

INT. LARRY AND BETHANY’S HOUSE — AFTERNOON

The afternoon is peaceful when Purnell arrives with his girlfriend. Larry opens the door, greets them, and suddenly finds himself captivated by her warm smile. He tries to remain calm, but something about their first meeting leaves him unusually excited.

PURNELL

Larry, I want you to meet my girlfriend. I’ve told her plenty of stories about you.

LARRY

It’s great to finally meet you. Come inside and make yourselves comfortable.

PURNELL’S GIRLFRIEND

It’s nice to meet you too, Larry.

Larry smiles at her longer than necessary. Bethany notices the way he looks at their guest and immediately becomes suspicious.

BETHANY

Larry, are you going to invite everyone inside, or are you planning to stand there all afternoon?

LARRY

Of course. Come on in!

As everyone enters, Bethany watches Larry carefully. She cannot understand why he suddenly seems so eager to impress another woman.

SCENE 2: BETHANY NOTICES SOMETHING DIFFERENT

INT. LIVING ROOM — LATER

Everyone sits together, sharing stories and laughter. Larry keeps directing his attention toward Purnell’s girlfriend. Whenever she speaks, he listens closely. Whenever she laughs, he smiles.

PURNELL

Man, Larry, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this interested in one of my stories!

LARRY

Maybe you’re finally telling a good one.

Everyone laughs, but Bethany remains unconvinced. She notices that Larry barely gives her the same attention.

BETHANY

That’s funny. He’s been awfully quiet around me lately.

LARRY

Bethany, don’t turn a normal conversation into an argument.

BETHANY

I’m not arguing. I’m simply noticing what you’re doing.

Purnell changes the subject. Later, he and his girlfriend prepare to leave. Larry walks them to the door and hopes they will return soon.

LARRY

I hope we get to see you again soon.

PURNELL’S GIRLFRIEND

I’m sure we’ll see you again. It was nice meeting you.

She leaves with Purnell. Larry watches them go, lost in thought. Behind him, Bethany’s suspicions grow stronger.

SCENE 3: LARRY’S UNEXPECTED FEELINGS

INT. BEDROOM — NIGHT

Larry lies awake, thinking about Purnell’s girlfriend. Bethany lies beside him, frustrated by the emotional distance between them. Their relationship has become strained, but Larry has not explained what is happening.

Instead of addressing his relationship problems, Larry convinces himself that his new feelings mean something extraordinary. He decides to arrange another meeting.

EXT. COFFEE SHOP — AFTERNOON

Purnell’s girlfriend sits at an outdoor table when Larry approaches. She welcomes him, unaware that he intends to reveal his feelings.

LARRY

Ever since we met, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.

PURNELL’S GIRLFRIEND

Larry, I’m Purnell’s girlfriend. Why would you tell me something like that?

LARRY

I know the situation is complicated, but my feelings are real to me.

PURNELL’S GIRLFRIEND

You barely know me. You need to think about Bethany and Purnell before you make a decision you cannot take back.

Larry listens, but he refuses to let go of the idea he has built in his mind. He begins planning a grand gesture, convinced that a ring will prove his intentions.

SCENE 4: THE SHOCKING PROPOSAL

INT. UPSCALE RESTAURANT — EVENING

Larry arranges a private dinner. A small ring box rests in his pocket. When Purnell’s girlfriend arrives, she expects a conversation, not a marriage proposal.

PURNELL’S GIRLFRIEND

Larry, you said you needed to talk to me. What’s going on?

Larry stands and opens the ring box. Before she can understand what he is doing, he lowers himself onto one knee.

LARRY

The first time I saw you, something changed for me. I want you in my life. Will you marry me?

She stares at the ring, completely stunned. She never expected Larry to take things this far.

PURNELL’S GIRLFRIEND

Are you serious? Larry, you hardly know me!

LARRY

I’ve never been more serious.

PURNELL’S GIRLFRIEND

What about Bethany? And what about Purnell? You cannot pretend their feelings don’t matter.

Larry looks at her, waiting for an answer. But before she can respond, someone appears at the restaurant entrance.

Bethany stands completely still. Her eyes move from Larry’s face to the open ring box. She realizes that her worst suspicions were true.

SCENE 5: BETHANY DISCOVERS EVERYTHING

Bethany approaches the table, stunned and furious. Larry looks up and immediately realizes that she has witnessed the entire proposal.

LARRY

Bethany! What are you doing here?

BETHANY

What am I doing here? Larry, I should be asking you that! Are you proposing to Purnell’s girlfriend?

Larry closes the ring box, but the damage is already done. Bethany looks at him with disbelief and hurt.

BETHANY

Now I understand why you’ve been avoiding intimacy with me. I kept wondering why you were so distant. I thought we had a problem we could solve together!

LARRY

Bethany, please let me explain. I never intended for you to find out like this.

BETHANY

You bought a ring, planned a dinner, and got down on one knee. How exactly did you expect me to find out?

Her voice trembles. She had been trying to understand the changes in their relationship, never imagining that Larry was preparing to marry someone else.

PURNELL’S GIRLFRIEND

Bethany, I didn’t ask him to do this. I haven’t accepted his proposal.

BETHANY

That doesn’t change what he did. He chose to hide this from me.

Larry tries to approach Bethany, but she steps away. For once, his excuses cannot erase what she has witnessed with her own eyes.

SCENE 6: LARRY FACES THE CONSEQUENCES

EXT. RESTAURANT — NIGHT

Bethany walks outside, struggling to contain her emotions. Larry follows, still holding the ring box.

LARRY

Bethany, please. Give me a chance to explain what happened.

BETHANY

You had plenty of chances to talk to me. Instead, you made me question our entire relationship while you were planning a future with another woman.

LARRY

I know I hurt you. I didn’t know how to explain what I was feeling.

BETHANY

Then you should have been honest! You cannot ignore me, refuse to work on our relationship, and expect me to accept this without asking questions.

Larry lowers his head. Bethany turns away and walks toward her car, leaving him standing alone outside the restaurant.

Inside, Purnell’s girlfriend leaves without accepting the proposal. Purnell still does not know what Larry has attempted, and Bethany is left wondering whether her relationship can ever recover.

Larry looks down at the ring box. He thought he was beginning a new chapter, but now he has placed his existing relationship in serious danger.

LARRY

How did everything get this far?

The night ends with unanswered questions. Bethany knows why Larry had become distant, but Purnell has yet to discover the betrayal that unfolded behind his back.

What will Purnell do when he learns that Larry proposed to his girlfriend? Will Bethany confront Larry again, or will she finally walk away from their relationship?