LARRY THROWS BETHANY OUT AND DEMANDS A DIVORCE!
HOOK — ONE MARRIAGE, TWO BROKEN HEARTS,
AND A DECISION THAT COULD CHANGE EVERYTHING!
SCENE 1 — LARRY MAKES HIS FINAL DECISION
INT. LARRY AND BETHANY’S HOUSE — DAY
The house is unusually quiet. Larry stands in the bedroom, staring at Bethany’s belongings scattered across the bed. His face is tight with anger, and his patience has completely run out.
He grabs a suitcase and begins throwing her clothes inside. Shirts, dresses, shoes, handbags, and personal belongings quickly fill the bags. Every movement reveals how determined he is to end the relationship.
Bethany enters the room and freezes when she sees what he is doing.
BETHANYLarry, what are you doing? Why are you packing my things?
Larry doesn’t look at her.
LARRYI’m doing what I should have done a long time ago. I’m tired of this marriage, and I’m tired of you turning every situation into a problem.
BETHANYAre you serious right now? You’re packing my belongings as if I mean absolutely nothing to you?
LARRYYou want to embarrass me in front of other people? Fine. Now you can go back to your father’s house and explain everything to him yourself.
BETHANYLarry, we can talk about what happened. You don’t have to throw me out of our home because we had an argument.
LARRYAn argument? You think this is just an argument? You’ve pushed me too far, Bethany. I’m finished pretending that everything is fine between us.
He walks past her and grabs another bag. Bethany follows him, her eyes filling with tears.
BETHANYAfter everything we’ve been through, you’re really going to do this to me?
LARRYGet yourself ready. We’re leaving.
Bethany remains motionless. She realizes that Larry isn’t threatening her to win an argument. He has already made up his mind, and whatever she says next might not be enough to change it.
SCENE 2 — THE UNEXPECTED ARRIVAL AT NEUBURGER’S HOUSE
EXT. NEUBURGER’S HOUSE — AFTERNOON
Larry drives toward Neuburger’s house with Bethany’s belongings packed into the vehicle. Bethany sits beside him in silence, trying to hold back her tears. Larry doesn’t speak to her once during the journey.
When they arrive, Larry opens the trunk and begins carrying the bags toward the front door. Neuburger opens the door and notices Larry standing outside with several bags.
NEUBURGERLarry? What is going on here? Why are you bringing all these bags to my house?
LARRYThese belong to your daughter. Take them inside and keep them here, because from today onward, Bethany is no longer living with me.
NEUBURGERWhat did you just say?
LARRYYou heard me. I’m bringing your daughter back to you. I can’t handle her anymore, and I refuse to continue living like this.
Bethany stands behind Larry, humiliated by the way he is speaking about her.
NEUBURGERYou cannot just arrive at my house, throw her belongings at my door, and expect me to accept this without an explanation.
LARRYI don’t owe anybody another explanation. I’ve had enough.
NEUBURGERYou owe me an explanation when you treat my daughter this way. What happened between you two?
LARRYAsk her! She’s the one who keeps making my life miserable.
BETHANYDad, please let him explain himself. Apparently, I’m the worst wife in the world because I told the truth about something he did.
LARRYDon’t start with your stories again!
NEUBURGERNobody is going to shout over anybody else. I want to know what happened, and I want the truth from both of you.
For the first time since arriving, Larry hesitates. But his anger soon returns.
SCENE 3 — THE TRUTH ABOUT THE MARRIAGE COUNSELOR
EXT. NEUBURGER’S HOUSE — CONTINUOUS
Neuburger invites them to explain themselves. Larry refuses to sit down. He remains standing beside the bags, as if he wants to leave immediately.
NEUBURGERLarry, tell me exactly what Bethany did that made you bring her back here like this.
LARRYShe humiliated me in front of my marriage counselor. She made me look like a terrible husband, as if I have never done anything good for her.
NEUBURGERYour marriage counselor? I thought you two were trying to work things out. What happened during the session?
LARRYShe sat there and started talking about my trip to Puerto Rico with my ex-wife. She made it sound like I had committed some terrible crime.
BETHANYBecause you went to Puerto Rico with your ex-wife while leaving me behind! What was I supposed to do, Larry? Pretend it didn’t hurt me?
LARRYThere you go again! This is exactly what I’m talking about.
NEUBURGERBethany, is that really what you told the counselor? Did you bring up his trip with his ex-wife during the session?
BETHANYYes, Dad, I did. We were there because our marriage was having problems. The counselor asked us to be honest about the things that were hurting us, so I told the truth.
Her voice trembles, but she continues.
BETHANYI wasn’t trying to destroy Larry’s reputation. I wanted him to understand how I felt. He went away with someone he used to be married to, and I was left at home wondering why my feelings didn’t matter to him.
NEUBURGERLarry, if you went on that trip while your wife felt neglected, why couldn’t you discuss it with her instead of allowing the problem to grow?
LARRYBecause I’m tired of having to explain every decision I make! I’m a grown man. I don’t need permission to travel.
BETHANYI never said you needed my permission to travel. I said that your choices affect our marriage. There’s a difference.
LARRYYou embarrassed me in front of that counselor, and I will never forgive you for it.
BETHANYSo my feelings don’t matter, but your embarrassment does? You can hurt me, and I’m supposed to remain quiet because you’re my husband?
The question hangs in the air. Larry avoids answering and turns his anger toward Neuburger.
LARRYYou see what I have to deal with every single day? This is why I don’t want to live with her anymore!
NEUBURGERNo, Larry. What I see is a man who brought his wife to her father’s house without even trying to resolve the problem.
SCENE 4 — NEUBURGER LOSES HIS TEMPER
EXT. NEUBURGER’S HOUSE — MOMENTS LATER
The confrontation grows more intense. Neuburger walks toward Larry, unable to hide his frustration.
NEUBURGERYou came here expecting me to take your side without even listening to my daughter. You think marriage means you can do whatever you want and she must accept it?
LARRYDon’t tell me how to run my marriage! You weren’t there when she embarrassed me.
NEUBURGERAnd you weren’t thinking about her when you decided to take that trip with your ex-wife!
LARRYThat is none of your business!
Those words push Neuburger over the edge. He suddenly strikes Larry, catching him off guard. Larry stumbles backward in shock.
BETHANYDad! Stop! What are you doing?
NEUBURGERI’m trying to make him understand that he cannot treat you like you’re worthless!
LARRYYou hit me? You actually put your hands on me because of your daughter?
NEUBURGERYou came to my house and disrespected her in front of me! You packed her things like she was a stranger you wanted to get rid of!
LARRYBecause I’m done with her! How many times do I have to say it?
Neuburger moves toward him again and strikes him before Bethany manages to separate them.
BETHANYEnough! Please, both of you! This is making everything worse!
LARRYYou know what? This proves exactly why I don’t want to be part of this family anymore.
NEUBURGERYou can be angry. You can disagree with your wife. But you cannot expect everyone to applaud you for abandoning her whenever things become difficult.
LARRYAbandoning her? I’m setting myself free!
Bethany stares at him, wounded by his words. She had hoped her father’s house would give them a chance to calm down, but the situation has become even more painful.
SCENE 5 — BETHANY DEFENDS HER MARRIAGE
INT. NEUBURGER’S LIVING ROOM — LATER
Bethany sits on the sofa, trying to compose herself. Neuburger stands nearby, still visibly angry. Larry remains close to the entrance, refusing to settle down.
NEUBURGERLarry, listen to me carefully. Bethany is not perfect. Nobody is. But she has been trying to save this marriage, and you are acting as though ending it is the only thing that matters.
LARRYYou don’t live with her. You don’t know what happens between us when nobody else is around.
NEUBURGERThen explain it to me! Tell me what has happened that makes you believe divorce is the only answer.
LARRYI’m tired of the arguments. I’m tired of being questioned. I’m tired of having every decision turned into a problem.
BETHANYAnd I’m tired of feeling like I don’t have a husband, even when you’re standing right in front of me.
Bethany slowly stands up, her eyes filling with tears.
BETHANYI married you because I believed we could build a life together. I believed that when something went wrong, we would sit down and talk about it. But every time I tell you that something hurts me, you act like I’m attacking you.
BETHANYI went to the counselor because I wanted help. I wanted somebody to help us understand each other. I didn’t go there to destroy you, Larry.
Larry remains silent. Bethany steps closer.
BETHANYTell me one thing. If you really believe I have done something unforgivable, why didn’t you tell me that before packing my belongings? Why did you wait until today to treat me as though our entire marriage meant nothing?
LARRYBecause I have finally realized that nothing is going to change.
BETHANYYou haven’t even given us a chance to change.
