THE ACCIDENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

A mother takes her daughter out for a simple meal… but a shocking accident turns everything upside down.

HOOK

Bethany thought she was taking Brooke out for a simple meal.

She had no idea that, before they reached the restaurant, a speeding truck would slam into their car—and leave everyone wondering whether Brooke would survive.

SCENE 1 — BROOKE’S ROOM — AFTERNOON

The room is quiet.

Brooke sits on the edge of her bed, looking weak and exhausted. An untouched glass of water sits beside her.

BETHANY
“Brooke… what’s going on with you?”

Brooke looks away.

BROOKE
“Nothing, Mom. I’m just tired.”

Bethany sits beside her.

BETHANY
“Tired? You barely came out of this room yesterday.”

Bethany becomes more concerned.

BETHANY
“When was the last time you ate something?”

Brooke hesitates.

BROOKE
“I don’t remember.”

Bethany stares at her.

BETHANY
“What do you mean you don’t remember?”

Brooke lowers her head.

BROOKE
“Mom… I haven’t really eaten.”

BETHANY
“How long?”

BROOKE
“Two days.”

Bethany freezes.

BETHANY
“Two days?! Brooke, you haven’t eaten anything for two days?”

Brooke quietly nods.

BETHANY
“Okay. That’s enough. Get up.”

BROOKE
“Where are we going?”

BETHANY
“Today, you’re eating with me. Come on. Lunch is on me.”

SCENE 2 — FRONT DOOR — MOMENTS LATER

Bethany grabs her purse and car keys. Brooke walks behind her.

BROOKE
“Mom, you really don’t have to do this.”

BETHANY
“Yes, I do. You’re my daughter. I’m not letting you go another day without eating.”

Brooke gives her a small smile.

BROOKE
“Thank you.”

Bethany puts an arm around her.

BETHANY
“After we eat, we’re getting dessert too.”

BROOKE
“Okay. Deal.”

They walk toward the car together.

Neither of them notices the large truck approaching from the opposite direction.

SCENE 3 — ON THE ROAD — AFTERNOON

Bethany drives carefully. Brooke sits in the passenger seat, looking out the window.

BETHANY
“So, what do you want to eat?”

BROOKE
“Honestly? Anything.”

Bethany smiles.

BETHANY
“Anything? That’s the best answer I’ve heard all day.”

BROOKE
“Mom? I’m sorry I’ve been acting distant.”

BETHANY
“You don’t have to apologize. Just talk to me when something is bothering you.”

Brooke looks down.

BROOKE
“I’ll try.”

Bethany reaches over and briefly squeezes her hand.

BETHANY
“That’s all I ask.”

Suddenly — A LOUD HORN BLASTS.

Bethany looks forward.

Her eyes widen.

A massive truck is coming directly toward them.

BETHANY
“BROOKE!”

BROOKE
“Mom!”

Bethany desperately turns the steering wheel.

CRASH!

The truck slams into the side of their car.

The entire vehicle spins violently across the road. Glass explodes. The airbags deploy.

The car crashes against the roadside barrier and finally stops.

SCENE 4 — AFTER THE CRASH

Smoke rises from the destroyed vehicle.

The front of the car is completely crushed.

Bethany remains unconscious behind the steering wheel.

Brooke is motionless in the passenger seat.

A few seconds later, Brooke slowly opens her eyes.

BROOKE
“Mom…?”

No answer.

Brooke tries to move.

BROOKE
“Mom! Wake up!”

Brooke begins crying.

BROOKE
“Mom, please!”

People nearby rush toward the wreckage and someone calls emergency services.

BYSTANDER
“Call an ambulance! There’s two people inside!”

SCENE 5 — EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Police and paramedics arrive.

The road becomes crowded with emergency vehicles.

Crime-scene tape is placed around the crash area while investigators begin examining the wreckage.

Paramedics carefully remove Brooke from the vehicle.

PARAMEDIC
“Stay with me. What’s your name?”

BROOKE
“Brooke…”

PARAMEDIC
“Okay, Brooke. We’re going to help you.”

Brooke keeps looking toward the car.

BROOKE
“My mom… please check my mom.”

Another group of paramedics works on Bethany.

PARAMEDIC 2
“We’ve got a pulse!”

Brooke closes her eyes in relief.

SCENE 6 — HOSPITAL — EVENING

Brooke sits in a hospital bed with a bandage on her forehead.

She keeps asking the same question.

BROOKE
“Where’s my mom?”

A nurse walks over.

NURSE
“She’s still in surgery.”

Brooke becomes frightened.

BROOKE
“Is she going to be okay?”

NURSE
“The doctors are doing everything they can.”

Brooke looks toward the operating-room doors.

“This was supposed to be lunch… She just wanted me to eat.”

SCENE 7 — HOSPITAL HALLWAY — NIGHT

The operating-room light finally turns off.

A doctor walks out.

Brooke immediately stands.

BROOKE
“Doctor! My mom?”

DOCTOR
“She survived the surgery.”

Brooke exhales in relief.

But the doctor’s expression doesn’t change.

BROOKE
“Then why do you look worried?”

The doctor looks toward the police officer standing nearby.

DOCTOR
“There’s something you need to know.”

BROOKE
“What?”

DOCTOR
“The truck driver claims this wasn’t an accident.”

Brooke’s face turns pale.

BROOKE
“What do you mean?”

OFFICER
“He says someone deliberately caused him to lose control.”

THE SUSPENSE

Brooke stares at the officer in disbelief.

BROOKE
“Who would do that?”

The officer doesn’t answer immediately.

Instead, he holds up a small piece of evidence recovered from the crash scene.

Brooke looks at it.

Her eyes suddenly widen.

She recognizes it.

Something connected to the crash that nobody else knows about.

And suddenly, Brooke realizes…
THE CRASH MAY NOT HAVE BEEN RANDOM AT ALL.

TO BE CONTINUED…