reh ) BETHANY TAKES LARRY TO THE HOSPITAL — BUT HE REFUSES TO GO!

BETHANY TRIES TO TAKE LARRY TO THE HOSPITAL — LARRY REFUSES AND STARTS A FIGHT!

SCENE 1 — LARRY AND BETHANY’S HOUSE — MORNING

The morning is tense. Bethany stands near the front door with her handbag, ready to take Larry to the hospital. Larry sits on the couch, looking at his phone, pretending not to notice her.

Bethany takes a deep breath. She has been worried about Larry for days, and she refuses to ignore the situation any longer.

BETHANY

Larry, come on. We need to leave now. I already told you that we have to go to the hospital.

Larry slowly looks up, irritation spreading across his face.

LARRY

Bethany, how many times do I have to tell you? I’m not going anywhere. I feel fine, and I don’t need a doctor.

BETHANY

You keep saying that, but you refuse to explain why you have been acting differently. I am your wife, Larry. I have a right to be concerned about you.

LARRY

Being my wife doesn’t mean you get to control every decision I make!

Bethany looks hurt, but she tries to remain calm.

BETHANY

I am not trying to control you. I am trying to help you. There is a difference, Larry, and you know it.

Larry puts his phone down and stands up.

LARRY

No, Bethany. You always find a reason to interfere in my business. First, you question me about everything, and now you want to drag me to a hospital.

BETHANY

Because you keep avoiding the conversation! Every time I ask you what is wrong, you get angry and walk away.

Larry grabs his keys from the table.

LARRY

Fine! Let’s go. But don’t expect me to sit there while you tell the doctor a hundred things about me.

Bethany is surprised by his sudden agreement.

BETHANY

All I want is for you to get checked. If everything is fine, we can come straight home.

Larry walks toward the door without answering. Bethany follows him, hoping the journey will give them a chance to talk peacefully.

SCENE 2 — CITY SIDEWALK — DAY

Larry and Bethany walk along a busy city sidewalk toward the hospital. Cars pass on the road, and people move around them.

Bethany walks beside Larry, occasionally glancing at him. He keeps his eyes forward, his jaw tight.

BETHANY

Larry, can you please stop acting like I am your enemy? I am doing this because I care about you.

Larry suddenly stops walking. Bethany takes another step before realizing he is no longer beside her. She turns around, confused.

LARRY

You want to know why I don’t want to go with you? Because I know exactly what you are trying to do!

BETHANY

What am I trying to do, Larry?

LARRY

You want to get me tested! That’s what this is all about. You think something is wrong with me, and now you want a doctor to confirm whatever you have already decided in your head.

Bethany shakes her head in disbelief.

BETHANY

That is not true. I have not decided anything. I just want a medical professional to check your health.

LARRY

Then why can’t you leave me alone? Why does everything have to become a problem with you?

His voice grows louder. A few pedestrians glance in their direction. Bethany lowers her voice, embarrassed by the public argument.

BETHANY

Please don’t shout at me here. We are standing in the middle of the street, Larry. People are watching us.

LARRY

Let them watch! Maybe then they will understand what I have to deal with every single day.

Bethany’s eyes fill with tears, but she refuses to look away.

BETHANY

What you have to deal with? I am your wife. I worry about you, I stand by you, and I try to help you. Is that really so terrible?

Larry looks away for a moment, struggling to contain his frustration.

LARRY

You don’t understand what you are doing to me.

BETHANY

Then explain it to me! Tell me what is bothering you instead of blaming me for everything.

Larry turns back toward her.

LARRY

I am not going to the hospital with you. Do you understand? I will not let you take me there just because you want to get me tested!

Bethany goes quiet. His refusal hurts her more than she expected.

SCENE 3 — THE SIDEWALK — CONTINUOUS

Bethany takes a small step toward Larry, trying to calm the situation.

BETHANY

Larry, please listen to me. I made the appointment because I thought you would eventually agree. I never wanted to force you into anything.

LARRY

But that is exactly what you are doing! You made the decision without asking me what I wanted.

BETHANY

I asked you so many times. Every time I brought it up, you refused to talk to me.

Larry folds his arms.

LARRY

And you thought the answer was to make an appointment behind my back?

Bethany looks down briefly before meeting his eyes again.

BETHANY

I thought you might change your mind if we talked to a doctor. I was worried, Larry. I didn’t know what else to do.

LARRY

Well, now you know. I don’t want to go!

He starts walking away from the hospital direction. Bethany quickly follows him.

BETHANY

Where are you going now?

LARRY

Home! Where else?

BETHANY

Larry, we are already close to the hospital. At least come inside and speak with the doctor.

Larry turns around sharply.

LARRY

No! I am not going to let you take me in there so you can prove that something is wrong with me.

Bethany’s expression changes. His words make her realize how deeply he has misunderstood her intentions.

BETHANY

I don’t want to prove anything! I don’t want you to be sick. I don’t want there to be a problem. I want to know that you are okay.

Larry remains silent for a moment.

BETHANY

Do you think I enjoy arguing with you? Do you think I wanted to spend my morning begging my own husband to accept help?

Her voice trembles.

BETHANY

I am scared, Larry. And instead of reassuring me, you keep pushing me away.

Larry looks at her, but his frustration remains.

LARRY

You are making this much bigger than it needs to be.

BETHANY

Maybe because you refuse to tell me anything!

SCENE 4 — OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL — DAY

The hospital entrance is visible just a short distance away. People enter and leave through the automatic glass doors.

Bethany points toward the building.

BETHANY

Look, we are right here. Just come with me. We can speak to the doctor, ask our questions, and decide what happens next.

Larry shakes his head firmly.

LARRY

Bethany, I have made my decision. I am not going inside.

BETHANY

And what am I supposed to tell the doctor? That my husband came all this way and refused to walk through the door?

LARRY

Tell the doctor whatever you want. I don’t care!

Bethany takes a deep breath, trying to hold back her anger.

BETHANY

You do care, Larry. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t be this upset about getting checked.

LARRY

Don’t tell me what I care about!

BETHANY

Then tell me yourself! Why are you so afraid of this appointment?

Larry’s expression hardens.

LARRY

I am not afraid of anything. I just don’t want to be tested because you decided that I should be!

BETHANY

Then let us talk about it calmly. I will listen to you. But you have to listen to me, too.

Larry looks toward the hospital entrance, then back at Bethany. For a moment, it seems he might reconsider. Instead, he steps away from her.

LARRY

I am going home. If you want to stay here, that is your choice.

Bethany cannot believe what she is hearing.

BETHANY

You are seriously going to leave me here after everything we have discussed?

LARRY

You are the one who wanted to come here!

He turns and begins walking away. Bethany stands still, watching him leave. Her eyes fill with tears, but she does not chase him immediately.

SCENE 5 — HOSPITAL ENTRANCE — MOMENTS LATER

Larry continues down the sidewalk, his hands clenched at his sides. He is angry, but beneath that anger lies a fear he refuses to discuss.

Behind him, Bethany wipes her eyes and looks toward the hospital doors. She takes out her phone, then hesitates before calling anyone. She knows that involving other people might make the situation worse.

Instead, she calls out to Larry one more time.

BETHANY

Larry!

He stops but does not turn around.

BETHANY

I am not your enemy. I have never wanted to embarrass you or make you feel like less of a man. I just want us to be honest with each other.

Larry slowly turns.

LARRY

Then stop trying to make decisions for me.

BETHANY

And you need to stop shutting me out. We cannot keep living like this.

They stare at each other from a distance. For the first time that morning, neither of them raises their voice.

LARRY

I need some space, Bethany.

BETHANY

And I need answers. I cannot keep pretending that everything is fine when we both know something is wrong between us.

Larry looks away, unable to respond. Bethany takes a shaky breath.

BETHANY

I am going to give you some time. But this conversation is not over.

Larry says nothing. He turns and walks away again. Bethany watches him disappear into the crowd before looking back at the hospital entrance.

She has no medical answers, and Larry has refused to let her help him. The argument has only made the distance between them greater.

She slowly puts her phone away and begins walking home alone.

BETHANY (V.O.)

How can I help the man I love when he refuses to let me get close to him?

Across the street, Larry pauses beside a parked car. He looks back toward the hospital, his expression troubled.

He knows Bethany is worried about him, but he cannot bring himself to explain why the appointment frightens him so much.

For now, both husband and wife walk away with unanswered questions.