BETHANY STANDS UP FOR BROOKE
INT. BETHANY’S HOUSE – LIVING ROOM – EVENING
The house is quiet.
Warm evening light spills through the windows.
BETHANY sits on the couch, looking through some papers.
A knock comes at the door.
She looks up.
The door slowly opens.
BROOKE walks inside.
She looks exhausted.
Her shoulders are tense.
She closes the door behind her and stands there for a moment.
Bethany immediately notices something is wrong.
BETHANY
Brooke?
Brooke looks at her.
She tries to smile.
But she cannot hide her frustration.
BROOKE
Can I talk to you?
Bethany puts the papers down.
BETHANY
Of course.
Come sit with me.
Brooke walks over and sits beside her.
For a few seconds, neither of them speaks.
Brooke takes a deep breath.
Her eyes begin to fill with emotion.
BROOKE
I’m tired, Bethany.
Bethany watches her carefully.
BETHANY
Tired of what?
Brooke looks down at her hands.
BROOKE
Everything.
Sharra keeps bothering me.
And Larry keeps pressuring me too.
Bethany’s expression changes.
BETHANY
What happened?
Brooke shakes her head.
BROOKE
It’s always something.
Every time I come home, somebody has something to say.
Every conversation turns into an argument.
Brooke wipes away a tear.
BROOKE
And Larry keeps talking about college.
Over and over again.
He keeps telling me what I should do with my life.
I know college is important, but I’m tired of hearing about it every single day.
Bethany remains silent.
She lets Brooke continue.
BROOKE
I feel like nobody is listening to me.
Everybody keeps telling me what they think is best.
But nobody asks me what I want.
Bethany gently reaches for Brooke’s hand.
BETHANY
What do you want right now?
Brooke looks at her.
Her voice becomes quieter.
BROOKE
I just want some time alone.
Bethany listens.
BROOKE
I don’t want to argue.
I don’t want anybody pressuring me.
I just need some space to clear my head.
Brooke looks toward the window.
BROOKE
I feel like I’ve been dealing with everybody else’s problems for so long.
Now I’m exhausted.
Bethany’s face becomes serious.
She is clearly angry, but not at Brooke.
BETHANY
You shouldn’t have to feel like you’re trapped.
Brooke looks at her.
BROOKE
That’s exactly how I feel.
Bethany stands.
She walks toward the window.
She takes a deep breath.
Her frustration grows.
BETHANY
Okay.
If nobody else is going to listen to you, I will.
Brooke watches her.
BROOKE
Bethany, please don’t make this worse.
BETHANY
I’m not trying to make anything worse.
I’m trying to protect you.
Bethany turns around.
BETHANY
You need some time away from all this pressure.
Brooke nods slowly.
BROOKE
That’s all I’m asking for.
Just some time.
Bethany picks up her phone.
Brooke immediately realizes what she is about to do.
BROOKE
Who are you calling?
BETHANY
Larry.
Brooke looks nervous.
BROOKE
Bethany, please—
BETHANY
No.
I’m not going to yell.
I’m going to make him understand.
Bethany dials Larry’s number.
The phone rings.
She waits.
LARRY
Hello?
Bethany’s voice is calm, but firm.
BETHANY
Larry, we need to talk about Brooke.
Larry sounds confused.
LARRY
What happened?
Bethany looks at Brooke.
BETHANY
What are you doing to her?
There is silence on the other end.
LARRY
What do you mean?
BETHANY
Brooke just came here completely overwhelmed.
She says she feels like everyone is constantly pressuring her.
Larry sighs.
LARRY
I’m only trying to help her.
BETHANY
Then listen to her.
That’s what helping means.
Bethany’s voice becomes stronger.
BETHANY
You keep talking to her about college.
You keep pushing her.
And now she’s telling me she can’t take all this pressure anymore.
Larry pauses.
LARRY
I just want her to have a future.
BETHANY
And she will.
But you can’t force her to figure everything out at once.
Bethany glances at Brooke.
BETHANY
She needs breathing room.
Larry says nothing.
BETHANY
And I’m going to say this clearly.
Stop bothering Brooke.
Give her some time.
Let her calm down.
Let her think.
Larry’s voice becomes quieter.
LARRY
Where is she?
BETHANY
She’s here with me.
And I’m not sending her back into another argument.
Larry takes a breath.
LARRY
Bethany, this isn’t that simple.
BETHANY
It doesn’t have to be complicated.
Brooke needs peace.
That’s all.
Bethany looks toward Brooke again.
BETHANY
Actually, I’ve made a decision.
Larry waits.
LARRY
What decision?
BETHANY
I’m going to send Brooke to her father’s place for a while.
Larry immediately reacts.
LARRY
What?
BETHANY
She needs a change of environment.
She needs some time away from all of this.
Larry sounds concerned.
LARRY
Do you really think that’s necessary?
BETHANY
Yes.
Because right now, everybody is making her feel like she can’t breathe.
I’m not going to stand by and watch that happen.
Brooke looks surprised.
She never expected Bethany to defend her so strongly.
LARRY
Bethany—
BETHANY
No, Larry.
Just listen.
For once, don’t argue.
Don’t pressure her.
Don’t turn this into another fight.
Let Brooke have some time alone.
Larry remains silent.
Bethany waits.
Finally, Larry speaks.
LARRY
Okay.
I’ll give her some space.
Bethany nods.
BETHANY
That’s all I’m asking.
She ends the call.
The room becomes quiet again.
Bethany places the phone on the table.
Brooke looks at her with gratitude.
BROOKE
You really didn’t have to do that.
Bethany sits beside her.
BETHANY
Yes, I did.
Brooke looks down.
BROOKE
I thought everyone was going to be angry with me.
Bethany shakes her head.
BETHANY
Being overwhelmed doesn’t make you a bad person.
Sometimes you just need distance from the noise.
Brooke slowly smiles.
BROOKE
Thank you.
Bethany gently squeezes her hand.
BETHANY
You’re going to your father’s place for a little while.
No arguments.
No pressure.
Just some time to yourself.
Brooke nods.
For the first time that evening, her shoulders relax.
BROOKE
Maybe that’s exactly what I need.
Bethany smiles softly.
BETHANY
Then that’s what we’re going to do.
Brooke leans back against the couch.
The tension on her face begins to fade.
Outside, the last light of evening disappears.
Inside, Bethany stays beside Brooke.
Neither woman speaks.
For once, Brooke doesn’t have to explain herself.
She can simply breathe.