THE APOLOGY BROOKE REFUSED TO HEAR

SCENE 1 — DESTINY’S CALL

INT. DESTINY’S HOUSE — AFTERNOON

The house is quiet.

Destiny sits on the couch, staring at her phone. She looks worried. After a moment of hesitation, she calls Isaiah.

The phone rings.

Isaiah answers.

ISAIAH

Hey, Destiny. What’s going on?

DESTINY

I wanted to ask you something. How is Brooke?

Isaiah pauses.

His voice becomes serious.

ISAIAH

I don’t know. I haven’t really been able to talk to her.

Destiny takes a deep breath.

DESTINY

Isaiah, Brooke hasn’t been herself for days.

ISAIAH

What do you mean?

DESTINY

She barely eats, and she isn’t talking to anyone.

Isaiah becomes concerned.

ISAIAH

She’s not eating?

DESTINY

No. And every time I try to talk to her, she just ignores me.

Isaiah is silent for a moment.

ISAIAH

I need to see her.

DESTINY

Isaiah, I don’t know if that’s a good idea.

ISAIAH

I understand, but I need to apologize to her face-to-face.

DESTINY

What are you going to say?

ISAIAH

I don’t know yet. I just know I can’t keep sitting here doing nothing.

He takes a breath.

ISAIAH

I’m coming to your house.

Destiny immediately looks surprised.

DESTINY

Wait, what?

ISAIAH

I’m already on my way.

The call ends.

Destiny stares at the phone.

DESTINY

Oh, Isaiah…

She quickly stands up.

---

SCENE 2 — DESTINY GOES TO BROOKE

INT. DESTINY’S HOUSE — HALLWAY — MOMENTS LATER

Destiny walks toward Brooke’s room.

She stops outside the door.

For a moment, she listens.

Nothing.

Destiny gently knocks.

DESTINY

Brooke?

No answer.

Destiny opens the door slightly.

Brooke is sitting quietly, looking away.

Destiny enters.

DESTINY

Hey.

Brooke doesn’t respond.

Destiny sits beside her.

DESTINY

I know you don’t feel like talking, but I just wanted to check on you.

Brooke remains silent.

Destiny watches her carefully.

DESTINY

Isaiah called me.

Brooke finally looks toward her.

But she says nothing.

DESTINY

He asked how you were doing.

Brooke looks away again.

Destiny sighs.

DESTINY

I think he feels really bad about everything.

Brooke gives no reaction.

Suddenly, Destiny hears the front door open.

She freezes.

DESTINY

He’s here.

Brooke looks confused.

BROOKE

Who?

Before Destiny can answer, footsteps can be heard approaching.

Destiny quickly stands.

---

SCENE 3 — ISAIAH ARRIVES

INT. DESTINY’S HOUSE — LIVING ROOM — CONTINUOUS

Isaiah enters the house.

He looks nervous.

Destiny walks toward him.

DESTINY

You really came.

ISAIAH

I told you I would.

DESTINY

Brooke doesn’t know you’re here.

Isaiah nods.

ISAIAH

I know.

He looks toward the hallway.

ISAIAH

Where is she?

Destiny points toward Brooke’s room.

DESTINY

In there.

Isaiah takes a deep breath.

DESTINY

Isaiah, please don’t pressure her.

ISAIAH

I won’t.

DESTINY

If she doesn’t want to talk, give her space.

ISAIAH

I understand.

Isaiah walks toward the room.

Destiny follows.

---

SCENE 4 — BROOKE SEES ISAIAH

INT. DESTINY’S HOUSE — BEDROOM — CONTINUOUS

Brooke is still sitting quietly.

She has no idea Isaiah is there.

The door slowly opens.

Brooke looks up.

Her expression immediately changes when she sees him.

BROOKE

Isaiah?

Isaiah stands at the doorway.

He looks nervous.

ISAIAH

Hey, Brooke.

Brooke looks away.

BROOKE

What are you doing here?

ISAIAH

I came because I needed to talk to you.

Brooke doesn’t answer.

Isaiah looks at Destiny.

Destiny quietly steps out of the room.

She closes the door behind her, giving them privacy.

---

SCENE 5 — ISAIAH’S APOLOGY

INT. DESTINY’S HOUSE — BEDROOM — MOMENTS LATER

Isaiah stands a few feet away from Brooke.

The silence feels heavy.

ISAIAH

I know you don’t want to hear anything from me.

Brooke keeps her eyes away from him.

ISAIAH

But I need to say this anyway.

Brooke remains silent.

Isaiah slowly lowers himself to his knees, keeping a respectful distance.

ISAIAH

I’m sorry, Brooke.

Brooke looks at him for a moment.

Her expression is hurt, but she refuses to respond.

ISAIAH

I know saying sorry doesn’t fix everything.

He looks down.

ISAIAH

I know I made mistakes.

Brooke folds her arms.

BROOKE

You should have thought about that before.

Isaiah looks up.

ISAIAH

I know.

BROOKE

You can’t hurt someone and then expect one apology to make everything disappear.

Isaiah nods.

ISAIAH

You’re right.

Brooke turns away.

ISAIAH

I’m not asking you to forget what happened.

Brooke stays silent.

ISAIAH

I’m only asking you to let me explain.

Brooke finally looks at him.

BROOKE

I’ve heard enough explanations.

Isaiah’s face falls.

ISAIAH

Then let me listen.

Brooke looks confused.

ISAIAH

You don’t have to forgive me today. You don’t even have to talk to me.

He pauses.

ISAIAH

But I want to understand how much I hurt you.

Brooke looks down.

---

SCENE 6 — BROOKE’S SILENCE

INT. DESTINY’S HOUSE — BEDROOM — CONTINUOUS

Brooke sits quietly.

Isaiah remains where he is.

For several seconds, neither speaks.

ISAIAH

Destiny told me you haven’t been eating.

Brooke looks irritated.

BROOKE

Why does everyone keep talking about me?

ISAIAH

Because people care about you.

BROOKE

Then tell them to stop worrying.

Isaiah shakes his head.

ISAIAH

I can’t do that.

Brooke looks at him.

ISAIAH

I care about you too.

Brooke immediately looks away.

BROOKE

You don’t get to say that right now.

Isaiah accepts her words.

ISAIAH

Okay.

He slowly stands.

ISAIAH

I won’t force you to forgive me.

Brooke says nothing.

ISAIAH

But I wanted you to know that I’m sorry.

He takes a step toward the door.

Brooke watches him silently.

---

SCENE 7 — DESTINY RETURNS

INT. DESTINY’S HOUSE — HALLWAY — MOMENTS LATER

Isaiah opens the bedroom door.

Destiny is waiting outside.

She looks at him.

DESTINY

How did it go?

Isaiah shakes his head.

ISAIAH

She doesn’t want to hear me.

Destiny looks through the doorway at Brooke.

DESTINY

Give her time.

Isaiah nods.

ISAIAH

I will.

He looks back at Brooke one last time.

ISAIAH

I just hope one day she’ll let me make things right.

Destiny places a hand on his shoulder.

DESTINY

Then prove it with your actions.

Isaiah nods.

---

SCENE 8 — BROOKE MAKES HER CHOICE

INT. DESTINY’S HOUSE — BEDROOM — CONTINUOUS

Brooke sits alone.

She hears Isaiah walking away.

She looks toward the door.

For a moment, it seems like she might call him back.

But she doesn’t.

Brooke takes a deep breath.

She wipes away a tear and looks down.

Destiny quietly enters.

DESTINY

Brooke?

Brooke doesn’t answer.

Destiny sits beside her.

DESTINY

You don’t have to forgive him today.

Brooke finally speaks.

BROOKE

I’m not ready.

Destiny nods.

DESTINY

That’s okay.

Brooke looks toward the door where Isaiah disappeared.

BROOKE

I heard his apology.

Destiny waits.

BROOKE

But hearing an apology doesn’t mean everything is okay.

Destiny gently nods.

DESTINY

Then take your time.

Brooke looks down.

The room becomes quiet again.

Outside, Isaiah reaches the front door.

He pauses before leaving.

He looks back toward the hallway.

ISAIAH

I’m sorry, Brooke.

He quietly walks out.

Inside, Brooke remains silent.

She isn’t ready to forgive him.

But for the first time in days, she knows he finally understands that saying sorry is only the beginning.