1. The Business That Could Save Their Marriage

FADE IN:

INT. LARRY AND BETHANY’S HOUSE – MORNING

Soft morning light spills through the windows. The house is quiet, but the tension between LARRY and BETHANY is impossible to miss.

Larry sits at the kitchen table, looking tired but composed. Bethany stands nearby, carefully choosing her words.

She takes a breath.

BETHANY

“I’ve been thinking about this business, Larry.”

Larry looks up.

BETHANY

“Maybe this business could be the thing that finally helps fix our marriage.”

Larry stays silent.

Bethany takes his silence as an invitation to continue.

BETHANY

“We could build something together. Something that gives us a reason to work together again. Maybe it could bring us closer.”

Larry slowly shakes his head.

LARRY

“Bethany, I understand what you’re saying. But a business isn’t going to magically fix everything between us.”

Bethany looks disappointed.

2. Bethany Brings Up Brooke

BETHANY

“But it could help.”

LARRY

“Maybe. But there are other things we need to deal with first.”

A heavy silence fills the kitchen.

Bethany folds her arms.

BETHANY

“And what about Brooke?”

Larry looks toward the hallway.

LARRY

“What about her?”

BETHANY

“You need to keep doing what you’re doing.”

Larry frowns.

BETHANY

“Brooke doesn’t want to go to school. She’s living in your house. Someone has to make sure she understands that there are responsibilities.”

3. Larry Draws the Line

Larry leans back in his chair. His expression becomes firmer.

LARRY

“Bethany, this is my responsibility.”

BETHANY

“I’m only trying to help.”

LARRY

“I know you say that.”

He pauses.

LARRY

“But you need to stay in your lane.”

Bethany’s face changes. She wasn’t expecting that.

BETHANY

“Stay in my lane?”

LARRY

“Yes.”

Larry stands.

LARRY

“You keep trying to make decisions about situations that aren’t yours to control.”

Bethany stares at him.

LARRY

“Whatever happens, whatever decision needs to be made, eventually it’s going to come down to me, Brooke, Sharra, and Lynette.”

LARRY

“You don’t get to decide everything.”

4. Bethany Tries to Keep Brooke Around

CUT TO:

INT. KITCHEN – LATER

Bethany sits alone at the table. Her frustration is obvious.

She looks toward the doorway as Brooke walks past.

BETHANY

“Brooke.”

Brooke stops.

BETHANY

“Where are you going?”

BROOKE

“I’m just going to my room.”

Bethany forces a smile.

BETHANY

“You know, maybe you should think about staying here a little longer.”

Brooke looks confused.

BROOKE

“Why?”

Bethany hesitates.

BETHANY

“Because… maybe it’s better for everyone.”

Brooke doesn’t respond. She walks away.

5. Larry’s Retirement Changes Everything

CUT TO:

INT. LARRY’S OFFICE – AFTERNOON

Larry sits behind his desk. A stack of papers rests in front of him.

His retirement has given him something he never had before — time.

He has stepped away from work and now has a steady income.

For the first time in years, Larry feels like he can live life on his own terms.

But outside the office, Bethany’s situation is very different.

She is still waiting for her court date.

And the uncertainty has left her frustrated.

6. The Argument About Brooke

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM – EVENING

Larry walks into the living room. Bethany is sitting on the couch.

BETHANY

“Larry, we need to talk.”

LARRY

“About what?”

BETHANY

“About Brooke.”

Larry sighs.

LARRY

“Again?”

BETHANY

“Yes, again.”

BETHANY

“She doesn’t want to go to school, Larry. She’s living here. You can’t just ignore it.”

LARRY

“I’m not ignoring anything.”

BETHANY

“Then why are you letting this continue?”

LARRY

“Because I’m handling it.”

LARRY

“And sometimes protecting the family means knowing when to step back.”

7. Brooke Hears the Conversation

CUT TO:

INT. HALLWAY – NIGHT

Brooke stands around the corner, hearing part of the conversation.

She doesn’t interrupt.

Larry notices her.

LARRY

“Brooke?”

She slowly steps into the room.

Larry gestures toward the chair.

LARRY

“Come sit down.”

Brooke sits.

LARRY

“This needs to stop becoming a fight every time we talk about it.”

LARRY

“Brooke has her own decisions to make, and I’m going to deal with them.”

Brooke looks relieved. Bethany looks frustrated.

8. Larry Wants Peace

BETHANY

“So where does that leave me?”

Larry answers without hesitation.

LARRY

“It leaves you with the same choice you’ve always had.”

Bethany waits.

LARRY

“You can support me.”

He pauses.

LARRY

“Or you can keep trying to control something that isn’t yours.”

Bethany looks down.

9. What Can Really Save Their Marriage?

CUT TO:

INT. LIVING ROOM – LATER THAT NIGHT

Larry sits alone. His phone rests on the table.

Retirement has changed his life. He has income. He has freedom. And now he wants peace.

Bethany enters the room.

BETHANY

“You really think this business could change everything?”

Larry looks at her.

LARRY

“I think a business can create opportunities.”

LARRY

“But it can’t repair a marriage by itself.”

BETHANY

“Then what can?”

Larry looks toward the hallway.

LARRY

“Honesty.”

A beat.

LARRY

“Boundaries.”

Another beat.

LARRY

“And knowing when to listen.”

10. Larry Makes His Final Decision

Bethany sits down. For once, she doesn’t argue.

The room becomes quiet.

Outside, the night settles over the house.

Larry looks at Bethany. Bethany looks back.

Their marriage is still uncertain.

The business may or may not save them.

Brooke’s future remains unresolved.

And Bethany’s court date is still hanging over everything.

But one thing is clear:

Larry is no longer willing to let anyone else make his decisions for him.

FADE OUT.