SCENE 1 — BROOKE’S BEDROOM — MORNING

The morning begins with tension hanging in the air. Bethany has a trip to prepare for, but she needs help packing. She walks into Brooke’s bedroom and finds her still lying in bed.

BETHANY

Brooke, wake up. Come on, I need you to get up and help me pack for my trip.

Brooke slowly opens her eyes and pulls the blanket closer, making it clear that she has no intention of getting up.

BROOKE

Can you please leave me alone? I don’t feel like doing anything right now.

BETHANY

I’m not asking you to do anything difficult. I just need some help picking things out and getting everything organized.

BROOKE

Well, you can organize everything yourself. It’s your trip, not mine.

Bethany sighs in frustration. She turns around and leaves Brooke’s room, deciding to pack alone rather than waste time arguing.

BETHANY

Fine. Forget it. I’ll do everything myself.

SCENE 2 — BETHANY’S BEDROOM — MOMENTS LATER

Bethany lays clothes across her bed and starts filling her suitcase. Her mind is somewhere else. This trip is not simply a vacation; it is an attempt to save a marriage that has been falling apart.

Her relationship with Larry has reached a breaking point. Arguments have damaged their trust, and divorce has become a real possibility. Still, Bethany wants to believe that something can change.

The bedroom door opens quietly behind her. Brooke walks in and begins folding clothes without saying anything.

BETHANY

I thought you didn’t want to help me.

BROOKE

Well, I changed my mind. I figured you might need some help after all.

Bethany nods and returns to packing. But Brooke has a question on her mind, and she finally decides to ask it.

BROOKE

So, can I ask you something?

BETHANY

What?

BROOKE

Why are you even going on this trip with Larry?

SCENE 3 — THE QUESTION THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

Bethany stops packing and turns toward Brooke. She had expected questions about the trip, but not this kind of challenge.

BETHANY

Because our marriage counselor suggested it.

BROOKE

Your marriage counselor?

BETHANY

Yes. We went to counseling because things between Larry and me haven’t been good for a long time. The counselor thinks we need to spend time together without all the distractions and arguments.

Bethany looks down at the suitcase before continuing. She wants Brooke to understand that this trip is about much more than getting away from home.

BETHANY

We need to talk to each other properly. We need to figure out what went wrong and whether we can still fix this marriage. The counselor believes that getting away together might help us reconnect.

BETHANY

We’ve talked about divorce, and I know things have gotten bad. But if there’s still a chance to save our relationship, I want to find out before we give up completely.

Brooke listens in silence. Then she lets out a sarcastic laugh, and the atmosphere in the room changes immediately.

BROOKE

Wow. So now you need to get close to Larry too?

BETHANY

What is that supposed to mean?

BROOKE

You heard me. Now you’re going on a trip because you want to get close to your husband again.

SCENE 4 — BROOKE’S PAINFUL ACCUSATION

Brooke drops the shirt she is holding. Old resentment begins spilling out as she remembers how Bethany reacted when she got pregnant.

BROOKE

When I got pregnant, you made such a big scene about it. You acted like I had done something unforgivable. You judged me, questioned me, and made me feel like I had no right to make my own decisions.

BETHANY

That is not the same thing, and you know it.

BROOKE

Oh, really? How is it different?

Brooke steps closer, her voice growing louder. She is no longer interested in keeping the conversation calm.

BROOKE

I’m a woman too, Bethany! I have feelings too! I have needs just like everybody else. You acted like I was wrong for wanting somebody in my life, but you expect everybody to understand your situation now.

BETHANY

You cannot compare what happened with you to what is happening in my marriage.

BROOKE

Why not? Because you’re married? Because you think your feelings matter more than mine?

BETHANY

I never said my feelings mattered more than yours. But you made choices, Brooke, and those choices had consequences. You cannot keep bringing up the past every time somebody disagrees with you.

BROOKE

And you cannot keep acting like you’re the only person in this family who has ever been hurt!

The suitcase sits forgotten on the bed. What started as a simple question has turned into a deeply personal confrontation.

SCENE 5 — THE WORDS THAT PUSH BETHANY TOO FAR

BROOKE

You want to know why I went to Isaiah? Because I wanted somebody who would give me attention. I wanted to feel wanted. I wanted to feel like I mattered to somebody.

BROOKE

I’m a woman, just like you. I wanted a man in my life, and that’s why I went to Isaiah. You may not like it, but that’s the truth.

Bethany’s expression hardens at the mention of Isaiah. She struggles to contain her anger.

BETHANY

You need to stop talking.

BROOKE

No. You don’t get to tell me to stop just because you don’t like what I’m saying.

BETHANY

I said stop, Brooke.

BROOKE

What? Are you angry because I’m telling the truth? Or are you angry because somebody finally called you out on your own behavior?

Bethany steps closer. Her patience is almost gone, while Brooke refuses to back down.

BETHANY

You have no idea what I’ve been dealing with. You have no idea how hard I’ve been trying to keep my family together.

BROOKE

And you have no idea what it’s like to be judged by your own family when you’re already struggling!

BETHANY

I was trying to help you!

BROOKE

No, you were trying to control me!

The accusation hits Bethany hard. She feels that Brooke is deliberately using her most difficult moment against her.

BROOKE

You can go on your little trip with Larry. You can try to save your marriage. But don’t sit there acting like you’re better than me just because you’re trying to fix your relationship now.

BETHANY

That’s enough.

BROOKE

Or what? You’re going to make another big scene?

Bethany suddenly raises her hand.

SLAP! The sound echoes through the bedroom. Bethany strikes Brooke across the face.

Brooke’s head turns with the impact. She freezes, one hand slowly rising to her cheek. A dead silence fills the room.

SCENE 6 — THE SILENCE AFTER THE SLAP

BROOKE

Did you just slap me?

Bethany doesn’t answer immediately. Brooke stares at her in disbelief, and shock quickly turns into anger.

BROOKE

Bethany, did you really just put your hands on me?

BETHANY

You need to learn when to stop.

BROOKE

You slapped me because I told you the truth?

BETHANY

I slapped you because you kept pushing me and disrespecting me!

BROOKE

Disrespecting you? You were the one who hit me! You can disagree with me all you want. You can be angry about what I said. But you don’t get to put your hands on me!

Brooke turns toward the doorway, visibly shaken and furious. Bethany follows her with her eyes, realizing that the situation has gone too far.

BETHANY

Brooke, don’t make this bigger than it needs to be.

BROOKE

Bigger than it needs to be? You just slapped me in the face, and now you want me to pretend nothing happened?

Bethany falls silent. Brooke has no intention of letting the incident go.

BROOKE

No. I’m not doing that. LARRY! LARRY, COME HERE!

SCENE 7 — BROOKE CALLS FOR LARRY

Brooke’s voice travels through the house. Bethany immediately realizes that Larry may soon become involved in the confrontation.

BETHANY

Brooke, don’t call Larry into this.

BROOKE

Oh, now you don’t want Larry involved?

BETHANY

This is between you and me. We can talk about it without bringing him into it.

BROOKE

You should have thought about that before you slapped me.

Brooke calls out again, louder this time. Bethany knows that if Larry arrives now, the situation could become much worse.

BROOKE

LARRY! I NEED YOU RIGHT NOW!

The suitcase remains open, and clothes are scattered across the bed. Bethany’s plans for a peaceful morning have completely fallen apart.

SCENE 8 — SOMEONE IS COMING

BETHANY

Brooke, listen to me. I know you’re angry, but we need to calm down before this gets completely out of hand.

BROOKE

You had your chance to calm down before you hit me.

BETHANY

I shouldn’t have done that.

Brooke looks surprised by the admission, but her anger remains.

BROOKE

No, you shouldn’t have. And don’t think saying that is going to make me forget what just happened.

BROOKE

You want to go on a trip with Larry and fix your marriage? Fine. Go ahead. But I’m not going to let you treat me however you want and then expect me to keep my mouth shut.

Suddenly, footsteps can be heard farther down the hallway. Both women turn toward the sound.

BROOKE

Larry! Over here!

The footsteps grow louder and then stop just beyond the doorway. Brooke stands ready to reveal everything, while Bethany tries to prepare herself for Larry’s reaction.

BROOKE

Larry, you need to come in here right now. You are not going to believe what just happened.

A shadow appears across the doorway. Then Larry’s voice breaks the silence.

LARRY

What the hell is going on in here?

SCENE 9 — LARRY DISCOVERS THE TRUTH