nou ) ONE PUNCH. ONE SECRET. ONE SHOCKING CONSEQUENCE…
THE ULTIMATUM
One desperate request. One angry decision. And one punch that could change everything.
The house is unusually quiet.
A phone lies on the table, vibrating again and again.
Shara stares at it, her face tense. She looks like someone who has been fighting the same battle for far too long.
She finally answers.
SHARABethany, please. I wouldn’t call you if I had any other choice.
A long silence.
BETHANYI’m sorry, Shara. But I can’t help you.
SHARAYou don’t understand. My mother is sick. She can’t stay in that place anymore.
BETHANYI’m saying no, Shara. Don’t ask me again.
The call ends.
Shara lowers the phone.
For several seconds, she doesn’t move.
Then her eyes harden.
Shara scrolls through her contacts.
She stops at one name.
LARRY.
She presses CALL.
LARRYShara? What’s wrong?
SHARABethany refused.
LARRYRefused what?
SHARATo help my mother.
Larry’s face changes.
LARRYWhat do you want me to do?
SHARAGo to Neuberger. Tell him to speak to Bethany. Tell him my mother is sick. Tell him she needs help.
LARRYAll right. I’ll talk to him.
Later that night, Larry arrives at Neuberger’s house.
He knocks.
The door opens.
Neuberger stands there, calm and stern.
NEUBERGERLarry. What brings you here this late?
LARRYI need to talk to you.
Neuberger steps aside.
Larry explains everything.
LARRYShara’s mother is in jail. She’s sick. Her condition is getting worse. Shara wants Bethany to help get her out.
Neuberger slowly shakes his head.
NEUBERGERNo.
LARRYYou didn’t even think about it.
NEUBERGERThere’s nothing to think about.
LARRYShe’s sick.
NEUBERGERShe’s a criminal.
The words hang in the room.
LARRYThat doesn’t mean she should be left to suffer.
NEUBERGERShe broke the law.
LARRYAnd people can change.
NEUBERGERYou came here to ask me for a favor. Don’t turn this into a lecture.
LARRYI’m asking you to help her.
NEUBERGERAnd I’m telling you I won’t.
Larry’s frustration grows.
LARRYWhy?
NEUBERGERBecause criminals have to face the consequences of what they do.
LARRYEven when they’re sick?
NEUBERGEREspecially when people start using sickness as an excuse.
Larry takes a breath.
LARRYIf you don’t help Shara’s mother get out of jail, I’ll divorce Bethany.
Neuberger freezes.
NEUBERGERWhat did you just say?
LARRYYou heard me.
THE MOMENT EVERYTHING CHANGED
One angry sentence pushed the argument past the point of no return.
You’re threatening my daughter because I won’t interfere with the law?
LARRYI’m trying to save someone who’s sick!
NEUBERGERBy destroying your own marriage?
LARRYIf that’s what it takes!
Neuberger moves closer.
NEUBERGERGet out of my house.
LARRYHelp her.
NEUBERGERLeave.
The tension explodes.
Larry suddenly raises his hand.
BAM!
His fist strikes Neuberger.
Silence.
Larry immediately realizes what he’s done.
I… I didn’t—
Neuberger slowly touches his face.
He looks at the blood on his fingers.
NEUBERGERYou have no idea what you’ve just done.
LARRYI was angry.
NEUBERGERNo. You were desperate.
Neuberger picks up his phone.
LARRYWho are you calling?
Neuberger doesn’t answer.
Larry rushes outside and gets into his car.
His phone rings.
UNKNOWN NUMBER.
Larry doesn’t answer.
The ringing stops.
A second later, a message appears.
“I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TONIGHT.”
Larry’s face turns pale.
Another message arrives.
“AND I KNOW WHERE SHARA’S MOTHER IS BEING TRANSFERRED.”
BUT WHO SENT THE MESSAGE?
Larry looks toward Neuberger’s dark house.
His phone rings again.
UNKNOWN NUMBER.
This time, he answers.
A frightened woman’s voice whispers:
“LARRY… DON’T TRUST NEUBERGER.”
Who is this?
The line goes dead.
Larry stares at the phone.
Across the street, a dark vehicle slowly pulls away.
Larry watches it disappear into the night.
His phone buzzes one final time.
A photograph appears on the screen.
It’s Shara’s mother.
But the photograph was clearly taken only moments ago.
Larry’s breathing stops.
He looks toward the dark road.
WHO TOOK THE PHOTO?
And why does someone know exactly where Shara’s mother is being taken?
The answer may be closer than Larry thinks…
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