Bethany wanted to change.
She didn’t expect danger
waiting on the doorstep.
BETHANY’S APARTMENT – EVENING
Bethany sits on the edge of her couch, fingers trembling.
Her breath shakes. Her eyes are heavy with regret.
BETHANY
(whispers, frightened)
Natasha… can we talk?
She presses CALL. The moment hangs in the air like a storm waiting to break.
CUT TO:
BETHANY’S APARTMENT – MINUTES LATER
The door opens.
Natasha steps inside—calm, steady, sharp-eyed. She reads the room instantly.
Bethany looks up, ashamed.
NATASHA
(gentle, serious)
Alright, Beth. No filters. Tell me everything.
Bethany exhales as if releasing weeks of tension.
BETHANY
I’m ruining everything. Larry… Sharra… everyone.
I fight for no reason. I lash out. I’m angry and I don’t even know why.
She rubs her forehead, trembling.
Natasha sits beside her, grounding her with a steady hand.
NATASHA
(firm, warm)
Beth… something needs to change.
Not for Larry. Not for anyone else.
For you.
Natasha’s voice shifts—sharper, almost warning.
NATASHA
Because if you don’t fix this…
(direct)
you’re going to lose Larry.
The words hit Bethany like a shockwave.
BETHANY
(voice breaking)
I don’t want that. I don’t.
NATASHA
Good. Then treat people better—especially the people Larry loves.
Sharra. Brooke. His family.
Show them you’re trying.
Bethany nods, a spark of hope igniting beneath the fear.
BETHANY
So… what do I do first?
Natasha smiles—soft, encouraging.
NATASHA
Start small.
Invite them for dinner.
Show kindness.
Show effort.
Let them see the new Bethany.
Bethany breathes in deeply.
For the first time, she looks like someone ready to fight for her life back.
FADE OUT.
SHARRA’S HOUSE – NEXT AFTERNOON
A car pulls up.
Bethany sits inside for a moment, gripping the steering wheel. Her heart pounds.
Her thoughts swirl violently.
What if they don’t believe me?
What if they think I’m pretending?
What if I already ruined everything?
Natasha’s voice echoes in her mind:
“If you don’t try, nothing will change.”
Bethany forces a breath and steps out.
She walks to the door, hesitates… then knocks.
The door swings open.
A man stands there—broad-shouldered, unfamiliar, watching her like he already knows she’s here with trouble in her chest.
His raised brow is almost accusing.
Bethany freezes.
BETHANY
Uh… is Larry here?
The man stares at her for a beat too long.
The silence is heavy. Suspicious. A little unsettling.
MAN
No, ma’am. He stepped out.
Bethany swallows her anxiety and forces a polite smile.
BETHANY
Okay… thank you.
She turns back toward her car—
but the man keeps watching her as she walks away.
The moment feels wrong.
Unsettling.
Like this visit may unlock more than she expected.
CUT TO BLACK.
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