Bethany shocked seeing Larry arrive with Lytnee

-

 EXT. SUBURBAN HOUSE – DAY

A quiet neighborhood. Soft wind rustles through trees. A black Ford SUV sits in the driveway, engine ticking as it cools.

The front door creaks open.

BETHANY (blue shirt) steps out, holding the edge of the door.

She freezes.



Her eyes lock onto the driveway.

LARRY (brown coat) stands at the back of the SUV, pulling out a heavy suitcase.

Beside him, LYTNEE (gray coat) lifts another bag, calm but focused.

The sound of a suitcase hitting the ground echoes.

Bethany’s grip tightens on the door.

Her breathing slows.

Shock settles in.

BETHANY
(whispers)
No… this can’t be…

Larry pauses.

He senses her presence.

Slowly, he turns.

Their eyes meet.

Silence stretches.

LARRY
(quiet, controlled)
Bethany…

Bethany steps forward slightly, disbelief written all over her face.

Her eyes shift from Larry… to Lytnee.

Then back again.

BETHANY
(confused, shaken)
What… is this?

Lytnee sets the bag down gently.

She doesn’t speak.

She just watches.

Calm.

Composed.

LARRY
(firm)
We need to talk.

Bethany lets out a dry laugh.

It breaks halfway.

BETHANY
Talk?
You disappear… and then just show up like this?

She points toward Lytnee.

BETHANY (CONT’D)
With her?

Larry exhales slowly.

He walks a few steps closer.

LARRY
It’s not what you think.

Bethany’s eyes narrow.

BETHANY
Then tell me what it is.

A beat.

Wind passes between them.

The tension grows heavier.

LARRY
I went to Montana for a reason.

BETHANY
(cutting him off)
And that reason was her?

Lytnee shifts slightly.

Still silent.

Still watching.

LARRY
No.
But she’s part of what happened.

Bethany shakes her head.

Her emotions start rising.

BETHANY
You don’t get to bring strangers into my life and expect me to just—what—accept it?

LARRY
She’s not a stranger.

That lands.

Hard.

Bethany’s expression changes.

Hurt replaces anger.

BETHANY
(low, fragile)
Not to you… maybe.

A long silence.

Larry looks back at the SUV.

More bags remain.

Unfinished business.

LARRY
I didn’t come here to fight.

BETHANY
Then why did you come?

Larry hesitates.

His jaw tightens.

LARRY
Because I had to.

Bethany lets out a breath.

Shaky.

BETHANY
You always “have to,” Larry.
You never choose.

That hits him.

He looks down briefly.

Lytnee finally steps forward.

Her voice is calm.

Measured.

LYTNEE
We didn’t come to cause pain.

Bethany turns sharply toward her.

Eyes blazing.

BETHANY
You don’t get to speak.

Lytnee doesn’t react.

She stands her ground.

LYTNEE
I understand why you feel that way.

BETHANY
Do you?

A tense pause.

BETHANY (CONT’D)
Because from where I’m standing… you just walked into something that wasn’t yours.

Larry steps in.

Trying to hold control.

LARRY
Bethany, stop.

BETHANY
No.

She steps closer.

Now only a few feet away from them.

BETHANY (CONT’D)
You left.
No explanation.
No warning.

Her voice cracks.

BETHANY (CONT’D)
And now you’re back… with answers I didn’t ask for.

Larry softens.

LARRY
I know I hurt you.

BETHANY
You think?

Silence again.

Heavy.

The wind picks up slightly.

A loose paper inside the car flutters.

LARRY
I’m not here to replace anything.
Or anyone.

Bethany looks at Lytnee again.

Long.

Careful.

BETHANY
Then what is she?

A beat.

Larry struggles.

LARRY
She’s… someone who helped me when everything fell apart.

That shifts something.

Not acceptance.

But understanding… barely.

Bethany exhales slowly.

Her shoulders drop a little.

BETHANY
And what about me?

No one answers immediately.

The silence is louder than words.

BETHANY (CONT’D)
(soft, broken)
Where was I in all of that?

Larry looks at her.

Really looks this time.

LARRY
You were the reason I came back.

That lands.

Bethany’s eyes fill—but she holds it in.

She looks between them one last time.

BETHANY
This… doesn’t just go away.

LARRY
I know.

Another long pause.

Bethany slowly steps back toward the door.

BETHANY
Then you better start explaining.

She opens the door wider.

But doesn’t invite them in.

Not yet.

Larry nods.

Lytnee picks up another bag.

Quiet.

Respectful.

The three stand on the edge of something fragile.

Uncertain.

Bethany watches them.

Still shocked.

But no longer frozen.

CUT TO BLACK.

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