Larry Heads to Montana Despite Bethany’s Anger

 INT. LIVING ROOM – EVENING

Soft yellow light fills the room. The air is tense, almost suffocating. A suitcase sits near the couch, half-zipped.

BETHANY
(arms crossed, eyes blazing)
You’re really going?

She stands firm, blocking the doorway like a wall.

LARRY
(quiet but determined)
I have to. They’re family, Bethany.

A long pause. The ticking clock grows louder.

BETHANY
(shaking her head)
Family? Now you remember that?

She lets out a bitter laugh, pacing slowly.

BETHANY
You think you can just go to Montana, bring them back, and everything will be fine?

LARRY
(sighs, rubbing his temples)
I’m not saying it’ll be easy… but it’s the right thing to do.

Bethany steps closer, her voice dropping but sharper.

BETHANY
No. The right thing would’ve been thinking about this house before making promises.

She points around the room.

BETHANY
This is our space, Larry. Our peace.

LARRY
And they don’t deserve peace too?

Silence. That question lands heavy.

Bethany’s expression hardens.

BETHANY
Not here.

A beat.

BETHANY
(cold, final)
They are not coming into this house.

Larry looks at her, stunned.

LARRY
You don’t mean that.

BETHANY
(voice rising)
Oh, I mean every word!

She turns away, fighting tears, then quickly wipes them before he can see.

INT. KITCHEN – CONTINUOUS

Bethany grabs a glass, fills it with water, her hands trembling slightly.

Larry follows, slower, careful.

LARRY
(softly)
This anger… it’s not just about them, is it?

Bethany freezes.

BETHANY
Don’t do that.

LARRY
Don’t do what?

BETHANY
Try to make it sound like I’m overreacting.

She turns, eyes glossy.

BETHANY
You don’t know what it felt like. The disrespect. The chaos they brought last time.

LARRY
People make mistakes, Bethany.

BETHANY
And they repeat them.

A heavy silence sits between them.

LARRY
(steady)
Lytnee called me. She needs help.

Bethany scoffs.

BETHANY
She always “needs help.”

She places the glass down harder than necessary.

BETHANY
And you always run.

LARRY
Because no one else will!

The sudden raise in his voice shocks them both.

LARRY
(softening)
If I don’t go… who will?

Bethany looks away, conflicted.

INT. BEDROOM – NIGHT

The suitcase is now fully packed.

Larry zips it slowly, like sealing a decision.

Bethany stands by the window, staring into the darkness outside.

BETHANY
(low, almost to herself)
If you bring them back… everything will change.

Larry pauses.

LARRY
Maybe it needs to.

She turns sharply.

BETHANY
No. Not like this.

She walks toward him, her voice breaking.

BETHANY
You’re choosing them over me.

LARRY
I’m not choosing. I’m trying to hold everything together.

BETHANY
Then you’re failing.

That hits hard.

Larry straightens, hurt flashing across his face.

LARRY
So what do you want me to do?

Bethany hesitates. For a moment, vulnerability shows.

BETHANY
Stay.

A whisper. Fragile.

BETHANY
Just… stay. Let them figure it out on their own for once.

Larry shakes his head slowly.

LARRY
I can’t.

The word hangs like a final verdict.

Bethany steps back, building her walls again.

BETHANY
Then don’t expect me to open that door for them.

LARRY
You’d really lock them out?

BETHANY
Yes.

No hesitation this time.

INT. HALLWAY – LATE NIGHT

Larry carries his suitcase toward the front door.

The house is silent, but heavy with everything unsaid.

Bethany stands at the end of the hallway, watching him.

BETHANY
(last attempt)
If you walk out that door… things won’t be the same.

Larry stops, hand on the doorknob.

He doesn’t turn around immediately.

LARRY
(quietly)
They already aren’t.

He opens the door.

Cool night air rushes in.

Bethany’s eyes fill, but she doesn’t move.

BETHANY
(voice trembling, louder)
I mean it, Larry! They are not staying here!

Larry finally turns, meeting her gaze.

LARRY
We’ll figure it out.

BETHANY
No… you will.

A long stare. Two people standing on opposite sides of something bigger than both of them.

Larry nods slightly—accepting the distance.

He steps outside.

EXT. HOUSE – CONTINUOUS

The door closes behind him with a quiet but final click.

Larry stands there for a moment, looking at the dark sky, the weight of everything settling on his shoulders.

He exhales deeply… then walks toward his car.

INT. LIVING ROOM – SAME TIME

Bethany stands alone now.

The silence is louder than any argument.

She looks at the door… hoping, just for a second, that it might open again.

It doesn’t.

She sinks onto the couch, her strong facade finally cracking.

BETHANY
(whispers)
Why does it always come to this…

Her voice fades into the stillness.

FADE OUT.