INT. BETHANY’S LIVING ROOM – EVENING
The room is dimly lit.
A faint orange glow from a table lamp flickers against the walls. Silence fills the space — heavy, suffocating.
BETHANY, mid-20s, wearing a blue shirt, sits on the couch. Her eyes are swollen from crying. A tissue rests in her trembling hand.
She stares blankly at the floor.
The sound of a DOOR UNLOCKING echoes.
Bethany doesn’t move.
The door creaks open.
Her FATHER, late 50s, stern and emotionally distant, steps inside. His presence alone shifts the atmosphere — colder, harsher.
He closes the door behind him with a quiet but firm click.
A pause.
He looks at Bethany… no warmth in his eyes.
FATHER
(flat, controlled)
You’re still sitting here?
Bethany slowly lifts her gaze, her eyes filled with pain.
BETHANY
(soft, broken)
Where else am I supposed to go?
Her father exhales sharply, walking further into the room.
FATHER
I didn’t come here to argue.
Bethany wipes her tears quickly, trying to compose herself.
BETHANY
Then why did you come?
He stops in front of her, standing tall, authoritative.
A long, uncomfortable silence.
Then—
FATHER
(coldly)
Because you need to hear this from me.
Bethany’s breath tightens.
Something in his tone… final.
BETHANY
(whispering)
Hear what?
He looks away for a brief second, then back at her — emotionless.
FATHER
Because of that case…
Bethany stiffens.
Her fingers tighten around the tissue.
FATHER
…you’ve been suspended.
The words hit like a punch.
Bethany freezes.
Silence.
BETHANY
(barely audible)
Suspended…?
Her father nods once.
No sympathy.
FATHER
Effective immediately.
Bethany shakes her head slowly, disbelief washing over her.
BETHANY
No… that’s not possible.
She stands up abruptly, unsteady on her feet.
BETHANY
They can’t just do that. I didn’t do anything wrong!
Her father’s expression hardens.
FATHER
(slightly raised voice)
Wrong?
He steps closer.
FATHER
You dragged our name into a public mess. That’s what you did.
Bethany’s eyes well up again.
BETHANY
I was trying to do the right thing!
FATHER
(sharply)
At what cost?
A beat.
Bethany has no answer.
Her silence says everything.
Her father takes a slow breath, as if preparing for the next blow.
FATHER
There’s more.
Bethany looks up, fear creeping into her expression.
BETHANY
(quietly)
What else…?
He hesitates for only a moment.
FATHER
Your property…
Bethany’s face tightens.
FATHER
…it’s no longer yours.
Time seems to stop.
BETHANY
(confused, shaken)
What are you talking about?
Her father delivers the words without emotion.
FATHER
It’s been transferred.
Bethany’s heart races.
BETHANY
Transferred to who?
A beat.
FATHER
Matt.
The name lands heavily.
Bethany stares at him, stunned.
BETHANY
(cutting, hurt)
My cousin…?
Her father nods.
FATHER
He’s more… reliable.
That sentence breaks something inside her.
BETHANY
(choking)
Reliable?
She lets out a bitter, disbelieving laugh through tears.
BETHANY
So that’s it? You just gave everything away?
FATHER
I did what was necessary.
Bethany steps back, shaking her head.
BETHANY
No… you did what was easy.
Her father’s jaw tightens.
FATHER
Watch your tone.
BETHANY
(voice rising)
No! You watch yours!
Tears stream down her face.
BETHANY
I’m your daughter!
The room echoes with her words.
Her father remains unmoved.
FATHER
Then you should have acted like one.
Silence crashes down again.
Bethany’s breathing becomes uneven.
BETHANY
(soft, shattered)
I needed you…
A long pause.
He doesn’t respond.
That hurts more than anything.
BETHANY
I thought… at least you would stand by me.
Her father looks away, avoiding her eyes.
FATHER
This isn’t about standing by you.
Bethany wipes her tears, her hands shaking.
BETHANY
Then what is it about?
He looks back at her.
Cold. Firm.
FATHER
It’s about consequences.
Those words land like a final verdict.
Bethany slowly sinks back onto the couch, her strength fading.
She looks smaller now… broken.
BETHANY
(whispering)
You took everything from me.
Her father straightens his posture.
FATHER
No.
A beat.
FATHER
You lost it.
Bethany closes her eyes, unable to hold back the tears anymore.
Silence fills the room once again.
Heavy. Crushing.
Her father turns toward the door.
He pauses briefly… as if considering something.
But whatever it is… he lets it go.
He opens the door.
BETHANY
(weakly)
Dad…
He stops.
But doesn’t turn around.
BETHANY
(pleading)
Please…
A long pause.
For a second… it feels like he might respond.
But he doesn’t.
He walks out.
The door closes.
Soft.
Final.
INT. LIVING ROOM – CONTINUOUS
Bethany sits alone.
Tears fall freely now.
She looks around the room — the same room that once felt like home.
Now it feels чужая… чужая (foreign, unfamiliar).
She hugs herself tightly, as if trying to hold the pieces together.
But they keep falling apart.
Her breathing trembles.
The silence grows louder.
And she breaks.
Completely.
FADE OUT.