Khz) Brooke Reveals Bethany's Cruel Accusation to Sharra

Brooke picked up the phone screaming — and by the time she finished the story, Sharra was already grabbing her car keys.

City Streets

Night

The city lights blur into streaks of neon and shadow. Rain begins to slick the pavement, reflecting the chaotic energy of the night.

Brooke's Apartment

Night

The room is cast in shadows, illuminated only by the frantic, blue glow of a smartphone screen.

Brooke paces the hardwood floor. Her hair is tangled, her eyes bloodshot, and heavy tear tracks gleam on her pale cheeks. Her breathing is ragged, slipping into a borderline panic attack.

With trembling fingers, she dials a number and presses the phone to her ear. She bites her lip, drawing blood.

Sharra's Living Room

Continuous

Warm, cozy, and quiet. Sharra sits curled up on a plush sofa, a mug of steaming tea in her hands. A book rests open on her lap.

Her phone buzzes loudly on the coffee table. She glances at the screen, sees Brooke's caller ID, and smiles warmly as she picks it up.

SHARRACheerful, relaxedHey, babe! You read my mind, I was just about to—

BROOKEScreaming through a sobSharra! Oh my god, Sharra, you have to pick up. Please tell me you're there.

Sharra's smile instantly vanishes. She sets her mug down with a hard thud, spilling a bit of tea. She stands up, her posture rigid with sudden anxiety.

SHARRA: Brooke? Brooke, hey, breathe. I'm here. What's wrong? Why are you crying like that?

BROOKEGasping for air, hystericalShe did it. She actually did it, Sharra. She ruined my life. Everything is gone. Everything.

SHARRA: Who did what? Talk to me, Brooke. You're scaring the hell out of me. Who ruined your life?

BROOKE: Bethany.

The name hangs heavy in the air. Sharra's eyes widen in disbelief.

SHARRA: Bethany? What did she do this time?

BROOKEVoice breaking completelyShe accused me... in front of everyone. She stood there and screamed at the top of her lungs that... that Issah and I are sleeping together. She told them we're having a physical relation, Sharra!

Sharra drops back onto the couch, her jaw slack. The silence on her end is deafening.

SHARRA: She... she said what? About you and Issah? Is she insane?!

BROOKEWiping her face aggressively, pacing fasterShe swore on everything! She fabricated stories, timelines, everything! She looked me dead in the eye and called me a homewrecker. A liar. A whore.

SHARRA: But that's a blatant lie! Everyone knows you and Issah are just close friends, like family! Why would she even think that?

BROOKE: Because she wants to destroy me! She's been looking for an excuse to push me out, and she found the most disgusting, toxic lie she could think of. But Sharra... that's not even the worst part.

Brooke chokes on a fresh wave of tears, covering her mouth to muffle the sound of her agonizing sob.

SHARRALeaning forward, her heart poundingWhat do you mean? What else happened, Brooke?

BROOKE: She did it in front of Larry.

Sharra freezes. The color drains completely from her face.

SHARRA: No. Tell me she didn't.

BROOKENodding frantically to herself, tears pouring downRight in front of his face. We were all in the main hall. Larry was standing right there next to the director's desk. Bethany walked right up to me, pushed her shoulder into mine, and started shouting it. And Larry... oh god, Larry...

SHARRA: What did Larry do? Did he defend you?

BROOKELaughing bitterly through her tearsDefend me? He joined her, Sharra. He treated me like actual trash. The absolute disrespect... the sheer batemzi... I have never felt so humiliated in my entire life.

The Main Hall

Day — Flashback

Bright, harsh fluorescent lights overhead. The atmosphere is tense, suffocating.

Bethany, eyes flashing with malicious triumph, stands inches away from Brooke's face.

Larry stands just a few feet away, his arms crossed over his chest, a look of cold, judgmental disgust hardening his features.

BETHANYScreaming, pointing a fingerDon't act so innocent, Brooke! Everyone here knows what you do behind closed doors! You and Issah. It's disgusting. You think you're so smart, but your little physical relationship isn't a secret anymore!

Brooke stands frozen, shrinking under the assault. Her eyes desperately dart to Larry, pleading for help.

BROOKEWhispering, tremblingLarry, please... it's not true. She's lying. Tell her to stop.

Larry scoffs, taking a step forward. Instead of stopping Bethany, he glares at Brooke with pure contempt.

LARRYCold, dripping with venomDon't look at me for sympathy, Brooke. Frankly, it's pathetic. If you're going to act like a cheap fraud, don't cry when you get called out for it. Get out of my sight. You disgust me.

Bethany smirks, highly satisfied. The surrounding colleagues whisper and stare. Brooke bursts into tears, turns around, and runs out of the room.

Brooke's Apartment

Night — Present

Brooke is now sitting on the floor, her back against the bed, her knees pulled tight to her chest. She is shivering from the emotional trauma.

BROOKEInto the phone, voice barely a whisperHe didn't even hesitate. He didn't ask for proof. He just looked at me like I was a piece of garbage on the bottom of his shoe. The way he spoke to me... the sheer malice in his voice... it broke something inside me, Sharra.

On the other end of the line, Sharra's shock turns into white-hot rage. She stands up again, pacing her own living room, her knuckles turning white around her phone.

SHARRA: That absolute spineless coward! How dare he? How dare either of them! Larry has no right to talk to you like that. He knows your character, he knows who you are!

BROOKE: He wanted to believe her. That's the truth. He was just waiting for a reason to tear me down, and Bethany handed it to him on a silver platter.

SHARRA: Listen to me, Brooke. Pull yourself together right now. We are not letting them win this. Does Issah know yet?

BROOKESniffling, wiping her eyesNo. I haven't called him. I'm too terrified. If Issah finds out what Bethany said, he will lose his mind. He'll confront Larry, and it's going to turn into a complete bloodbath.

SHARRA: Good. Don't call him yet. Let me come over. I'm getting in my car right now.

BROOKEDesperatePlease hurry, Sharra. I feel like the walls are closing in on me. I can't stop seeing Larry's face. I can't stop hearing the names they called me.

SHARRAFirm, fiercely protectiveLock your doors. I will be there in ten minutes. We are going to handle this, Brooke. They think they can drag your name through the mud and humiliate you? They have no idea what's coming for them.

Sharra grabs her car keys off the counter, her eyes burning with determination.

SHARRA: I'm hanging up now. Wash your face. I'm on my way.

BROOKE: Thank you... thank you so much.

The line goes dead with a soft click.

Brooke drops the phone onto the floor beside her. She pulls her knees closer, burying her face in her arms as the rain outside beats furiously against the windowpane.

The storm has just begun.