EPISODE 13: "Safe for now"
1482 Words
CAROL’S GUEST ROOM – AFTERNOON
The room is quiet.
Too quiet.
The kind of silence that makes every thought louder than it should be.
Jenny sits on the edge of the bed, her hands resting on her lap.
Her fingers fidget slightly, unable to stay still.
The soft light from the window touches the floor—but doesn’t quite reach her.
Her phone lies on the bedside table.
She stares at it.
Still.
Unmoving.
As if turning it on will change everything.
Or confirm something she’s not ready to face.
Then—
the screen lights up.
Battery: 100%.
Jenny inhales slowly.
Hesitates.
Then reaches for it.
Her fingers tremble slightly as she presses the power button.
The screen unlocks—
And instantly—
notifications flood in.
Missed calls.
Missed calls.
Missed calls.
Her breath catches.
All from one name.
Herlie.
Jenny’s stomach drops.
JENNY
“Oh no…”
She quickly presses call.
The line rings once.
Twice—
Then—
HERLIE (V.O.)
Jenny?! Finally!
Relief and guilt hit Jenny at the same time.
JENNY
“I’m sorry,” she says quickly.
“My phone died. I didn’t charge it. I didn’t know you called so many times.”
On the other end, Herlie exhales sharply.
HERLIE (V.O.)
“Are you okay? What happened? You didn't answer my call. ”
Jenny closes her eyes.
Her grip tightens around the phone.
JENNY
“Herlie… I don’t know what to do.”
Her voice shakes.
Barely holding together.
JENNY (CONT’D)
“Two men came… they went into my boarding room.”
Silence.
Then—
HERLIE (V.O.)
“What? What do you mean they went there?”
Jenny swallows hard.
JENNY
“They messed up my closet… opened my drawers… my things were everywhere.”
A sudden noise from the other line—Herlie moving, standing up.
HERLIE (V.O.)
“Did they hurt you?”
JENNY
“No… just… a few bruises.”
Her voice cracks.
JENNY (CONT’D)
“They kept asking where my father is.”
Silence.
Heavy
HERLIE (V.O.)
“…Oh my God.”
Jenny grips her phone tighter.
JENNY
“They said he still hasn’t paid.”
“His debt.”
The word lingers in the air.
Jenny stares at nothing.
JENNY (CONT’D)
“I thought it was already settled…”
Her voice softens.
Almost breaking.
JENNY (CONT’D)
“He sold our house. He told me everything was cleared.”
(quiet)
“I believed him.”
Silence stretches between them.
JENNY (CONT’D)
“…And it wasn’t.”
Herlie exhales slowly.
Trying to stay calm.
HERLIE (V.O.)
“How much is the debt?”
JENNY (whispers)
“I don’t know… He never tells me details. He always says, ‘Don’t worry about my problems.’”
Herlie’s tone tightens slightly.
HERLIE (V.O.)
“And now they’re looking for him.”
JENNY
“They think I know where he is.”
HERLIE (V.O.)
“Do you?”
JENNY
“No.”
Silence again.
Then—
HERLIE (V.O.)
“Where are you now?”
Jenny glances at the door.
Closed.
Safe.
JENNY
“…I’m safe.”
HERLIE (V.O.)
“Where? With who?”
A pause.
Careful.
JENNY
“With someone I trust.”
Herlie catches that.
HERLIE (V.O.)
“Jenny…”
JENNY
“I’ll explain later,” she says quickly.
“Please don’t worry. I just didn’t want you to think I ignored you.”
Herlie exhales.
Softer now.
HERLIE (V.O.)
“I was worried because I care.”
Jenny’s eyes soften.
JENNY
“I know.”
Then—
fear returns.
Quiet but sharp.
JENNY (CONT’D)
“What if they come back?”
HERLIE (V.O.)
“We should report this. We need to go to the police—for your safety.”
Jenny freezes.
Police.
That makes everything real.
JENNY
“What if it gets worse?” she whispers.
HERLIE (V.O.)
“It won’t.”
“But staying quiet will.”
That lands.
Jenny closes her eyes.
HERLIE (V.O.)
“You don’t have to face this alone.”
(soft)
“I’m here.”
Jenny breathes in slowly.
JENNY
“…Okay.”
“Thank you, Lii… for always being there for me.”
Herlie softens.
HERLIE (V.O.)
“Send me your location. After my shift, I’ll go to you. Stay alert, okay?”
Jenny hesitates—
then nods.
JENNY
“…I will. Thank you.”
The call ends.
Jenny lowers her phone.
The room suddenly feels smaller.
Not because she’s unsafe—
but because reality just got bigger.
BAR – EVENING
The bar is alive with music and laughter.
But behind the counter—
Herlie stands still.
Her expression unreadable.
Her jaw tight.
Her mind is somewhere else.
BAR – OFFICE – NIGHT
Herlie reviews reports—but her focus isn’t there.
A knock.
Before she can respond—
the door opens.
CAROL
“Hi, Herlie. Can we talk for a second?”
Herlie immediately stands.
HERLIE
“Ms. C… I didn’t know you were coming tonight.”
Carol steps in and closes the door.
Calm.
Controlled.
CAROL
“It seems you already know what happened to Jenny.”
Herlie freezes slightly.
So—she knows.
CAROL (CONT’D)
“I.. I don’t want to interfere. But since she’s your friend… I’m concerned too.”
Herlie studies her.
No anger.
No judgment.
Just quiet authority.
CAROL (CONT’D)
“I know it’s not your position to tell me everything. But I want to understand.”
Herlie remembers—
“With someone I trust.”
She looks at Carol differently.
HERLIE
You’re the one she’s staying with.
Not a question.
CAROL
She’s safe.
Relief washes over Herlie.
HERLIE
Thank God… thank you for helping her, Ms. C.
CAROL
She didn’t want to worry you.
HERLIE
Two men went to her place. They were looking for her father. There’s a debt… she thought it was already settled.
CAROL
And now they’re pressuring her.
HERLIE
Yes.
CAROL
And she got bruises.
HERLIE
Yes… they scared her.
HERLIE (CONT’D)
I told her we should report it.
Carol nods.
CAROL
You’re right.
Herlie didn’t expect that.
CAROL (CONT’D)
If they come back, we’ll handle it properly. She won’t face this alone.
Something shifts in Herlie.
CAROL (CONT’D)
She’s in my home now. And she’s safe.
Those words carry weight.
HERLIE
Thank you… I don’t know how to repay you.
CAROL
Don’t think about that. And Jenny doesn’t deserve this.
Herlie nods.
CAROL (CONT’D)
I’ll update you if anything changes.
HERLIE
And I’ll handle the police coordination if needed.
Carol pauses.
Then nods.
CAROL
Good. Let me know if you want to see her.
Herlie gives a small smile.
Carol turns and leaves.
Herlie remains standing.
Thinking.
Jenny didn’t just find shelter.
She found protection.
And that changes everything.
- Writer
