The humid afternoon heat hung heavy over the parking lot of the Sunset Motel. Evelyn Vance stood outside room 114, holding a warm bottle of cheap water, fanning herself with a folded newspaper.
The rusted door opened, and Daniel stepped out, looking exhausted and broken.
Evelyn: Did you call the bank again, Daniel? Did they unfreeze the credit cards?
Daniel: No, mom! The bank teller told me my accounts are under federal investigation!
Evelyn: Federal investigation?! Oh, Lord... what are we going to do? I can't sleep on that lumpy mattress another night!
Daniel: Stop complaining, mom! I'm doing the best I can!
Evelyn: If you had just handled Claire properly, we wouldn't be in this mess! You were supposed to make her sign the papers quietly!
Daniel: She slapped me across the face, mom! She knew everything!
A shiny black luxury sedan pulled into the gravel parking lot, stopping right in front of their motel room door.
The tinted window rolled down, revealing Claire sitting in the back seat, looking cool and collected.
Evelyn: Claire! You came to bring us home!
Evelyn rushed toward the car, wiping tears from her face.
Evelyn: I knew you had a good heart, darling! I'm sorry about yesterday! Daniel was the one who pushed you, not me!
Daniel: Mom! What are you saying?!
Claire: Save your breath, Evelyn. I didn't come here to take you home.
Claire handed a thick white envelope through the open window.
Claire: These are foreclosure notices for your condo, Evelyn. The bank is auctioning it off on Friday to cover Daniel's debts.
Evelyn took the envelope, her hands shaking so violently she dropped the papers onto the dirty pavement.
Evelyn: My condo... my home... no! NO!
Daniel: Claire, please! Take my home, but leave my mother's place alone!
Claire: You used her home as collateral for your casino debt, Daniel. You destroyed her future, not me.
Evelyn: You useless boy! You lost my house?! You lost my home?!
Evelyn turned on her son, hitting him repeatedly on the shoulder with her purse as Daniel ducked and covered his face.
Daniel: Mom, stop! Ow! Stop it!
Claire: You two deserve each other. Have a wonderful life in this motel.
Claire rolled up her window, nodding to her driver.
Claire: Drive, please.
The luxury sedan pulled out of the dusty parking lot, leaving Daniel and Evelyn screaming at each other in the middle of the gravel, their wealth, status, and dignity completely gone.