ACT I — She Comes Quietly
At 23:18, the front door opens. No slam, no spectacle—just her, stepping inside like she never left. Two duffels over her shoulders, one for each boy. She calls for the family with a warm, tired “I’m back,” like it's just another Wednesday.
Tommy storms in first, Simon right behind. Their parents follow, smiling just enough to keep the funding flow intact. She sets the bags down without a speech, unzipping the green one and handing it to Tommy.
“You texted me ten times about the console. It’s in there. Plus the games and that hoodie you kept pretending not to like.”
Tommy cheers, already tearing it open. Then she opens the black bag—quietly, specifically—for Simon.
“You mentioned boxing, so—custom gloves, molded for you. Wallet’s real leather, no holes. And—" her smile turns crooked “—I remembered our convo about stealth games. Laptop’s padded in the side pocket.”
Simon touches nothing at first. He’s stunned—not by what she bought, but that she remembered.
Then Tommy sees the gloves. His face shifts, and without hesitation, he snatches the whole bag from Simon’s hands.
Their mom laughs nervously. Dad shrugs.
“You boys can share.”
She doesn’t raise her voice. She just walks over, takes the bag back with quiet precision, and turns to the parents with a look that says 'I fund you to keep my nephews happy, do that'.
Tommy opens his mouth to protest, but they shut it down fast.
She turns and follows Simon, who’s already walked off without a word.
ACT II — She Sees the Room
Simon’s door sticks. She nudges it open.
There’s no decor. No softness. Just a thin mattress and a desk lamp with a cracked shade. A chair meant for garages. A boy sitting in his own stillness.
She drops the bag onto the mattress and sits beside him.
"Tommy usually want anything you have?"
Simon shrugs, barely.
“They let him.”
She nods slowly.
"You’re not staying here this summer.”
He looks up.
"What?"
"You're coming with me this summer, no 'no' will be accepted."
Her hand rests lightly on the bag.
"Start calling your friends, they'll come too."
ACT III — Ghost Makes the Calls
Soap screams before Ghost finishes his sentence. His mom overhears and shouts, “Tell her thank you! He’s already packing!”
Gaz is calm.
“She’s the one who dropped a competition for your birthday, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Then yeah. I’m in.”
Roach asks if her wolves bite. Ghost replies, “Only people who deserve it.”
Alejandro and Rodolfo beg to bring snacks. Krueger just says “I trust you.” Nikto asks for silence. Farah’s sister demands photos if she does anything “reckless and cool.” Laswell sends coordinates and backup contacts. Alex says, “She remembered my name before I did.” Kamarov and Nikolai confirm within minutes. Price confirmed as if he was a man on a mission.
Thirteen answers.
All yes.
ACT III — Summer Starts Here
The driveway's chaos in motion. Backpacks thud onto concrete, someone’s flip-flops go flying, and Soap’s halfway through telling a story he keeps forgetting to finish because he’s laughing too hard.
Gaz is reading out her competition stats like he’s announcing a world cup lineup.
"She’s undefeated this year. Undefeated. We’re gonna see all of it. Front row.”
“How is this even real?” Laswell says, double-checking her phone like the jet confirmation might vanish.
Roach’s sitting on the curb, fiddling with his headphones. Ghost tosses him a bag of trail mix.
Farah’s hyped. She’s been practicing random flips all week and now she’s practically vibrating with joy.
"You think she'll bring us rafting?"
Alejandro and Rodolfo show up late and loud, shoving snacks into their pockets like they'll die without it.
Price is counting heads with a leisure smile, hiding his excitement.
Nikto scowls at Soap as he takes an embarassing group photo.
Just as Nikolai leans over to whack the back of Soap's head wheels are heard, a sleek and large RV pulling into the driveway; clearly made for comfort and space.