He turned back toward Ryan.
JAMES: "You need to let her go."
Ryan stared at him.
RYAN: "I said stay back."
JAMES: "She's almost sixty years old. Why are you treating her like that?"
Ryan's jaw tightened.
He finally released some of the pressure on Claire's shirt but did not immediately step away.
James remained in front of him.
His hands were still raised.
JAMES: "I'm not trying to cause trouble. I'm asking you a simple question."
RYAN: "You don't give me instructions."
JAMES: "Then explain what's happening."
The tension between them continued growing.
Claire stood beside Ryan, looking increasingly uncomfortable.
She wanted the situation to end.
CLAIRE: "James, please. Just stay calm."
James briefly turned toward her.
JAMES: "Mom, are you okay?"
CLAIRE: "I'm scared. I don't understand why he's doing this."
James took a slow breath.
He looked at Ryan again.
JAMES: "You can talk to her without putting your hands on her."
Ryan's expression hardened.
He stepped closer to James.
RYAN: "You need to back away right now."
James did not move.
JAMES: "I'm standing on my own property. I'm not threatening you."
Ryan looked at him from head to toe.
The officer's shoulders became tense.
For a few seconds, the two men stood directly opposite each other.
Claire remained close to them.
The gardening tools were scattered near the porch, and several small plants stood along the walkway.
The dark pickup truck was parked beside the driveway.
Everything around them looked ordinary.
But the atmosphere between the two men had become increasingly hostile.
RYAN: "I warned you."
JAMES: "And I'm telling you to stop grabbing people."
Ryan suddenly moved forward.
He pushed James in the chest with both hands.
James stumbled backward one step.
His boots scraped against the gravel.
He quickly regained his balance and looked at Ryan in disbelief.
JAMES: "Don't you touch me!"
James pushed Ryan back.
The officer took a step backward but immediately moved toward him again.
Claire raised both hands.
CLAIRE: "Stop! Please!"
Neither man paid attention to her.
Ryan stepped forward and threw a punch toward James's upper body.
James raised his arms to block the strike.
The two men moved closer.
James swung back toward Ryan, and the confrontation turned into a physical fight.
Their movements were fast and chaotic.
Ryan grabbed James near the shoulder.
James pushed him away.
They struggled to maintain their balance on the gravel driveway.
Claire stepped backward.
Her eyes widened as she watched the two men fighting in front of her.
She had never expected the situation to become this dangerous.
CLAIRE: "Please! Somebody stop!"
Ryan tried to gain control of James's upper body.
James resisted and pushed him backward.
For a brief moment, Ryan lost his balance.
James took another step forward, trying to create distance between them.
But Ryan quickly regained his footing.
The officer moved toward him again.
James raised his arms defensively.
Both men exchanged another series of punches and defensive movements.
Their shoulders collided.
Ryan grabbed the front of James's navy-blue shirt.
James tried to pull away.
The two men moved sideways across the driveway.
Claire continued stepping backward.
Her yellow gardening gloves were raised near her chest.
Her face had become pale.
CLAIRE: "James! Please stop!"
James briefly looked toward his mother.
That moment of distraction allowed Ryan to move closer.
Ryan grabbed James by the upper body.
James pushed against him, trying to free himself.
Their bodies shifted toward the dark pickup truck parked beside the driveway.
Ryan suddenly drove forward.
James stumbled backward.
His arms moved outward as he tried to regain his balance.
The pickup truck was now directly behind him.
JAMES: "Get away from me!"
Ryan continued advancing.
James tried to turn sideways, but Ryan pushed him toward the vehicle.
His back moved closer to the truck.
Then his hands reached the hood.
The glossy black surface reflected the afternoon sunlight.
James placed both palms against it to stop himself from falling.
But Ryan did not stop.
The officer followed closely behind him and pressed his upper body downward.
James's torso moved forward.
His hands spread across the hood.
His face turned toward the side of the vehicle.
JAMES: "Get off me! I haven't done anything!"
Ryan leaned over him.
His arms pressed against James's upper back and shoulder area.
James tried to lift his head.
His expression showed pain and frustration.
Ryan maintained his position.
The physical confrontation had now moved directly beside the pickup truck.
Claire stood several feet behind them.
She looked at her son.
Then she looked at the officer.
Her breathing became increasingly unsteady.
Her hands began trembling.
The afternoon seemed to spin around her.
She had watched her son being pushed and restrained.
She had tried to stop the confrontation, but nobody had listened.
Her knees began to feel weak.
She raised one gloved hand toward her chest.
Her eyes remained fixed on James.
CLAIRE: "James..."
Her voice was barely audible.
James heard something behind him.
He tried to turn his head.
JAMES: "Mom?"