He looked at his colleague, then briefly toward the people watching from the house.
RYAN: "You weren't here when this started."
ETHAN: "That's why I'm asking what happened."
Ryan exhaled sharply.
He shifted his position slightly.
Ethan moved around the side of the pickup truck to get a clearer view of Daniel.
The vehicle's glossy black surface reflected the sunlight.
Daniel's navy-blue shirt was creased across his back, and his hands remained spread against the hood.
ETHAN: "What's your name?"
DANIEL: "Daniel Price."
ETHAN: "And the elderly gentleman?"
DANIEL: "Samuel Brooks. He's my father."
Ethan nodded slightly.
ETHAN: "Were you inside the house when this started?"
DANIEL: "Yes. I came outside when I saw Ryan holding my father by his shirt."
Ethan looked toward Samuel.
ETHAN: "Sir, can you hear me?"
Samuel slowly raised his head.
SAMUEL: "Yes."
ETHAN: "Are you hurt?"
Samuel hesitated.
He glanced toward Ryan before answering.
SAMUEL: "My knee hurts. I just want to get up."
Ethan looked down at the gravel.
Then he looked toward Ryan.
ETHAN: "Why did he fall?"
Ryan answered quickly.
RYAN: "He lost his balance when things got physical."
Daniel immediately reacted.
DANIEL: "He lost his balance because you pushed me into the truck while he was standing right beside us!"
Ryan turned toward Daniel.
RYAN: "I told you to stop talking."
ETHAN: "Ryan."
The younger officer's voice was firmer this time.
Ryan stopped.
Ethan looked at Daniel again.
ETHAN: "Just stay still for now. I need to understand what happened."
DANIEL: "I'm trying to cooperate. But I need you to help my father."
Ethan glanced toward Samuel.
The elderly man was still kneeling, his right hand pressed against the gravel for support.
His left hand rested on his thigh.
He looked exhausted.
The older woman finally moved down one step from the porch.
WOMAN: "Please, he has trouble with his knees. He shouldn't be sitting out there."
Ethan looked toward her.
ETHAN: "Do you know him?"
WOMAN: "Yes. I've known Samuel for years. He lives here."
She pointed toward the house.
WOMAN: "This is his home."
Ethan nodded.
He looked back at Ryan.
ETHAN: "Did you check whether he was injured?"
Ryan remained standing over Daniel.
RYAN: "I haven't had time. I've been dealing with the situation."
Daniel gave a frustrated breath.
DANIEL: "You've had plenty of time to hold me against this truck."
Ryan's face tightened.
RYAN: "Watch your tone."
DANIEL: "Then stop treating us like criminals!"
Ethan stepped between their lines of sight.
ETHAN: "Enough. Both of you."
The younger officer looked increasingly concerned.
He had arrived expecting to find a routine situation, but the explanations were not matching the physical scene in front of him.
He turned toward Samuel once more.
ETHAN: "Sir, can you tell me what happened?"
Samuel looked down at the gravel.
For a moment, he appeared reluctant to speak.
He glanced toward Daniel, who was still being restrained.
Then he looked at Ethan.
SAMUEL: "I was standing outside my house. The officer came over and started holding my shirt. I didn't understand why."
Ryan immediately interrupted.
RYAN: "That's not the whole story."
Samuel looked at him.
SAMUEL: "I'm telling him what happened."
His voice was still weak, but he spoke with more determination than before.
SAMUEL: "I didn't threaten anyone. I didn't touch anyone."
Ethan listened carefully.
He did not interrupt.
Samuel continued.
SAMUEL: "Then my son came outside because he saw what was happening. He asked the officer to let me go."
The elderly man's eyes became watery.
He looked toward Daniel again.
SAMUEL: "And then everything happened so quickly."
He paused to catch his breath.
SAMUEL: "My son was pushed against that truck. I fell down. I couldn't get back up."
The driveway became quiet.
Even Ryan appeared to pause for a moment.
The older woman lowered her hands slightly.
She looked at Samuel with concern.
Ethan glanced toward the house and then back at Ryan.
ETHAN: "Did anyone else see the beginning of this?"
Samuel nodded slowly.
SAMUEL: "She was inside."
He looked toward the older woman.
WOMAN: "I saw part of it from the doorway."
Ryan turned his head toward her.
RYAN: "You didn't see everything."
The woman looked uncomfortable.
She hesitated before answering.
WOMAN: "I saw you holding his shirt."
Ryan's expression hardened.
RYAN: "You need to stay out of this."
Ethan immediately looked at Ryan.
ETHAN: "She's answering my question."
Ryan stared at his colleague.
For a few seconds, neither officer spoke.