INT. KENDALL ROY'S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT The penthouse is pulsating with loud music, bathed in flashing colorful lights and filled with a mix of the city's elite and eccentric personalities. Guests mingle, laughter and the clink of glasses punctuate the air. Into this overwhelming scene steps SARAH ROSE, a young woman with an uncertain aura, clutching her small purse like a lifeline. She pauses just inside the entrance, taking a moment to steel herself. CUT TO: Sarah making her way through the crowd, her expression a mixture of discomfort and determination. She's searching for familiar faces but finds none immediately. A GUEST bumps into her, spilling his drink. He barely mumbles an apology before disappearing into the crowd. Sarah grimaces but continues, clearly out of her element. SARAH (V.O.) I always feel like I'm wading through someone else's dream at these things. Too bright, too loud... too much. Sarah's eyes finally land on KENDALL, her older brother, surrounded by a group of people all vying for his attention. He's the man of the hour, laughing and animated, a stark contrast to how Sarah feels. She hesitates, then takes a breath and approaches. Just as she gets close, RAVA, Kendall's ex-wife, appears beside him. Kendall's demeanor changes ever so slightly, more guarded now. Sarah stops in her tracks, watching them. SARAH (V.O.) Kendall and Rava... somehow, they always seemed like the stable ones. Funny how things change. Kendall glances up and spots Sarah. His face breaks into a genuine smile, a rarity tonight. KENDALL Sarah Rose! You made it! He excuses himself from the group and moves towards her, opening his arms for a hug. Sarah moves in, the action familiar and comforting. They break apart, and Kendall studies her for a moment. KENDALL You good? You look a bit... I don't know, overwhelmed? SARAH This isn't exactly my scene anymore. But I wouldn't miss your birthday. RAVA approaches, adding a smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. RAVA Sarah, it's good to see you. You've grown so much. Sarah offers a small, albeit genuine smile back. SARAH It's good to see you too, Rava. How's Iverson? RAVA He's good, growing fast. He wanted to come, but it's way past his bedtime. KENDALL Hey, Sarah, let's grab a drink, yeah? We can catch up. I've got, like, a million stories to tell you. Sarah nods, glancing once more around the room. It's clear her discomfort hasn't entirely faded, but being near Kendall, and even Rava, seems to ground her. SARAH (V.O.) Maybe tonight isn't about finding my place in this loud, kaleidoscopic chaos. Maybe it's about remembering there are still points of calm in the storm. Even if those points aren't where you'd expect them to be. CUT TO: Kendall, Sarah, and Rava find a relatively quiet corner. They have drinks in hand, and Kendall is in the middle of a story, making wild gestures. Sarah is laughing, more relaxed now, caught in the moment. The camera slowly pulls away, leaving the trio in their bubble as the party rages on around them. FADE OUT.

INT. KENDALL ROY'S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT The camera sweeps through a luxury penthouse alive with thumping music, swirling lights, and a mishmash of New York's glitterati engaged in animated conversations, dancing, and more than a few illicit activities tucked away in shadowed corners. SARAH ROSE enters, a figure of both intrigue and discomfort, her eyes scanning the lavish scene with a measured apprehension. CUT TO: Sarah tentatively navigates through the crowd, her body language a mix of hesitation and resolve. She dodges a couple of overly enthusiastic partygoers, her gaze fixed on a familiar face in the distance. We find KENDALL surrounded by a sea of people, the epicenter of attention. He's animated, his laughter carrying over the music, a drink in one hand and occasionally gesturing with the other, possibly under the influence. SARAH (V.O.) There he is, Kendall in his element. And here I am, wondering why I thought tonight would be any different. Sarah takes a deep breath and strides forward. As she approaches, Kendall's eye catches hers; his face lights up with recognition and something akin to genuine affection. KENDALL Rosie! Haha, wow, look at you! You came! He pulls her into a somewhat clumsy hug, the smell of alcohol and the sharper scent of something else mingling in the air around him. Sarah returns the hug, grounding herself in the familiarity. KENDALL (stepping back, still holding her shoulders) You're looking great. Man, this is fantastic, you should meet-- His words trail off as his attention snaps to someone calling his name. He gives Sarah an apologetic look as he's momentarily distracted, trying to focus back on her. SARAH (trying to smile through the awkwardness) It's okay, Kendall. I see you're busy. I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday. Kendall's gaze, though trying to stay on Sarah, flickers around the room, tracking multiple conversations and stimuli. KENDALL (sincerely, but scattered) Yeah, yeah, totally. Thanks, Rosie. We should... catch up. Have you seen Rava yet? She's here somewhere... You guys have been hanging out a lot, huh? Before Sarah can answer, RAVA appears, elegance in amidst chaos, her expression softening as she sees Sarah. RAVA Sarah, it's good to see you here. Sarah turns to Rava, a small haven of normalcy in the storm of the party. SARAH Rava. Yeah, it's been... nice, seeing the kids in the morning. An awkward silence falls for a moment as Kendall tries to balance his attention between the ongoing party and his half-sister. KENDALL (clearly trying to focus, but failing) Right, right. You two catch up. I gotta-- (gesturing vaguely towards the crowd) But we'll talk, Rosie. Really. With a quick, somewhat guilty smile, Kendall is absorbed back into the party, leaving Sarah and Rava standing together. RAVA (eyeing Sarah with concern) Are you okay? It's not like you to come to these things anymore. The music pounds on, conversations ebb and flow around them, but in their little bubble, there's a sense of something unspoken, of worries and care that go beyond the noise of the party. SARAH (avoiding Rava's gaze) Yeah, just thought I'd drop by. It's been a while since I've been in the middle of all this. RAVA (soft, understanding) Well, I'm glad you're here. And not just for tonight. They share a look, a mix of gratitude and a deeper shared concern, an anchor in the fluid chaos of Kendall's world. The camera pulls away as Rava and Sarah start to move to a quieter corner, their connection a silent contrast to the frenetic energy surrounding them. FADE OUT.

INT. KENDALL ROY'S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT (CONTINUOUS) The pulsating lights and the undulating sea of bodies at the party serve as the backdrop to SARAH ROSE's solitary figure meandering through the penthouse. Despite the cacophony, there's a poignant loneliness about her as she moves, observing but never quite engaging with the revelry around her. CUT TO: Sarah pauses by a towering window overlooking the city, her reflection mingling with the skyline. Laughter and snippets of fragmented conversations wash over her, highlighting her isolation amidst the crowd. SARAH (V.O.) Everyone's here but not really here. Connected but so disconnected. Is it the noise, the drinks, or just us? She moves on, her steps aimless, witnessing snippets of excess and fleeting joys. A couple locked in a passionate embrace, a group laughing over shared secrets, a lone figure much like herself absorbed in thought--each a story unto themselves, yet she feels apart, a wanderer in a land of plenty. CUT TO: Meanwhile, RAVA finds KENDALL in the throes of his extravagant celebration, his demeanor a cocktail of euphoria and the edge that comes from something stronger than just alcohol. RAVA (tapping him on the shoulder) Kendall, I'm leaving now. But before I do, I brought something from the kids for your birthday. KENDALL (taking a brief pause from the festivities) Oh, cool, cool. Thanks, Rava. That's really thoughtful of them...and you. Rava's expression shifts to one of concern, more serious now amidst the frivolity. RAVA I wanted to talk to you about Sarah Rose. She's been spending a lot of nights at my place recently. KENDALL (trying to focus, but clearly distracted) Sarah? Yeah, she mentioned something about hanging out there. That's good, right? The kids love her. RAVA (earnestly) It is, but she's not herself, Kendall. She says she's just passing by, but there's something off. She never seems drunk, just... distant. Lost, maybe. KENDALL (his expression softens, but the concern doesn't quite sink in) Rosie's tough. She's always been a bit of a lone wolf, you know? But I'll talk to her, see what's up. RAVA (eyeing him skeptically) Please do. And really talk to her, Kendall. She might need more help than she's letting on. KENDALL (nodding, the promise somewhat hollow in the face of his intoxication and the party's allure) Yeah, yeah, of course. Thanks for letting me know, Rava. And, uh, thanks for taking care of her. Rava gives him a long look, as if weighing whether there was more she should say or do, then nods and turns to leave, casting a glance back at the party, her worry for Sarah Rose evident. CUT TO: The camera follows RAVA as she leaves, passing SARAH who's now stopped at a group watching some impromptu spectacle, her laughter blending with others but her eyes still searching for something undefinable. Kendall's attention bounces back to the party, the gravity of Rava's words lost to the night, as the music swells and the scene fades out. FADE OUT.

INT. KENDALL ROY'S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT (CONTINUOUS) As Sarah Rose ambles through the throng, she spots CONNOR and WILLA, engaged in animated conversation with a small circle of guests. Connor, always the outlier among his siblings, carries himself with a blend of eager aristocracy and awkward charm. Willa, by his side, seems equal parts bored and amused, her sharp eyes missing nothing. SARAH ROSE (over the noise, approaching them) Connor! Willa! Connor turns, his face lighting up with a mix of surprise and genuine pleasure. CONNOR Sarah! What a delightful surprise to see you here amidst the plebeians and patricians! WILLA (smiling thinly) Hey, Sarah. Surviving the party? SARAH ROSE Just about. It's a bit overwhelming. CONNOR Nonsense! This is high society at play! Embrace the chaos; it's the only way to fly. WILLA (rolling her eyes) Or crash land. You seeing anyone in particular? Sarah hesitates, her gaze flicking around the room reflexively. SARAH ROSE Not really. Just sort of floating around. You know how it is. CONNOR (leaning in conspiratorially) Well, if you're adrift, consider us your life raft. At least until something more entertaining surfaces. Their laughter mixes, a brief respite from the overstimulation surrounding them. Before the conversation can proceed further, COUSIN GREG lumbers into the scene, his height making him stand out, his demeanor a blend of excitement and inherent discomfort. GREG Hey, hey! Family! And, uh, extended family. CONNOR Ah, Cousin Gregory! Join us in this oasis of sanity. Sarah was just about to tell us her wild adventures in the urban jungle. GREG (wide-eyed) Oh, cool. Hey, Sarah. Didn't expect to see you here. This party is kinda crazy, right? SARAH ROSE Yeah, it's pretty intense. Good to see some familiar faces, though. GREG (nodding vigorously) Yeah, totally. I've been trying to blend in. Or stand out. I'm not actually sure which. WILLA (smiling at Greg's awkwardness) Well, you're doing a great job of toeing the line, Greg. CONNOR Indeed. Sarah, Greg here was regaling us with tales of corporate intrigue and existential dread. Weren't you, Greg? GREG Uh, yeah, something like that. Just, you know, navigating the waters, trying not to get eaten by sharks. SARAH ROSE Sounds about right for Waystar. The group shares a knowing laugh, their shared experiences and insights into their complex family dynamics and the enterprise binding them for a moment. CONNOR (putting an arm around Willa) Well, we must circulate, do the social butterfly thing. But, Sarah, my dear, do seek refuge with us again should the wilderness become too much. WILLA Good to see you, Sarah. Don't let the madness swallow you whole. As Connor and Willa drift away into the crowd, Greg lingers for a moment. GREG Hey, Sarah, if you ever want to, like, get away from all this and grab a quieter drink, just let me know. Could be less... intense. SARAH ROSE (smiling genuinely) Thanks, Greg. That sounds nice. Maybe later. GREG Cool, cool. I'll be around. Or I'll try to be around. This place is kinda like a maze. With a parting smile, Greg ambles off, leaving Sarah Rose once again alone in the crowd, though perhaps feeling slightly less adrift than before. CUT TO: Sarah's gaze wanders over the sea of faces once more, a reflective look in her eyes as the music swells around her. For a moment, amidst the opulence and extravagance, she finds a semblance of connection. FADE OUT.

INT. KENDALL ROY'S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT (LATER) As the party continues into the night, the atmosphere shifts into a more intense revelry. The earlier polished facade gives way to a rawer energy that pulses through the increasing crowd. It's at this point ROMAN and SHIV make their grand entrance, commanding attention effortlessly as they scan the room, clearly on the lookout for their younger sibling, SARAH ROSE. CUT TO: Sarah, now slightly more at ease yet still visibly tired of the crowd, spots Roman and Shiv heading her way. She can't suppress the genuine smile that blooms on her face at the sight of them, despite knowing their tendency to undermine her. SHIV (throwing an arm around Sarah in a half hug) There she is! The prodigal sister! Hiding out at her brother's overly extravagant cry for attention, are we? SARAH ROSE (taking the ribbing in stride) Shiv, Roman, glad you could make it. And it's not like that. I'm just... here. ROMAN (Grinning widely) Just here and looking absolutely adorable as always, Sprout. You should've told us. We could've organized a kiddie corner for you, complete with a nanny and coloring books. Sarah rolls her eyes, but her affection for her siblings keeps her from biting back too hard. SARAH ROSE Thanks, but I think I've outgrown coloring books. Barely. SHIV (smirking) But never outgrew your soft spot for Kendall, huh? How's that going in this... battlefield? Sarah's expression falters slightly, the light-hearted banter giving way to a shadow of concern. She glances around as though looking for Kendall. SARAH ROSE Kendall's doing his thing. I don't know, Shiv, it's complicated. You know how it is. ROMAN (pushing the joke further, though his tone softens) Yeah, but it's all high-level business drama. You're better off out of it, trust me. It's all boring shareholder stuff mixed with a generous dose of backstabbing. SHIV (changing the subject, not wanting to linger too long on sensitive topics) Anyway, let's find you a drink that's not been spiked with Kendall's personal brand of despair. Come on. As the trio moves through the crowd, Shiv and Roman's playful demeanor belies their protective stance around Sarah. They might not always show it in the most conventional way, but their sibling bond is evident as they navigate the party. CUT TO: The music shifts to a slower, more melancholic tune, mirroring the underlying tensions that weave through the siblings' interactions. As they reach the bar and order their drinks, the trio finds a quieter corner. The banter continues, less about pushing Sarah's buttons now and more about reconnecting, even if just for the span of the evening. Despite their teasing, Roman and Shiv do listen when Sarah talks, offering nods and laughter in the right places. Sarah's posture relaxes, the earlier sense of isolation ebbing away in the company of her siblings, even if they never fully grasp her viewpoint. FADE OUT. In the dim light and the fading echo of the party's chaos, the siblings share a moment that, while fleeting, bridges the gap between their worlds. Roman and Shiv, so often lost in the corporate labyrinth of Waystar Royco, and Sarah, ever the outsider to their power plays, find common ground in their shared history and complex love for one another, a reminder that beneath the surface, the ties that bind them run deep.

INT. KENDALL ROY'S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT (LATER) The party, now in its twilight, has simmered down to a more subdued hedonism. Guests either find themselves entangled in closer, more intimate discussions or slowly start to trickle out into the night. SARAH ROSE, having decided it's time to retreat from the exhaustive euphoria of the evening, seeks out KENDALL to bid him farewell. CUT TO: Sarah navigates through the diminishing groups of guests, following the distant sounds of a heated discussion. The cacophony of the party fades into a low murmur as she approaches the source--a corner of the penthouse far removed from the main festivities where KENDALL, ROMAN, and SHIV have unwittingly formed a tableau of familial strife. Kendall and Roman are in the throes of an argument that vibrates with tension, their voices laced with a venom that seems all too easy to slip into, while Shiv, though standing slightly apart, wears an expression of detached involvement. KENDALL (to Roman, voice raised in frustration) You just can't help yourself, can you, Roman? Always have to push it just that bit too far! ROMAN (sneering, his words like barbs) Oh, please, Kendall. Accept it. You're just pissed because deep down, you know I'm right. You're out of your depth, always have been. The argument, intricate in its layers of personal grievances and professional antagonisms, simmers with a toxicity born out of too many years of rivalry and resentment. SARAH ROSE (stepping into the fray, voice raised) Guys! Knock it off, will you? This isn't helping anything! Her plea, however, barely registers amidst the storm of egos. Kendall and Roman are too embroiled in their conflict to acknowledge her, while Shiv turns to Sarah with a look that's part exasperation, part warning. SHIV (not now, sharply) Not now, Sarah. Feeling both dismissed and overshadowed, Sarah's frustration and concern deepen. Her intent to smooth over the immediate friction crumbles under the weight of her siblings' longstanding conflicts--conflicts that she has no real power to mend. KENDALL (ignoring Sarah's interjection, to Roman) This is exactly why you'll never-- ROMAN (interrupting, venomous) --What? I'll never what, Kendall? Fail spectacularly in a public forum? Oh wait, that's your thing. The argument escalates, each word sharper and more harmful than the last. Sarah stands there, a silent witness to the disintegration of any semblance of sibling solidarity, her presence diminished to nothing more than a shadow at the edge of their battlefield. CUT TO: Disheartened and realizing the futility of her attempt at mediation, Sarah turns away, leaving Kendall, Roman, and Shiv ensnared in their cycle of mutual destruction. As she makes her way out of the penthouse, the sounds of the argument fade into the background, replaced by a heavy silence that accompanies her departure. FADE OUT. In this moment of quiet retreat, Sarah's isolation within her family is palpable--a stark reminder of her unique position on the periphery of the Roy family dynamics. Despite her love for her siblings, the realization that she cannot bridge the divides that separate them is a poignant acknowledgment of her limitations and the complex web of relationships that define them.

INT. KENDALL ROY'S PENTHOUSE - NIGHT (CONTINUOUS) The vitriol between KENDALL, ROMAN, and SHIV momentarily fades into the backdrop as SARAH ROSE's world narrows down to a single point across the room. There, moving with an unnerving nonchalance, is *him*--a predator cloaked in the mundanity of a waiter's uniform, navigating the party with ease. His presence, a vile reminder of a night that twisted Sarah's reality into a living nightmare, sends a sharp lance of ice through her veins. Time seems to constrict around Sarah, the raucous laughter and music melting into a distant echo. She watches, heart thundering in her chest, as he interacts with a guest, his laughter a discordant sound that reverberates with malice in her ears. His voice, a cruel harbinger, slices through the din, reaching her across the room. It's unmistakable. The frozen moment shatters as he begins to turn, possibly towards her, and panic--raw and fierce--claws its way through Sarah's resolve. She drops, a sudden movement, folding into a squat and fixing her gaze on the ground as if the act of not seeing could erase her from his perception. Her breath hitches, caught in a loop of fear and disbelief. SHIV, who had been eyeing Sarah Rose with a mixture of confusion and concern, notices the drastic shift. The argument with Kendall and Roman fades into insignificance as she steps closer to her sister, her senses sharpening to the distress emanating from Sarah. SHIV (voice laced with worry) Sarah? What happened? Did who see you? The faint, tremulous sound of Sarah's voice breaks through, a whisper carried on a thread of panic. SARAH ROSE (softly, shaking) Did he see me? Did he... Her question, repeated like a mantra, only deepens Shiv's concern. In Sarah's eyes--a mirror to her turmoil--Shiv sees a fear profound and paralyzing, a fear that belies the typical anxieties of a party too loud, too crowded. And although Shiv doesn't see the man who triggered Sarah's panic, the gravity of her sister's distress is unmistakable. SHIV (suddenly protective, voice lowered) Sarah, look at me. We'll get out of here, okay? Just...let me help you up. As Shiv extends a hand, offering support amidst the chaos, Kendall and Roman fade further into the backdrop, their argument forgotten. For Sarah, the world outside of this spiral of panic momentarily ceases to exist. Her concerns aren't with the petty squabbles of Waystar or the intricacies of familial power struggles; they're with survival, with the immediate need to flee from the sight of a man who embodies a trauma so deep, so raw, it threatens to consume her whole. With Shiv's help, Sarah Rose slowly stands, her legs unsteady but bolstered by the sudden presence of something akin to safety within the eye of the storm. Together, they navigate through the party, Shiv casting wary glances over her shoulder, her mind racing to piece together the cause of her sister's distress. FADE OUT. In the safety of departure, the weight of shared vulnerability binds the sisters in a silent pact of protection and support. Sarah's ordeal, though unspoken, hangs heavy between them--a stark reminder of the unseen battles that wage on, even in the most familiar of fields.