Martha sits on the floor crying, Johnny trying to put himself between her and his father, Gerald.

Johnny: Stop, Dad. That’s enough!

Gerald: Don’t you tell me what to do, boy! I’m the man of this house, you live under my roof! She knows what she did wrong. Don’t you get involved!

Martha wails and whimpers and Gerald grabs a vase off the table and throws it at the wall behind her. She screams and he storms off.

Johnny: Mom, please. You can’t keep living like this. Why don’t you just leave him?

Martha: Johnny, please—

Johnny: No, Mom, you think Annie and I don’t see it. She may be off working now but she’s worried sick.

Martha: Don’t let Lena and Marcus see.

Johnny: See that their dad’s an abusive prick?

Martha: Johnny.

Johnny: I can’t do this any more. I mean it, Mom, either leave him or—

Gerald comes back into the room.

Gerald: Leave? Who’s leaving? Me? (He picks Johnny up by the collar of his shirt.) You think you’re better than me, boy? Huh? That it? You worthless little—

He throws Johnny back and Martha screams.

Gerald: Get out! You get out of my house now! And if you ever come back—

Martha wails and tries to stop him as he pushes Johnny out the front door.

Johnny: Mom!

Gerald: Get out! If I see you around here again it won’t just be your mother that feels it, you hear? You’re no son of mine.

Tell us: How do you think society can better protect people from violent family members? What could be done to help?