- 4 hours ago
Leaving Port, Scum Is Unworthy
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Short filmTranscript
00:02i gave up everything to move to port victoria for my husband three years later i found out i wasn't
00:08his legal wife in port victoria right after our wedding my husband sean sterling was recruited
00:14by port victoria university i left my entire career behind to go with him i thought i was
00:19sacrificing for love yet three years went by i still didn't even have valid status let alone
00:25a local id card sean told me i was on a temporary dependent permit but his assistant zoe she already
00:32had her permanent residency he got it for her through his connections i was furious i threatened
00:38to leave for the first time ever my calm husband actually cried i'm already supporting you those
00:45documents can wait and zoe came here to work for me helping her settle in is only fair i believed
00:52him
00:52until last week i went to the immigration bureau to check my status i handed the clerk at the desk
00:58our marriage certificate she stared at her screen ma'am our system shows you are not listed as mr
01:06sterling's spouse in that instant everything became clear all those delays all those excuses sean had
01:13never listed me as his wife i said nothing i went straight home and started packing my bags but when
01:20i reached my own front door my fingerprint was rejected three times access denied the lock had
01:26been changed i called sean immediately why did you change the lock oh zoe's lock was broken
01:35she's familiar with this model so i had ours taken off and sent over to her just stay in a
01:40hotel tonight
01:40i'll be working late anyway my mind went blank my husband had taken the lock off our door and given
01:46it to another woman so i went to a hotel but when i swiped my card it was declined when
01:53we first
01:53moved in sean had given me an unlimited black card but little by little zoe took over his personal
01:58shopping eventually that card ended up in her wallet and somehow i believed him until our third
02:06anniversary just as the evening was turning intimate it was zoe she casually handed sean a box of ultra thin
02:13condoms professor it's a special night you always say this brand feels the best
02:19thoughtful of me right i didn't even know what brand he preferred for the past three years
02:24we've been trying for a baby we never used protection the dinner was pure torture he made
02:30some lame excuse about a work emergency and rushed out when the door closed behind him i finally
02:36understood by then it was obvious her role as his assistant extended all the way to his bed
02:40the next morning i was about to book a one-way ticket out of port victoria when my friend called
02:47claire i pulled some strings but all they would give me was the official marriage record
02:53it's fine just tell me what you found
02:57in port victoria sean was legally married to zoe zimmerman
03:01claire are you okay i'm fine
03:05the woman by his side had never been me it had always been zoe
03:09and in that moment every detail i had forced myself to ignore came rushing back
03:13all those weekends when he claimed he had work at the university and was gone all day
03:17whenever i asked what could possibly be so important he always gave me the same answer
03:22even if i told you you wouldn't understand
03:25then i remembered the time he forgot an important file
03:27i took it to the apartment he kept near campus on the bathroom counter were two toothbrushes and
03:34stupidly i didn't think anything of it my mind drifted back to the day i first arrived in port
03:39victoria three years ago sean pulled me into his arms and spun me around like i was his whole world
03:44then zoe waved at us from nearby sean smiled took her suitcase
03:49oh i forgot to tell you zoe came too
03:55she's here all by herself things haven't been easy for her
03:58the whole ride his attention was already on another woman
04:01and i had actually been happy for him
04:03i really thought he had found the perfect assistant
04:06during those first few months in port victoria
04:09i couldn't find a job
04:10for the first time in my life i learned what rejection felt like
04:13eventually i swallowed my pride and asked sean for help
04:17doesn't the university have some kind of placement program for spouses
04:22could you look into it for me
04:24he didn't even look up
04:26he just kept sorting through his papers and said
04:28i'll ask around
04:30i waited three months
04:32when i asked again i got the same answer
04:35meanwhile zoe had already landed a job at his university
04:38the job
04:39the benefits
04:40the place at his side
04:42and she wasn't nearly as qualified as i was
04:45that was when it finally hit me
04:47nothing had gone wrong
04:48that job was never meant for me
04:50sean had already reserved it all for the real mrs sterling
04:56i had already decided to leave
04:58i went to book the earliest flight out of port victoria for good
05:01finally it was my turn
05:03i slid my passport across the counter
05:05i just wanted to leave
05:07but after a few taps on the keyboard
05:10the agent frowned
05:11i'm sorry but there seems to be a problem with your immigration status
05:14why
05:15she turned the screen toward me
05:17our system shows that you've overstayed
05:20your most recent extension application was denied
05:23at the moment you no longer have valid immigration status in port victoria
05:28i had been living in port victoria for three years
05:31legally i had no status there at all
05:34not as a wife
05:35not as anyone
05:36i was just a stranger
05:38i stepped aside and immediately called the immigration consultant
05:44miss parker
05:45my extension was never approved
05:47now i can't even leave without running into legal trouble
05:49what exactly is going on
05:53mrs sterling let me ask you something
05:55when your husband filed on your behalf
05:57did he sponsor you as his spouse
05:59because the system shows that the approved spousal sponsor
06:02under your husband's file
06:04went to a woman named
06:05zoe wizamarkin
06:06he did file for you too but not as his spouse
06:08he filed you under a different category
06:11that category stopped accepting applications last year
06:14that's why your case has been stuck this whole time
06:18standing there on the sidewalk
06:20i suddenly wanted to laugh
06:21so that was the truth
06:23sean had already handed zoe the spousal sponsorship
06:26that should have been mine
06:27and me
06:28i had spent three years in the city
06:30only to find out i didn't even have legal status
06:33i was only one step away from leaving for good
06:36one step
06:37but there was still one final document he had to sign before my case could be cleared
06:41without it
06:42i still couldn't leave cleanly
06:45i went to his university to get his signature
06:48before i even reached his office
06:50i heard zoe's voice inside
06:51sean are you really giving me the arts foundation residency
06:55but i'm not qualified
06:56this should go to claire
06:58she actually trained for this
07:00i stopped cold outside the door
07:02the arts foundation residency
07:04the opportunity one had needed most
07:07and sean had never mentioned it to me
07:09then i heard him answer
07:10it's fine
07:11i already made the calls
07:13as for claire
07:14she has me
07:15she doesn't need it
07:17and even if you'd had the same chance
07:19you wouldn't have done any worse than claire
07:21i stood outside his office and almost laughed
07:23so everything i had sacrificed
07:25was just lucky in his eyes
07:27and the career i had once been proud of
07:29was something he thought anyone could replace
07:30then the door opened
07:32zoe saw me and smiled
07:34claire visitors aren't allowed on this floor
07:36why don't you wait downstairs
07:38move
07:41i barely touched her before she stumbled backward
07:47are you hurt
07:52i'm fine
07:53i just lost my balance
07:54it's not claire's fault
07:56zoe was just doing her job
07:58why would you shove her
07:59i didn't explain
08:00i held out the notice
08:02this is from immigration
08:04i need your signature
08:06claire
08:07when did you become this unareasonable
08:09sign it now
08:10or i go straight to the dean
08:11and ask why the spouse sponsored placement
08:13in your faculty relocation package
08:15ended up with your assistant
08:17that's enough
08:18don't forget who's been supporting you
08:19without me you wouldn't even be able to stay here legally
08:23when he begged me to come
08:24he had said
08:25i'll take care of you
08:26now it had become
08:28i've been supporting you
08:30sign it now
08:31and you might still have a little dignity left
08:36escort my wife out
08:37she's not feeling well
08:38a second later
08:39two guards grabbed me
08:40i hadn't even spoken
08:42before someone covered my mouth
08:43we'll talk tonight
08:44stop acting like a child
08:45talk tonight
08:46there was nothing left to say
08:48at nine that night
08:50sean came home
08:51he pushed open the half-closed front door
08:53the lights were on
08:54so he assumed i was inside
08:56enough already
08:57i told you from the beginning
08:59zoe needed that spot more than you did
09:01then he pushed the bedroom door open
09:03and froze
09:04the room was empty
09:05everything of mine was gone
09:09ten minutes later
09:10two police officers were standing in front of sean
09:13asking questions
09:14mr sterling
09:15are you sure this was a burglary
09:17yes
09:17my wife's things are all gone
09:20when i got back
09:21the door was unlocked
09:23someone must have come in
09:24one of the officers examined the lock
09:28the lock is brand new
09:29there are no signs of forced entry
09:32i changed the lock yesterday
09:33i just hadn't gotten around to adding her fingerprint yet
09:35you hadn't added her fingerprint
09:36then how was your wife supposed to get in
09:39sean opened his mouth
09:41but no words came out
09:42then he remembered
09:44over the past three years
09:45he had made claire wait again and again
09:48maybe she couldn't get in
09:49so she found someone
09:50to change the lock herself
09:53so your wife couldn't get into her own home
09:55and instead of calling you
09:56or waiting for you to come back
09:58she hired someone to replace the lock
10:01yes
10:05what is your wife's phone number
10:08it's been off the whole time
10:10when was the last time you saw her
10:12he thought about what he had done to claire that afternoon
10:14then he lied
10:19this afternoon
10:20she was still home this afternoon
10:22besides your wife's belongings
10:24was anything else valuable missing
10:25no
10:26just her
10:28mr sterling this probably wasn't a burglary
10:30it looks like your wife changed the lock
10:31packed her things and left on her own
10:33that's impossible
10:34she wouldn't leave
10:35the doors and windows were intact
10:37nothing valuable was missing
10:39everything in the house was still there
10:41except claire's things
10:42and even then
10:43he still insisted
10:44my wife loves me
10:46she gave up everything for me
10:48there's no way she would leave on her own
10:51before leaving
10:52the officer asked one last question
10:54mr sterling did you and your wife have an argument this afternoon
10:59no
11:00we didn't argue
11:01the police left
11:03before they went
11:04they told him to contact claire's family and friends
11:06standing alone in the empty house
11:08he suddenly realized something
11:10in the past three years
11:12claire had not made a single friend here
11:14because he had always told her
11:16you have me
11:18that's enough
11:22he pulled out his phone and called claire's mother
11:24mom has claire contacted you today
11:27no why what happened
11:28nothing
11:29she lost her phone
11:31after he hung up
11:32he went through his contacts again
11:33and realized he didn't have the number of any of claire's friends
11:37that was when he remembered
11:38over the past three years
11:40claire had brought up going back more than once
11:42and every single time
11:43he had said
11:44don't bother
11:45it's too much trouble
11:46so in the end
11:47she really never went back
11:49he used to think she was simply going along with him
11:52only now did he understand
11:54she had known all along
11:55that he never wanted to go back with her
11:59he called her number again and again
12:01every time
12:02all he heard was the same cold message
12:05her phone was off
12:07he walked back into the bedroom
12:09and stood in front of the empty side of the closet
12:11for him
12:12she had given up everything
12:13and not once had she ever said she regretted it
12:16so he had taken it for granted
12:18that she had done it willingly
12:22just then
12:22his phone rang
12:23it was the police
12:25mr sterling
12:26we reviewed the building's exterior surveillance footage
12:29at around five this afternoon
12:31your wife was seen leaving with a suitcase
12:33there were no signs that she was being forced
12:36leaning against the closet
12:37he looked at their wedding photo on the wall
12:39his face stricken
12:41he thought back to the promises they had made three years ago
12:44then he buried his face in his hands
12:46in it
12:46i was in white
12:47and he was in a suit
12:48we were both smiling at the camera
12:51three years ago
12:53i had asked him
12:55we'll always stay together right
12:57of course
12:58and i had believed him
13:00for three whole years
13:01i had believed him
13:02then his phone rang again
13:05it was a purchase alert
13:06the card he had given
13:07zoe had just been used in central
13:09a hundred and three thousand
13:11for a designer handbag
13:15while sean was still reeling
13:17from the fact that i was gone
13:18he received a purchase alert
13:20from his assistant
13:21it was over a hundred thousand
13:23suddenly
13:24he remembered
13:25two days ago
13:26zoe had said she wanted a new bag
13:28he had agreed without even thinking
13:30the money he gave me every month
13:32was only two thousand dollars
13:33that had to cover everything
13:35i had never asked him for anything more
13:38the only time i had ever asked him for anything
13:40was when i needed his signature on that immigration form
13:46sean shot to his feet and called miss parker
13:49has claire contacted you
13:51she came to me before
13:52she asked about her status
13:55recently
13:55she also asked me about her extension request
13:58she wanted to know what documents she needed to fix everything
14:01so she could leave without any legal complications
14:05mr sterling
14:06there is something else i think you should know
14:08when claire spoke to me
14:10she mentioned the marriage certificate
14:11i think she already knows what you did
14:14she knows
14:15yes that is why she never asked you again about filing for her as your spouse
14:20sean stood there
14:21frozen
14:21just then
14:22another message came in from zoe
14:24sean
14:25the bag needs a cute outfit to match too
14:27right after that
14:29another charge notification popped up
14:30this one was over twenty thousand
14:32he stared at the number
14:33his mind completely blank
14:34when had zoe started spending his money
14:37as if she had every right to it
14:38then he remembered
14:39it had started the moment
14:41the extra card that should have gone to me
14:42ended up in her hands
14:43for three years
14:45i had given up everything
14:46and all that time
14:47he had been busy giving all his care to his assistant
14:52sean soon found out that i had never left port victoria
14:55he immediately arranged a meeting with miss parker and asked urgently
14:58what is the fastest way to fix claire's status now
15:03mr sterling
15:04you have always known what the fastest way is
15:07a few years ago
15:08someone told me that during onboarding
15:10it was better to come in as single first
15:12then once everything was stable
15:15i could file the family paperwork later
15:17at the time
15:18i had no choice
15:21i only did it to keep the older people in the family calm
15:24weary that is nonsense
15:26who told you that
15:28my assistant
15:29she specifically asked around for me
15:32mr sterling
15:33i have worked in immigration for 15 years
15:36i have never heard of any rule like that
15:38when you joined the university
15:40you came in through an employment-based status route
15:42that permit has never required an applicant to be single
15:47he suddenly remembered what zoe had told him
15:49sean
15:52it is better not to list yourself as married during the hiring process
15:56the background check gets messy
15:58he had believed her
16:00he had always buried himself in research
16:02and handed all those details over to the assistant he trusted most
16:05immigration rules
16:06onboarding forms
16:07relocation paperwork
16:08he had barely read any of them himself
16:12later
16:12with red eyes
16:13zoe had told him she wanted legal status here
16:16he had thought about how she was a young woman
16:18far from home
16:19who had followed him all the way here
16:21all it would take was one marriage certificate
16:23so he agreed without thinking twice
16:26mr sterling
16:27that assistant was ms zimmerman wasn't it
16:30he said nothing
16:32just as he stood up in a daze
16:34his phone rang
16:37sean
16:37please come to the office of academic affairs as soon as possible
16:41there are some matters we need you to explain in person
16:46at three o'clock that afternoon
16:48sean was sitting in a conference room at the office of academic affairs
16:51i was not there
16:53i only learned the details later
16:55there had been two documents on the table in front of him
16:58the first was a copy of the certificate for the marriage he had registered in port victoria with zoe
17:02the second was a copy of the certificate for the marriage he had registered with me in another jurisdiction
17:08the director of academic affairs pushed the documents toward him
17:12professor sterling do you confirm that these materials are authentic
17:15sean said nothing
17:17under port victoria law bigamy is a criminal offense
17:21the university has already received a request for cooperation for immigration
17:25in addition
17:27you will need to explain the marital status declaration you submitted when you joined the university
17:32how was he supposed to explain it
17:34soon after the investigators arrived
17:37professor sterling
17:39are you saying you did not know that forging documents is illegal
17:46later when i heard those words repeated i almost laughed
17:49did he know
17:50maybe he didn't
17:51that was the cruelest part
17:53sean had never carefully planned to ruin me
17:56he just never thought about me enough
17:59zoe spent three years figuring out how to stay by his side
18:02i spent those same three years waiting for him to come home
18:05she fought for a place beside him
18:07i waited for him to remember i was there
18:09he never did
18:11sean was suspended from all teaching and research duties
18:14during the investigation
18:15his salary was stopped as well
18:18when he walked out of academic affairs
18:21zoe was already standing in the corridor waiting for him
18:23sean
18:25my work has been suspended too
18:27the residency program with the art foundation called
18:30they said my spot has been cancelled
18:32when i first heard that part
18:34i felt nothing
18:35no triumph
18:37no relief
18:38he looked at her
18:39for the first time
18:40he really looked
18:41the coat
18:42the bag
18:43the lipstick
18:45all of it had been paid for with my card
18:47and me
18:48i had never spent like that
18:50even buying something small for myself
18:53i used to hesitate
18:54then sean said
18:55give the card back
18:58sean
18:59that card
19:00was for claire
19:03not for you
19:06she pulled her handbag behind her back
19:08her eyes reddened even more
19:10sean i've been with you for three years
19:13you were with me for three years
19:14she waited for me for three years
19:17zoe bit her lip and said nothing
19:19back then
19:20you kept claire and me from registering our marriage properly
19:23this was what you wanted wasn't it
19:29sean
19:31i just wanted to stay
19:33after that
19:34the legal battle turned ugly
19:35zoe refused to dissolve the spousal relationship
19:38she hired a lawyer and demanded compensation
19:41sean gave her nothing
19:42during those three years in port victoria
19:44she had already gotten plenty
19:46a respectable job
19:47residency status
19:48and the card he had handed over without a second thought
19:51what had i gotten
19:53nothing
19:55in court
19:56the two of them tore at each other until there was almost nothing left
19:59zoe was ordered to repay what she owed
20:01her reputation was ruined and she left
20:05sean did not fare much better
20:06he came back to my hometown several times to look for me
20:09but the people all told him the same thing
20:12i had never gone back
20:13he kept traveling back and forth
20:16day after day passed
20:17then month after month
20:20by the time i heard the rest
20:21his life had already been stripped down to almost nothing
20:24no job
20:26no home
20:28no one
20:31a year later
20:32i was at the port victoria art fair
20:34claire
20:35i turned around
20:36i saw sean
20:37the moment i saw him
20:39the smile faded from my face
20:40there was no surprise
20:42no anger
20:43no grievance
20:44nothing at all
20:45it was just like the last time i had looked at him from the doorway of his office
20:49there were only a few steps left between us
20:52then a hand came across in front of him and stopped him
20:55sir
20:56what exactly do you want with my wife
21:00your wife
21:03she's my wife
21:05it's fine
21:06i'll handle it
21:08mr sterling
21:09do you need something
21:12claire
21:14i've been looking for you for a year
21:17as for the marriage certificate
21:19i can explain
21:20mr sterling
21:21it has been a year
21:22my husband and i are doing very well
21:26you made me wait for three years
21:28he has never made me wait even three days
21:31at the time i had no money
21:33no connections
21:34and no way to leave port victoria
21:35i worked part-time jobs
21:37trying to save enough to pay the penalty first
21:40and buy a ticket out
21:42adrian could stand in a gallery for half an hour
21:44just to ask me how i read a painting
21:45what you could never give me
21:47he gave back to me one by one
21:49legal status
21:50respect
21:50and the chance to become myself again
21:54sean stood there and said nothing
21:55i looked at him for a few seconds
21:58i have things to do
21:59i'll be going now
22:02i turned away
22:03adrian followed beside me
22:05his hand resting lightly at the small of my back
22:07behind me
22:08sean instinctively took a step forward
22:09adrian turned his head and looked at him
22:11he did not say a word
22:13the meaning in his eyes was obvious enough
22:15don't come any closer
22:16sean stopped
22:17i did not look back again
22:19by the time i disappeared into the crowd
22:21he was still standing there
22:23the exhibition hall was full of people moving back and forth
22:26and in front of him was the painting i had been standing before
22:29its title was
22:30leaving port
22:32you
22:32you
22:32you
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