- 17 hours ago
No One Is Irreplaceable Dramareel
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:02The first year of Ethan and my best friend Lily's business arrangement.
00:07Ethan threw himself off a third floor balcony, broke his leg, and still managed to swear to his parents.
00:13Claire is the only person I'll ever love.
00:17Lily held me while I cried all night, never leaving my side.
00:21Claire, don't worry. Once we're in charge, I'll give Ethan back to you. I'll keep an eye on him.
00:30I won't let him hurt you.
00:31Everyone said I was lucky. A boyfriend who loved me to the bone, and a best friend who felt like
00:36family.
00:37But five years later, I slid Lily's pregnancy report across the table to Ethan.
00:41Lily is my fiancé. Her being pregnant is perfectly normal.
00:48Don't play these games to get my attention again, understand?
00:51Five years of fighting. Five years of screaming.
00:57Ethan, you always told me to wait! I waited five years, and this is what I got?
01:03I'm done wasting my time on you. We're over!
01:07Saw the suitcase I'd already packed.
01:09Dropped onto the couch like he had all the time in the world.
01:13You packed pretty fast.
01:15But I bought everything in there.
01:17You sure it's yours to take?
01:20Claire, can you even survive without me?
01:22Just like every time before, over five years, I'd always back down.
01:27Lily spent the best years of my life on me.
01:29I can't betray her.
01:31Ethan gave Lily his warmth, his kisses, his body.
01:35The glaring photos of them in bed were like countless sharp knives, stabbing me raw and bloody.
01:40But before I could even say a word, he'd always come rushing back.
01:48Baby! Lily said she'd never experienced intimacy.
01:51I just wanted to give her something.
01:53Just once, I swear! That means nothing!
01:55I believed him, but what I received were increasingly explicit videos of their intimate moments.
02:01I couldn't take his betrayal.
02:02I screamed at him, hit him, fell apart.
02:05That even got him hospitalized.
02:07I'd said breakup countless times.
02:09His attitude changed from initial panic and helplessness to increasing indifference.
02:20I don't want any of your things.
02:22No one in this world can't live without someone else.
02:33Lily, why are you here?
02:39This place is a mess.
02:42She stumbled.
02:43Ethan grabbed her hand right in front of me, matching wedding bands.
02:50I'm so sorry.
02:52Today's my prenatal appointment.
02:54I'm sorry to interrupt.
02:55After today, I'll have him come see you, okay?
02:59She's rabid right now, biting everyone she can reach.
03:01Why are you explaining anything to her?
03:03I have no interest in seeing her.
03:05Let her stand there and wait.
03:11I picked up my things and went to the hospital.
03:14The moment I walked into the lobby,
03:16Ethan, who couldn't stand dirt or mess,
03:18was crouched on the floor, gently massaging Lily's calves.
03:22Focused, like he was holding something priceless.
03:24I wasn't trying to watch.
03:26I turned and headed toward my department.
03:28I didn't expect Lily to be waiting for me in the hallway.
03:30When she saw me,
03:31Claire, while I'm pregnant, can you please stop seeing Ethan?
03:34The baby still needs its father around.
03:36You love Ethan so much.
03:37You wouldn't want something to happen to his child, would you?
03:40She pulled out a thick envelope of cash,
03:42right there in the hallway.
03:43In front of everyone,
03:45she pushed it into my arms.
03:49Consider this your compensation.
03:51I heard someone call me a whore.
03:53Claire!
03:54Lily heard it too.
03:55I'm sorry, Claire.
03:56I didn't mean for it to come out like that.
04:01Just keep your distance from Ethan for now.
04:03The baby needs its father.
04:09Lily.
04:10You've been playing this for years.
04:12You got what you wanted.
04:14Are you happy now?
04:19Claire, I said the wrong thing.
04:21Please don't be angry.
04:25You hit a pregnant woman.
04:27What is wrong with you?
04:31Get on your knees and apologize to Lily.
04:34Or I promise you,
04:36I won't let this go.
04:38For the thousandth time,
04:40Ethan took her side,
04:41without asking a single question.
04:43Before, I would have fought back,
04:45demanded the truth,
04:46stayed until I'd proven I did nothing wrong.
04:49But now I just felt tired.
04:51Lily knew me well enough.
04:52Before I said a word,
04:54she tugged at Ethan's sleeve.
04:56Please don't talk to Claire like that.
04:59I tripped.
05:00It was my fault.
05:04You don't need to protect her.
05:06You both know what she's like.
05:08Claire, if you want to walk out of here,
05:10you better apologize to Lily.
05:11Right now!
05:14Check the footage.
05:15You'll see what happened.
05:25You think you can just walk away
05:27after hurting Lily?
05:29Ethan, stop it!
05:30I told you I fell!
05:33Let go of her, please!
05:35My scalp felt like it was tearing.
05:37I kept my expression tight.
05:40The man who used to panic
05:41over a paper cut on my hand
05:43was looking at me now like I was nothing.
05:45Stop being dramatic.
05:47You're not some delicate thing like Lily.
05:50You can handle a little pain.
05:53Please!
05:56No!
05:57No!
05:57No!
05:58No!
05:58No!
05:59No!
06:00Apologize!
06:01That face,
06:02familiar and unrecognizable at the same time,
06:04made my vision blur.
06:0618 years old.
06:08He was reckless back then,
06:09made enemies,
06:10got himself in trouble.
06:12I took a knife meant for him.
06:14No!
06:15He held me.
06:16His eyes red,
06:17sobbing so hard he couldn't breathe.
06:20He promised he'd never let anything hurt me again.
06:23Now every wound I had came from him.
06:25I closed my eyes,
06:27breathed.
06:28I won't apologize for something I didn't do.
06:30Ethan, that's enough!
06:31Lily choked out the words and reached for me.
06:33Ethan moved her behind him,
06:35then his palm came across my face.
06:37Lily went still.
06:38The crying stopped.
06:39She threw herself over me.
06:41Ethan didn't care.
06:42He pulled her into his arms,
06:44gently,
06:44like she was the one who'd been hit.
06:46His eyes passed over the red mark blooming on my face.
06:49I'm warning you for the last time.
06:51What happened between us,
06:52it's on both of us for what we did to Lily.
06:54You want to be angry?
06:55Take it out on me.
06:56But if you ever touch Lily again,
06:58you will pay for it a thousand times over!
06:59I dragged myself off the floor.
07:02You gave yourself to her.
07:04I made him back.
07:05What exactly do I owe her?
07:07I didn't wait for the rest.
07:09Lay down on the bed.
07:11Couldn't sleep.
07:14A text from Lily.
07:15I didn't reply.
07:20Hey.
07:22I'm at the airport.
07:23I'll be in the city soon.
07:24My old colleague from grad school had reached out.
07:27A strong research opportunity,
07:29he said.
07:30Did I want in?
07:31Once,
07:32I was the person people talked about.
07:34Shark.
07:35Ambitious.
07:36Going places.
07:37I gave all of that up for Ethan.
07:40Waited for the future he promised.
07:42But just as I was about to board...
07:52Miss Claire.
07:53I thought you had some sense.
07:56I didn't expect you was on Lily.
07:59You did something wrong.
08:01There are consequences.
08:02Lily stood just behind her.
08:04She didn't look surprised.
08:06She looked away.
08:08Her lips moved.
08:09Barely.
08:09She was saying.
08:11I'm sorry, Claire.
08:12You wouldn't let Ethan go.
08:13I had no other choice.
08:15Please don't hate me.
08:16The security men shoved me to the floor.
08:19Something went out of me all at once.
08:21I actually thought Lily was my best friend.
08:23I had no idea she'd do this.
08:25Again and again.
08:27Ethan's mother had a butler bring in a long leather whip.
08:30This is how this family handles problems.
08:33That it's being used on you...
08:36is almost an honor.
08:37I wrestled out from under the hands,
08:39pinning me down.
08:40Ethan and I are already broken up.
08:42Can't take responsibility.
08:43...for what you did,
08:44so you're making things up.
08:46You've gotten used to doing whatever you want.
08:49A little discipline,
08:50it's good for everyone.
08:54They dragged me into this twisted situation.
08:57Both of them.
08:57Ethan, I said we're done.
08:59Are you deaf?
09:01No matter what I said,
09:03they looked straight through me.
09:04Women like you,
09:05the second you get a taste of money,
09:07you never let go.
09:09Break up?
09:10Who do you think you're fooling?
09:12She gave the order.
09:14The first blow landed across my back.
09:17The pain turned my vision white.
09:19My whole body was cold sweat.
09:21My face twisted.
09:23Lily had gone pale.
09:25Something tore loose inside me.
09:27Iron filled my mouth.
09:29A mouth full of blood hit the floor.
09:32Lily threw herself in front of me,
09:33crying.
09:34Lily!
09:35What are you doing?
09:37Don't you dare take a hit for her.
09:38She's not worth it.
09:39When Ethan looked at me,
09:41there was something in his face
09:42I hadn't expected.
09:43Resentment.
09:44Ethan picked up the whip.
09:45He brought it down
09:46across my already ruined back.
09:48Why can't you just be still for once?
09:51Lily is pregnant.
09:52She can't take the stress.
09:53I thought once the pain was bad enough
09:55it would go numb.
09:56But when Ethan's hand came down
09:57on wounds that were already bleeding,
10:00I felt something deeper than my body break.
10:02His eyes were red.
10:04He raised the whip again.
10:05Claire, I swear I'm just...
10:06Lily clamped her hand over his mouth
10:08before he finished.
10:09He was going to say he regretted ever loving me.
10:12I let out a quiet, falling laugh.
10:14Ethan shoved me into a car.
10:16He was going to keep me locked up.
10:34I held the pain back.
10:36Stumbled to the floor-to-ceiling window.
10:42What, you going to pull the suicide card now?
10:44You're not a kid, Claire.
10:48Ethan, I regret ever loving you.
10:51If this is what it takes to cut you out of my life,
10:54then fine.
10:56You don't get to say that.
10:57Lily and I sacrificed so much for you.
10:59You don't get to give up.
11:01It's my life.
11:03I get to decide.
11:06I jumped.
11:08The last thing I saw
11:09was the panic on Ethan's face.
11:11Claire, don't!
11:35Ethan, are you out of your mind?
11:38Get back from there!
11:47What happened?
11:50You said you were going to keep her here.
11:53Where's Claire?
11:55Ethan turned his head.
11:57Claire's gone.
12:07You're joking, right?
12:08Claire is tough.
12:10She wouldn't actually do it.
12:13Ethan, you're trying to scare me, aren't you?
12:17You're trying to scare me, aren't you?
12:19We both did this.
12:22We drove her to it.
12:28No.
12:30No, that's not true.
12:32Claire was her best friend.
12:35How could she have driven Claire to this?
12:45We've both been played.
12:47Ethan, think about it.
12:49Claire can swim.
12:51Don't you remember?
12:53She's doing this to force us apart.
13:00Call people.
13:02We have to find her.
13:04We can't let her win.
13:11You're right.
13:13Claire's petty.
13:14We just have to find her.
13:16Ethan put out the word
13:17and sent people into the water.
13:19But both of them were forcing themselves
13:21not to think about what my body
13:23had already been through.
13:25They didn't want to be the ones who killed me.
13:28They couldn't live with it hanging over them.
13:30So they told themselves I was alive
13:32and kept searching.
13:34Every day for a month.
13:36The longer it went,
13:37the less hope there was.
13:42My face floated up in his mind.
13:45Maybe she was never coming back.
13:47That thought spread through him
13:49like something infectious.
13:51All those years,
13:52he'd kept himself between two women.
13:54Ethan.
14:02I'm still carrying your child.
14:05Can you please control yourself?
14:08Ethan's gaze dropped to her stomach.
14:12The small, visible curve.
14:15Lily,
14:16after the baby comes,
14:17I don't want to see you again.
14:19I'll give you whatever you need,
14:20but don't come back.
14:24Because if Claire comes home and sees you,
14:26she won't like it.
14:28Lily's face drained white.
14:31She'd spent the past weeks
14:32accepting that Claire wasn't coming back.
14:34She'd already started making arrangements.
14:37Why?
14:37We worked so hard to get here.
14:39The baby needs both of us.
14:42Do you remember what you are?
14:44You were her best friend.
14:45I was her boyfriend.
14:46What exactly do you think
14:47I'm going to build with you?
14:54Don't say another word.
14:56After the baby,
14:57I'm dissolving the engagement.
14:58Both families will be told.
15:01My wife's name was always going to be Claire's.
15:03I failed her.
15:09When she comes back,
15:11I'll spend whatever time I have
15:12making it up to her.
15:14Lily pressed her lips together
15:15and said nothing.
15:17But she made calls in the dark.
15:19quietly worked to pull back
15:21the people Ethan had sent to find me.
15:23Claire, I'm sorry.
15:25But you're gone.
15:26I still have to think about my own future.
15:28I hope you can forgive me.
15:30Would you stop eating my food?
15:41Okay, okay.
15:42I'm done.
15:43Happy?
15:46You can't eat heavy food right now.
15:48It's bad for your recovery.
15:50Do you want to end up back in the hospital?
15:53I met his glare and looked down,
15:55appropriately chastened.
15:56Fine.
15:57I get it.
15:58You don't have to lecture me.
16:01He finally let it go and left the room.
16:03I stretched out on the bed and stared out the window.
16:07Three years ago, when I jumped from that beach house,
16:10I'd already pressed the emergency locator on my watch.
16:14Something he and I had built together back in grad school.
16:17It let him know where I was at any time.
16:21After I hit the water, he tracked the signal and pulled me out.
16:31But my body had taken a serious amount of damage.
16:35I spent a year in the hospital before they let me go.
16:38To cheer me up, he made a habit of finding out what Ethan and Lily were up to and reporting
16:43back.
16:46Ethan kept searching for me.
16:48Lily's people kept quietly blocking the search.
16:51Ethan found out.
16:52They had a bad fight.
16:54During the struggle, Lily's stomach hit the corner of a table.
16:57Seven months along,
16:59the baby didn't make it.
17:01Lily lost any chance of having children.
17:16After that,
17:17Ethan cut the engagement completely.
17:19Made it official with both families.
17:25His mother nearly had a breakdown.
17:27Two people who'd been hiding their love from me for years.
17:30Sneaking around behind my back.
17:34After I was gone,
17:35they fell apart on their own.
17:37Ha!
17:38Two people who betrayed everything they were given.
17:50Keep it down.
17:51The professor is still asleep.
17:53Honestly,
17:53when I heard all of it,
17:55I felt nothing.
17:57What they liked was the thrill of it.
17:59The secrecy.
18:00The fact that I was right there and didn't know.
18:02Once I was gone,
18:04there was nothing left to burn.
18:08Eventually,
18:09my body healed enough.
18:10Once I had something to focus on,
18:12the past started to feel like it happened to someone else.
18:15The university had a large formal event.
18:18Our professor didn't want to go
18:20and shoved us out of the lab to attend in his place.
18:23He sends us out because he doesn't want to be here
18:26and doesn't even make sure we get fed properly.
18:29Unbelievable.
18:35There's a full spread right in front of you
18:37and you're still complaining?
18:39I'm looking out for you.
18:40You can't survive on this kind of food.
18:42I was actually holding one out toward my mouth
18:44when Ethan appeared out of nowhere.
18:49Let go!
18:54Is he your new boyfriend?
18:55Is that why you left me?
18:59Was it always him?
19:01I frowned.
19:03Don't put words in my mouth.
19:05Let go of me.
19:06Now!
19:06He still didn't hear it.
19:08Or he didn't care.
19:09He pulled me in closer.
19:10I've been looking for you for so long.
19:12Claire, I'm not letting you go anywhere.
19:14Not again.
19:15Before I could say anything,
19:17Ethan made a sharp sound and went down.
19:18Don't touch her with your filthy hands.
19:20You don't deserve to.
19:23Who do you think you are?
19:25Claire is my girlfriend.
19:26This has nothing to do with you.
19:28People around us had started to look.
19:30I wasn't interested in making a scene.
19:32I picked up a glass of wine
19:33and threw it in Ethan's face.
19:35If you haven't lost your mind completely,
19:37you'll remember we broke up a long time ago.
19:39Ethan stared at our hands.
19:41Because of him?
19:43What is he to you?
19:45I said it clearly,
19:47one word at a time.
19:49None of your business.
19:50You don't have the right to ask me anything.
19:53Ethan?
19:54Something collapsed behind his eyes.
19:56I walked out of the event with my colleague
19:58and found a pharmacy nearby.
20:02I carefully cleaned the red mark on his hand.
20:04He grinned like an idiot.
20:07What are you smiling at?
20:08We're going to hear about this from the professor.
20:10He shrugged it off,
20:12ran his thumb lightly across the back of my hand.
20:14I never liked that guy,
20:16but you were set on him,
20:18so there was nothing I could do.
20:20Now I finally got to do something about it.
20:23I'm glad, Claire.
20:24His eyes were bright.
20:25Only one thing in them.
20:27Me.
20:28My throat went tight.
20:29Idiot.
20:30I let all of that go a long time ago.
20:32He tightened his hand around mine.
20:34He held my gaze.
20:34But I didn't.
20:35His ears went red.
20:37He didn't look away.
20:38Quiet, but certain.
20:39I didn't let it go.
20:40Something in me that had been still for a long time
20:43started to move.
20:44Just as he was slowly leaning in,
20:46a voice came from behind us.
20:47Claire, can we talk?
20:49She was standing under a streetlight.
20:51I didn't want to say yes,
20:53but something in her eyes stopped me.
20:55I nodded.
20:57Inside the coffee shop,
20:58she wrapped both hands around her cup
21:00and didn't speak for a long time.
21:02I thought the three of us
21:03would be in each other's lives forever.
21:05When I first found out what they'd done,
21:07I was hurt,
21:08but a bigger part of me
21:10wanted to step aside for them.
21:11It was Lily who couldn't stand
21:13being seen as the one who betrayed her,
21:15so she kept promising me it meant nothing,
21:17that she just wanted to know
21:18what a normal relationship felt like.
21:21And she kept sending me those videos anyway,
21:24over and over,
21:25pushing at me,
21:27testing me.
21:28She wore away every good thing
21:30I'd kept for her.
21:31If you don't have anything to say,
21:32I'm leaving.
21:34Lily grabbed my hand in a panic.
21:35Under my flat stare,
21:36her grip loosened.
21:38She let go.
21:40Claire,
21:42I'm sorry,
21:42I just needed to say it once,
21:44I'm sorry.
21:45Her eyes moved to my face.
21:46Are you feeling better?
21:48Are you okay?
21:49I nodded once
21:50and turned to go.
21:51Her voice followed me.
21:53Is that man your boyfriend now?
21:55Does he love you?
21:57Not yet.
21:58But he loves me.
21:59I'm glad, Claire.
22:00I really am.
22:02You deserve to be happy.
22:04She said it like we were still close,
22:06like nothing had happened.
22:07We both knew better.
22:09The day we were heading back to the city,
22:11Ethan showed up somehow.
22:13Claire, are you leaving again?
22:15Ethan,
22:16I gave everything I had to that relationship.
22:18I never did anything to deserve what you did to me.
22:22So why did you keep hurting me?
22:24He opened his mouth.
22:25Lily and I are done.
22:26We have been for a long time.
22:28Claire, I just want to make it right.
22:29Let me make it right.
22:31Come back.
22:32He dug through his bag,
22:33the one he'd thrown in the trash.
22:35I kept it.
22:37Claire, can we start over?
22:38I picked it up and dropped it into the drain at my feet.
22:42Every time I look at you,
22:43all I see is everything that hurt me.
22:45If you have even a little bit of conscience left,
22:47stay out of my life.
22:49I walked away and walked forward.
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