- 5 hours ago
- #divorce
Cutting ties with a toxic past to build a future worth living. #Divorce
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Short filmTranscript
00:02after a year of not seeing my husband due to our long distance marriage i stumble upon his
00:07sister-in-law's instagram my dear niece in the photo my husband ethan holds a baby in one arm
00:12and wraps the other around a woman i do not know i quietly notes down the address and close the
00:17post on the weekend i go to the address the place is lively a pretty woman stands at the entrance
00:23holding a one-year-old girl as she greets guests she smiles and says to me you're ethan's colleague
00:29right come in i glance at the little girl in her arms i keep my face blank and ask where
00:35is ethan i
00:35do not see him anywhere but i do see a few familiar faces from ethan's family ethan went to pick
00:40up his
00:40parents he'll be back soon two days ago my in-laws told me they signed up for a two-week
00:46tour i wanted
00:47to treat them so i covered part of their trip and sent them a thousand dollars as a gift she
00:52leads
00:53me into the banquet hall as soon as i get closer a middle-aged man says to hannah with envy
00:58i really
00:59envy ethan not only is his wife beautiful but his daughter is even more beautiful
01:04several people chime in one after another hannah when you left your career to return to the family
01:10we worried about you now it looks like you made the right choice more than six years have passed
01:15and you and ethan are still so happy now you even have a daughter i'm really happy for you
01:20my hand curls into a fist my nails digging into my palm our marriage has lasted just seven years
01:27and he has been cheating with hannah for more than six of those years what is even more ridiculous is
01:32that in these long seven years i knew nothing even this morning he sent me a good morning text like
01:38always honey i miss you for these seven years his salary goes into our joint account he only keeps a
01:45small allowance the rest goes to household expenses and savings every year he buys me a piece of tiffany
01:51jewelry with his year-end bonus i have collected quite a few of those little blue boxes at home
01:57a year ago he discussed it with me the company wanted to transfer him to the boston branch with a
02:03five thousand dollar monthly raise he said it was for our son's future he wanted to earn more
02:09to save for our son after thinking it through i agreed to let him go to boston
02:19one of ethan's colleagues lifts his glass and sighs
02:23ethan is unreal three years in a row top sales in the entire region he works so hard and treats
02:30his wife
02:30so well that kind of man is rare hannah's face glows with a bright smile time flies i attended your
02:38wedding six years ago and now you already have a child so they even had a grand wedding
02:46when i married ethan we only went back to his hometown and held a small party only his parents
02:52and a few relatives were there he did not invite any friends or colleagues i stand in the crowd
02:58quietly listening to the secrets of my husband i never knew a woman loops her arm through hannah's and
03:05asks eagerly hannah how do you do it ethan practically loves you teach me your secret
03:11her smile is full of happiness it's just that ethan is a great man i'm lucky to have met him
03:18a friend beside her shakes the bracelet on her wrist it is a new tiffany piece let me tell you
03:26how
03:26good ethan is to her every year he buys hannah one as a gift hannah laughs and lightly taps her
03:34don't say everything out loud her friend shrugs what's there to hide your husband's heart is
03:43completely with you they chat enthusiastically not noticing at all that i stand there like an outsider
03:50hannah's phone rings ethan is calling me hold her for a moment as she speaks she casually places the
03:58baby in my arms the soft little girl lies quietly in my arms not crying not fussing hannah stands right
04:05beside me ethan's voice comes clearly through the phone baby don't tire yourself out i picked up my
04:11parents there's some traffic don't worry hannah answers gently i'm not tired take your time driving
04:17don't rush as soon as she hangs up a wave of envy rises around us you two are so in
04:23love at the
04:24office he texts you every hour hannah you really found a good man even if every man in the world
04:32cheats ethan never would i used to think ethan cared deeply about me he calls me once a day
04:38and sends me a message even though the calls are short usually under a minute i have never doubted him
04:47i never thought he was sharing every detail of his life with another woman
04:54i hold the baby and find an empty seat by accident i notice a custom cross necklace around her neck
05:05seven years ago right after i found out i was pregnant with twins a boy and a girl
05:11my mom had a pair of necklaces specially made she even took them to church and asked a priest to
05:18bless
05:18but fate had other plans something went wrong during delivery only my son survived
05:28the one meant for my daughter i have kept carefully in the safe at home every time i think of
05:34the child
05:35who never got to be born i hold that necklace and cry until i can't breathe
05:42my hands bowl as i touch this necklace and gently turn it over
05:48a name is clearly engraved on the back
05:52joy shaw
05:55hannah walks over with a smile and sits beside me
05:58my daughter's name is joy shaw ethan picked it this necklace was also custom made by ethan
06:04you have no idea how much he loves his daughter
06:07he treats you really well you must be pretty new at the company right
06:12i know all the old employees
06:14some left later ethan said there are quite a few new hires now
06:19yeah
06:22the company benefits are good but there's always business trips ethan only stopped traveling this
06:28past year before that he was always on the road sometimes we wouldn't see each other for a whole
06:32month good thing we got through it yeah hannah makes no move to take the baby back
06:40from time to time she gets up to greet new guests
06:44my daughter really likes you when my friends hold her she cries right away
06:50but you've been holding her for so long and she hasn't cried at all
06:54that's amazing
06:57i reply lightly
06:59maybe it's because i have a child too i'm used to it
07:02and she leaned
07:04then i'll trouble you to hold her longer i need to greet her over some new guests
07:08she walks off without worry
07:11i look at the large banner hanging in the middle of the hall
07:14happy first birthday joy
07:17daddy and mommy love you
07:19my son never had a birthday party
07:21now he can throw a joyful birthday party
07:24only i still remember the daughter who never got to be born
07:29suddenly my mother-in-law calls me
07:33claire i sent you a text did you see it
07:36no
07:37are you at the grocery store it's so loud on your end
07:40check the text i sent you
07:43i can barely hear you
07:45just text me back
07:46i open my phone and see to see the message
07:48she sent 20 minutes ago
07:51claire
07:52one of ethan's cousins just had a baby
07:54i need to send a gift
07:57can you trance me 500
07:59you know how it is
08:00it's family
08:01my fingers tighten around the phone
08:04turning pale as anger surges through me
08:07i do not reply
08:09another message comes in
08:11did you transfer it claire
08:12it's urgent
08:13i still do not respond
08:15soon
08:16another message pops up
08:20she starts blaming me
08:22i always thought you were sensible
08:24i didn't expect you to be this kind of person
08:27fine
08:28forget it i'll figure it out myself
08:31when hannah comes back
08:33she is on the phone
08:34i clearly hear ethan's voice through the receiver
08:38baby
08:39my mom got another piece of jewelry for our little girl
08:42you don't need to buy more
08:44our baby already has plenty
08:47ethan adds
08:48this one is different
08:49it was blessed by a priest at church
08:53two days ago
08:54my son left for summer camp
08:56before he left
08:58my mother-in-law told him to take off his necklace
09:01so he would not lose it
09:03after he took it off
09:04he casually handed it to her for safekeeping
09:07i never thought she would use my son's necklace
09:10as a gift for ethan's illegitimate daughter
09:13hannah smiles sweetly
09:15then thank mom for me
09:16she's so thoughtful
09:18my mother-in-law's voice comes through the phone
09:21what's there to thank
09:22this is what i should do as a grandmother
09:25you gave me such a precious granddaughter
09:28i should be thanking you
09:30we'll be there soon
09:32as soon as the call ends
09:34hannah reaches out to take the baby
09:35but then she notices new guests arriving not far away
09:40she turns to greet them again
09:41i keep holding their illegitimate daughter
09:46your birthday party will be unforgettable for everyone
09:50finally i hear ethan's family arriving late
09:53their voices carrying through the crowd
09:55holding his illegitimate daughter
09:57i walk up to the stage
09:58just as he asks hannah
10:00baby where's our girl
10:04dear
10:04your bastard child is in my arms
10:07all eyes turn to me on the stage
10:11then chaos erupts
10:12hannah runs to me
10:14holding back her emotions
10:16and speaks gently
10:17i don't even know how to address you
10:19i thought you were ethan's colleague
10:23ma'am
10:24do you have some conflict with ethan
10:27we can talk this through
10:28can you give me the baby first
10:30i do not give the baby back
10:32instead i tell her
10:34i
10:36am his wife of seven years
10:37we have a six-year-old son
10:40tell me
10:41do we have a conflict
10:43hannah's face turns pale
10:45she staggers back a step
10:47shock fills her eyes
10:48and tears stream down her face
10:51how is that possible
10:52darling tell me
10:54how many years have we been married
10:57all eyes burn toward him
10:59voices rise from the crowd
11:01i always thought ethan was on his second marriage
11:04turns out he never divorced
11:06so who is his real wife
11:07why are there suddenly two wives
11:10no wonder the woman on stage was so quiet earlier
11:13i knew something was off
11:14i look at my in-laws
11:16just as humiliated
11:17and say on purpose
11:19dad mom
11:20tell them
11:21who is your daughter-in-law
11:23my in-laws lower their heads
11:25and say nothing
11:25ethan looks like a knife is pressed to his throat
11:28as he slowly walks onto the stage
11:31hannah grabs his arm
11:33crying
11:34say something
11:36what is going on
11:41which one of us is the other woman
11:44don't get worked up
11:45i'll explain everything to you slowly
11:49hannah refuses to back down
11:52no
11:54i want you to say it now
11:56she showed up at our baby's birthday party
11:58and made a scene
11:59this has to be made clear
12:00in front of everyone
12:02whether i'm the other woman
12:03or she is
12:05we were both deceived
12:06we're both victims
12:08i recognize that ring
12:10when i married ethan
12:12i fell in love with that exact design
12:14at first sight
12:15but it was too expensive
12:17so i chose a simpler one
12:19back then
12:20ethan's eyes turned red with guilt
12:22as he promised me
12:24that one day
12:25when he could afford it
12:26he would buy me that ring
12:28now he can afford it
12:30but the ring is on another woman's hand
12:32ethan looks at me
12:33his eyes are filled
12:35with tangled emotions
12:37shame weighing on him
12:38his lips move with difficulty
12:41i'm sorry
12:42please stop making a scene
12:43can we talk
12:44at home
12:45dear
12:46what did you say
12:48go home
12:49which home
12:52do you mean the home we share
12:54or the one you share with hannah
12:56he looks even more ashamed
12:58unable to face me
13:00he steps forward
13:01and reaches for my microphone
13:03i'm begging you
13:04stop this
13:06i take a step back
13:07and pull my arm away
13:09i do not let him take the microphone
13:12answer me
13:13who is your wife
13:15what are you doing here today
13:18hannah rushes forward
13:20grabbing his arm
13:21her voice shaking
13:22say it
13:23ethan is forced into a corner
13:26he has no choice
13:27but to answer
13:30you are my wife
13:32i'm sorry
13:33i shouldn't have cheated
13:35the crowd explodes
13:40hannah breaks down
13:42crying as she hits him
13:43over and over
13:44then what am i
13:47how could you do this to me
13:49ethan
13:53she suddenly remembers something
13:54and clutches his arm tightly
13:56no
13:56no that's not right
13:58we have a marriage certificate
14:00i'm your legal wife
14:03the certificate is fake
14:08hannah's legs give out
14:09she collapses to the floor
14:11her sobs tearing through the room
14:14fake
14:15she cries out
14:16her voice breaking
14:19you gave me a ring
14:21you gave me a wedding
14:25you stood in a church
14:27and made vows in front of everyone
14:31now we even have a child
14:33and you're telling me
14:34it was all fake
14:36ethan
14:37how could you do this to me
14:41he treats you better than he treats me
14:43he buys you real tiffany every year
14:46the ones he gives me are fake
14:51he told me he was transferred to boston for work
14:55that was a lie too
14:57he's been living with you openly as your husband
15:02i lift the necklace from her daughter's neck
15:06do you know where this necklace came from
15:09seven years ago
15:11i was pregnant with twins for ethan
15:15my mom specially had a pair of necklaces made
15:19she even had the names engraved on the back
15:22and took them to church for a priest blessing
15:25and the name your daughter has now
15:27was the name i chose for my unborn daughter
15:31i never thought
15:32he would give my daughter's things to your daughter
15:36i turned to my in-laws
15:38standing in the middle of the crowd
15:40my dear mother-in-law even planned to give the necklace my son is wearing now
15:45to this illegitimate child
15:48seven years of marriage
15:51how have i treated you
15:55you always said we're family
15:58is this what you call love
16:01in these seven years you charles in and out hospital
16:05i was the one taking care of you
16:09even your night crew update and wadding mom
16:11i soshed him by hand for seven years
16:14since i married ethan
16:15you have not cooked a single meal
16:19two days ago you said you were going on a trip
16:22i even gave you a thousand dollars
16:25i treated you like my own parents
16:28and you
16:29how did you treat me
16:31how did you treat your only grandson
16:33my mother-in-law is called out in front of everyone
16:39she is so ashamed
16:41she cannot even lift her head
16:42the whispers from the crowd
16:44strips away every last bit of their dignity
16:48unbelievable
16:49ethan cheats
16:50and his parents were in on it the whole time
16:53apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it
16:56that poor woman gave seven years to this family
17:01what a waste
17:03ethan walks toward me again
17:04he pulls me into a tight embrace
17:07claire i'm sorry
17:09i'm a piece of shit
17:10his voice breaks
17:12thick with tears
17:14i'll never do it again
17:16forgive me
17:17just this once
17:20please
17:20held in his arms
17:22i start crying
17:24hannah watches him hold me and apologize
17:26she cries
17:28then lets out a bitter laugh too
17:33she gets up from the floor
17:35grabs ethan's arm
17:37pulls us apart
17:38what about me
17:40how are you going to answer to me
17:42you bastard
17:44she almost falls again
17:46her whole body trembles
17:47she sways
17:49her makeup ruined by tears
17:51i'm sorry
17:52i lied to you
17:53and i wasted your time
17:54you'll meet someone better
17:56not someone like me
18:01hannah bursts into hysterical laughter
18:04trash
18:06ethan does not spare her another glance
18:09honey
18:11can we go home
18:14what about her
18:15what are you going to do
18:16i know you've always wanted a daughter
18:19if you're willing to raise her
18:20we can keep her with us
18:23hannah stumbles toward me
18:24and drops to her knees
18:29claire
18:31claire i'm begging you
18:33give me my child
18:37i won't fight you for ethan
18:38i'll give him back to you
18:42she cries so hard
18:44she can barely breathe
18:48my child can't go with you
18:50i didn't mean to be the other woman
18:52i truly didn't know he had a family
18:55please give my baby back to me
19:00i reach out and take off the necklace from the baby's neck
19:03don't worry
19:05i won't hurt her
19:07if i wanted to
19:09i wouldn't have waited until now
19:11as i speak
19:12i remove the necklace
19:13the baby whimmers
19:15probably hungry
19:16hannah pleads
19:18she's hungry
19:19please let me feed her
19:21can i have her back
19:22i need you to answer a few questions
19:24don't worry i won't take your child
19:27i have my own
19:28she nods
19:29it seems she will answer anything she knows
19:32since you've been together
19:35how much money has ethan give you
19:36the wedding cost about fifty thousand dollars
19:40after we got married he gave me ten thousand a month
19:43and every year he buys me jewelry
19:46in these six years it's about eight hundred thousand dollars
19:51after i married him i stopped working
19:55i really didn't know he was already married
19:58i really didn't know he was already married
20:03i know you'll sue to get back every dollar he spent on me
20:11so i won't lie to you
20:14i calm down a little and ask her
20:16if i ask you to return the money
20:18will you
20:19she nods without hesitation
20:22yes
20:23i'll write you a check
20:24right now
20:31hannah takes out her checkbook without a second thought
20:34she lowers her head
20:36writes quickly
20:37i've returned the money
20:39i'm giving the man back to you too
20:42i only want my child
20:45can you give her back to me
20:54this is your child
20:55no one can take her from you
21:01i'll take the money
21:02i don't want the man
21:04as soon as i finish speaking
21:06i walk out without looking back
21:09ethan does not hesitate
21:10he immediately runs after me
21:16we return to the home we have lived in for seven years
21:19ethan comes closer
21:20reaching out to hold me
21:22apologizing sincerely
21:23there won't be a next time
21:26just this once
21:28i shove his arm away
21:30don't touch me
21:31ethan does not dare to come for closer
21:33he keeps begging for forgiveness
21:35honey
21:37i'm sorry
21:39i really lost my head
21:40for a moment
21:43i promise
21:44i'll cut her off
21:45from now on
21:46our family
21:47will live a good life together
21:48okay
21:49my in-laws come back
21:51my mother-in-law speaks
21:52with a trace of guilt
21:53her tone heavy
21:54claire
21:55i know
21:56this has hurt you deeply
21:58but there's nothing i can do
22:00that child out there
22:02is still ethan's
22:04i hope
22:05you don't dwell on this
22:07just live your life
22:09as usual
22:10my father-in-law adds
22:12this is already blown up today
22:14let's not bring it up again
22:16just
22:19live your life
22:21properly
22:22this marriage
22:24is over
22:26ethan
22:27you disgust me
22:31my eyes were reddens
22:33despite myself
22:34he looks at me
22:35helplessly
22:37then tell me
22:39what will it take
22:40for you to forgive me
22:42as long as i can do it
22:43i'll do anything for you
22:46hatred surges up
22:48from deep inside me
22:49the words spill out
22:51then
22:52go die
22:58i go back to the bedroom
23:00and lock the door
23:02still in my shoes
23:03i step onto the bed
23:08i take the photo down
23:10and stab ethan's face
23:11over and over with scissors
23:15the deeper i once loved
23:17the deeper i now hate
23:19it tears my heart apart
23:23outside the door
23:24ethan keeps trying to coax me
23:26where
23:29please
23:30open
23:37after i calm down
23:40i start packing my personal belongings
23:44i send a message to my lawyer
23:46that i want a divorce
23:47the
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