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Short filmTranscript
00:00My daughter died. She died in a mall hostage crisis.
00:03My husband was the SWAT sniper on the rooftop across the street.
00:06He chose to save his ex-girlfriend's daughter first.
00:08By the time he went for mine, it was too late.
00:10Right before she died, my daughter asked me,
00:13Mommy, isn't Daddy the best sniper in the world?
00:17Why couldn't he see me?
00:18I couldn't answer. At the funeral, I called Jason.
00:21He picked up and said,
00:22Emma, can you not do this right now?
00:24Emily and her daughter just went through something terrible.
00:26They're traumatized. This isn't the time to be jealous.
00:28Then he hung up.
00:29I sat in my wheelchair, staring at Mia's name on the headstone.
00:32Then looked down at my empty left pant leg.
00:34My leg was gone, crushed when the mall collapsed.
00:36I knew right then, this marriage was over.
00:38That Saturday, I took Mia to the new mall downtown.
00:41She wanted a doll, said it was for her birthday.
00:43Her birthday was still three months away, but she said,
00:46Better early than sorry.
00:47She was six. She already talked like a little adult.
00:50When the gunshots started, we were on the third floor,
00:53in the toy store, picking out a doll.
00:55Not one, a lot of them, coming from the first floor,
00:57mixed with screams and the sound of glass breaking.
01:00My first instinct wasn't to run.
01:02I am a forensic pathologist.
01:04I've seen too many shooting victims.
01:05I know running is the most dangerous thing you can do.
01:08I grabbed Mia's wrist, pulled her behind a shelf,
01:10and crouched down.
01:11Don't make a sound.
01:12My voice was low, steady.
01:14Mia's eyes went wide.
01:15She didn't cry.
01:16She just hugged the doll to her chest and pressed her body against mine.
01:19I pulled out my phone and texted Jason.
01:20Downtown mall.
01:21Shooter.
01:22Mia and I are on the third floor in the toy store.
01:24Then another one.
01:25Where are you?
01:25He replied in under a minute.
01:27I'm on scene.
01:28Rooftop across the street.
01:29Don't move.
01:30Wait for me.
01:30I looked out the third floor window and saw it.
01:32The sniper position markers on the rooftop across the street.
01:35I felt this wave of relief.
01:36That we're safe now.
01:37Feeling.
01:38What I didn't know was that his scope was aimed right at the toy store entrance.
01:41But he wasn't looking at me.
01:42He was looking at Emily.
01:43There were three shooters.
01:44They stormed in from the first floor,
01:45shot the security guard,
01:47and took control of them all.
01:48Dozens of hostages.
01:49Most on the first floor.
01:51Some on the second and third.
01:52SWAT showed up.
01:53Negotiators showed up.
01:54Jason was on the rooftop across the street.
01:56Best sight line in the area.
01:57His orders.
01:58If the shooters started executing people,
02:00take the shot.
02:00The shooters were on the third floor.
02:02The third floor had the toy store.
02:04And inside that toy store,
02:05there was a woman on the ground,
02:07holding a child.
02:07That woman was Emily.
02:09That child was Lily.
02:10Jason recognized them through his scope.
02:11Emily was his ex.
02:13They went to the academy together,
02:14dated for three years.
02:15She had to leave after an injury,
02:17switched to admin.
02:18They broke up because her family didn't approve.
02:20Jason was an orphan.
02:21No connections.
02:22No future.
02:23Emily married someone else.
02:24Had Lily.
02:25Got divorced.
02:26When she moved back to the city,
02:27Jason was already married to me.
02:29But he never let her go.
02:30Not in a cheating way.
02:31It was worse than that.
02:32He felt sorry for her.
02:33Single mom.
02:34Bad health.
02:35Low salary.
02:35No family to help.
02:36So he helped fix her pipes.
02:38Paid her medical bills.
02:39Picked Lily up from preschool.
02:40Every time I said,
02:41Can you spend more time with Mia?
02:43Mia has you.
02:45Emily has nobody.
02:46I thought he cared about me.
02:47Later I realized,
02:48he didn't help Emily out of kindness.
02:49He helped her because he was still in love with her.
02:51He'd never stopped.
02:52The shooters started clearing the floors.
02:54They split the first floor hostages into two groups.
02:56One group knelt by the entrance as human shields.
02:59The other got moved to the second floor.
03:00Women and children got pulled aside
03:02and sent up to the third.
03:03I heard footsteps getting closer.
03:04Someone was counting heads on the third floor.
03:06People were being dragged out of stores
03:08and pushed into the hallway.
03:09Toy store.
03:10Out.
03:11A shooter walked into the toy store.
03:12He saw Emily and Lily
03:13and pointed his gun at the door.
03:15Emily stood up,
03:16holding Lily and walked out.
03:17Her legs were shaking.
03:19She moved slow.
03:20The shooter stepped further in.
03:21He saw me and Mia.
03:22You.
03:23Out.
03:23I stood up.
03:24My legs were numb from crouching.
03:25My knees buckled for a second,
03:27but I caught myself.
03:28I picked Mia up.
03:28She wrapped her arms around my neck
03:30and buried her face in my shoulder.
03:31We followed Emily and Lily into the hallway.
03:33There were already a dozen or so people out there.
03:35All women and children.
03:36I found a corner.
03:37Crouched down
03:37and put Mia on the floor in front of me.
03:39I used my body to shield her.
03:41Emily was right next to us.
03:42She crouched down too,
03:43setting Lily beside her.
03:44Lily was crying.
03:45Small, quiet sobs,
03:46like a kitten.
03:47Emily put her hand over Lily's mouth.
03:49Tears rolled down her own face.
03:50Emily turned and saw me.
03:51Her eyes went wide.
03:52Emma?
03:53I didn't say anything.
03:54You're here too?
03:55Mia's here?
03:55I still didn't say anything.
03:57The lead shooter started calling names.
03:58He had a list.
03:59He read them one by one.
04:00The people whose names got called
04:01stepped forward
04:02and stood against the wall.
04:03He called five names.
04:04Five people stepped out.
04:05Then he stopped.
04:06He looked at Emily.
04:06You, come here.
04:07Emily didn't move.
04:08Her whole body was shaking.
04:09I said, come here.
04:10Emily stood up.
04:11She set Lily on the ground.
04:15Mommy will be right back,
04:16she whispered.
04:17Lily grabbed her sleeve.
04:18Emily pried her daughter's fingers off
04:19and walked toward the shooter.
04:21He grabbed her by the hair
04:22and yanked her to the middle of the hallway.
04:23Press the gun to her head.
04:25Tell them outside to get the car ready,
04:27or I kill you first,
04:29then I kill your daughter.
04:31Emily's eyes squeezed shut.
04:32Her lips trembled,
04:33but she didn't cry.
04:34I watched from the corner.
04:36Mia was in my arms.
04:37Her little fingers twisted in my shirt.
04:39Her nails dug into my skin.
04:41The shooter shoved Emily back.
04:43She stumbled to the corner,
04:44crouched down,
04:44and pulled Lily into her arms again.
04:46Her face was white.
04:47Her lips had no color.
04:49Mia whispered,
04:50Mommy, is Daddy here?
04:52Yes.
04:53He's on the rooftop across the street.
04:55Is he going to save us?
04:57Yes.
04:58Mia nodded.
04:59She believed me.
05:00She always did.
05:01Then the lead shooter changed his mind.
05:02Somehow he found out
05:03there was no car,
05:04that the cops had been lying to him.
05:06He lost it.
05:07He yanked the charging handle
05:08on the gun he had pressed
05:09to Emily's head.
05:10Tell them one minute.
05:11One minute,
05:12or I shoot!
05:13Emily screamed.
05:14Her daughter screamed too.
05:15I heard someone on a radio yelling.
05:18Stay calm.
05:19We're getting it ready.
05:20But the shooter wasn't listening.
05:21He started counting down.
05:2360,
05:2450,
05:2640.
05:27The air in the hallway got thin.
05:29Everyone stopped breathing.
05:30Mia grabbed my hand.
05:32Squeezed so tight.
05:3330.
05:3420.
05:35The shooter clicked off the safety.
05:3610,
05:379,
05:378.
05:39Not from the shooter,
05:40from outside.
05:41A bullet punched through the third floor glass
05:43and hit the lead shooter in the shoulder.
05:44He went down.
05:45But the other two shooters
05:47immediately started firing around.
05:48Bullets ripped through the doorway.
05:50Hit the walls.
05:51Hit the shelves.
05:52Hit the ceiling.
05:54Dust and debris rained down.
05:55I couldn't see.
05:56Someone was screaming.
05:58Someone was running.
05:58I grabbed Mia's hand and ran for the stairwell.
06:01Her little legs couldn't keep up.
06:02I bent down to pick her up,
06:04but I was wearing heels
06:04and there was broken glass everywhere.
06:06I slipped.
06:07I fell.
06:08Mia's hand slipped out of mine.
06:09She hit the ground.
06:10Mia!
06:11Come to me!
06:12She crawled toward me on her hands and knees.
06:14Her hand stretched out,
06:15inches away from the fingers.
06:17Then the ceiling.
06:18A slab of concrete fell.
06:20It landed on my left leg.
06:21The shockwave threw her against the wall.
06:23She hit hard.
06:24Then she didn't move.
06:27Mia?
06:28I screamed.
06:29She didn't move.
06:29Mia!
06:31Still nothing.
06:32I tried to crawl to her,
06:33but my left leg was pinned.
06:34I pushed at the concrete slab.
06:36It didn't budge.
06:37I clawed at the rubble with my bare hands.
06:38My nails broke.
06:40Blood seeped from my fingertips.
06:41I couldn't reach her.
06:42I just lay there on the ground.
06:44Arms stretched out.
06:45Unable to touch my daughter.
06:46She was three meters away.
06:48Eyes closed.
06:48A line of blood at the corner of her mouth.
06:51Daddy!
06:51Mia screamed.
06:52The last thing she ever said.
06:54Then she went still.
06:56Jason heard the gunfire
06:57and the explosion from the rooftop.
06:59His scope view was blocked by smoke and dust.
07:02The radio came to life.
07:03All snipers cease fire.
07:05Wait for further instructions.
07:07He lowered his gun.
07:08The first thing he asked.
07:11Did Emily and Lily get out?
07:13The spotter Tom told me later.
07:15Jason asked three times.
07:16He didn't ask about me or Mia once.
07:18When Jason came down from the rooftop,
07:20Emily was already by the ambulance.
07:21She was sitting on the curb,
07:23holding Lily.
07:24Her face was gray with dust,
07:25but she didn't have a scratch.
07:27Jason ran over.
07:28Are you okay?
07:29What about Lily?
07:30She's fine.
07:31Just scared.
07:32Jason exhaled.
07:32He got in the ambulance with them.
07:35He went to the hospital.
07:36He got Emily and Lily a VIP room.
07:38Lily wasn't even hurt.
07:39Just scared.
07:40But Emily insisted.
07:42She needed to be admitted.
07:43For observation.
07:44Jason ran around doing everything.
07:45Bought food for Lily.
07:47Poured water for Emily.
07:48Watched cartoons with Lily.
07:49He slept on the VIP room couch.
07:51He didn't know I was in the same hospital.
07:53Didn't know I was on the third floor in the ICU.
07:55Didn't know my left leg was gone.
07:57Didn't know I was covered in injuries.
07:59He didn't know Mia was in the morgue.
08:01He stayed on the fifth floor for three days.
08:03Never went down to the third.
08:04He passed it on the elevator when he went to buy food for Emily.
08:07The doors opened.
08:08The doors closed.
08:09He never stepped out.
08:10For three days.
08:11I lay on a bed on the third floor.
08:13And asked the nurses the same question over and over.
08:16Where is my daughter?
08:17Every time the nurse looked down.
08:19On the third day.
08:20A nurse finally told me the truth.
08:22I'm so sorry.
08:24Your daughter Mia didn't make it.
08:26I didn't say anything.
08:27My throat closed up.
08:29My lips trembled.
08:30My teeth chattered.
08:31My ears rang.
08:32The doctor kept talking but I couldn't hear him.
08:34Mia.
08:35Dead.
08:36Those two words spun in my head until I got dizzy.
08:38Where is she?
08:39The morgue.
08:40The morgue.
08:41Mia was scared of the dark.
08:42She slept with a nightlight every night.
08:44Now she was alone down there.
08:46No light.
08:47No mom.
08:48Where's my husband?
08:49He's on the fifth floor.
08:50The fifth floor.
08:51Emily's VIP room.
08:52Mia was in the morgue.
08:53He was on the fifth floor.
08:55The nurse wheeled me to the morgue.
08:56Mia lay on a stainless steel table.
08:58A white sheet covered her to the shoulders.
08:59I reached out and touched her face.
09:01Cold.
09:02Mia.
09:03Mia.
09:04I said it a lot of times.
09:05She never answered.
09:06That same day, the fire department came to the hospital looking for Jason.
09:10We need you to come identify a body.
09:11Whose?
09:11A female child.
09:12Six years old.
09:13Pulled from the rubble.
09:15No ID on her.
09:16We need someone to confirm.
09:17Jason went with them.
09:18He walked into the morgue.
09:19He didn't know yet.
09:20The morgue lights were white, bright.
09:21There was a small figure on a stainless steel table.
09:24White sheet to the shoulders.
09:25A small face.
09:26Jason walked closer.
09:27He saw that face, purple, swollen.
09:29Dried blood at the corner of her mouth.
09:31He knew that face.
09:32That was Mia's face.
09:33His daughter's face.
09:34His legs gave out.
09:35He hit the floor.
09:37He opened his mouth.
09:38No sound came out.
09:39Then he started shaking.
09:41His fingers first.
09:42Then his whole body.
09:43He finally said,
09:45No!
09:45No!
09:46No!
09:47He crawled to her.
09:48Grabbed her hand.
09:49Cold.
09:50He pressed her hand to his face.
09:52Her fingers were still curled,
09:54like she'd been holding something.
09:56The blonde doll.
09:57When they pulled her out of the rubble,
09:59she was still holding it.
10:00Jason started crying.
10:01Not tears.
10:02Wailing.
10:03The kind of sound that doesn't sound human,
10:05like an animal that has been hit by a car.
10:07He laid his body over Mia's and cried until he gagged.
10:10Daddy was wrong.
10:11Daddy's sorry.
10:14Please look at Daddy.
10:16Mia didn't look at him.
10:17She never would again.
10:18He cried for a long time.
10:20Two people had to pull him off the floor.
10:22His face was covered in tears and snot.
10:24He crouched in the hallway outside the morgue,
10:26held his head in his hands.
10:28Then he remembered me.
10:30Jason ran to the third floor.
10:32I was already back from the morgue.
10:34He stood outside my room.
10:35Didn't come in.
10:36He walked in.
10:37Dropped to his knees.
10:39Beside my bed.
10:40Emma.
10:40Emma.
10:41Mia.
10:42Do you know what her last word was?
10:43He froze.
10:44She said,
10:44Daddy.
10:45She thought you were coming to save her.
10:46She was reaching for me from under the rubble.
10:48She couldn't reach me.
10:49So she called for you.
10:51She called a lot of times.
10:52Where were you?
10:53You were on the fifth floor.
10:55Buying food for someone else's daughter.
10:57Sleeping on a VIP couch.
10:58Watching cartoons with Lily.
11:00I didn't know.
11:01I didn't know she was in the morgue.
11:03I didn't know you were in this hospital.
11:04I thought...
11:05You thought I was being dramatic.
11:06You thought I was making problems again.
11:08You didn't make one phone call.
11:10Jason dropped his head.
11:11His shoulders shook.
11:12He cried ugly.
11:12Snot and tears everywhere.
11:14His whole body collapsed against my bed.
11:16I'm sorry.
11:16I'm sorry.
11:17I'm sorry.
11:17I'm sorry.
11:18He said it a lot of times.
11:19I didn't look at him.
11:20My brother Ethan flew in from Chicago the next day.
11:23He walked into my room.
11:25Looked at my missing leg.
11:26Looked at Jason kneeling by my bed, refusing to leave.
11:29And his jaw went tight.
11:31Out.
11:31Jason didn't move.
11:33I said out!
11:34Jason stood up and walked out.
11:36He stood in the hallway.
11:37Didn't leave.
11:38Ethan closed the door.
11:39Saturday on my bed.
11:40Took my hand.
11:44Emma.
11:45I'm getting you a lawyer.
11:47I'm handling Mia's arrangements.
11:49Don't worry about anything except getting better.
11:52What about Jason?
11:53Divorce.
11:54He already knew.
11:55I was in the hospital for ten days.
11:57Jason came every day.
11:58He stood in the hallway.
11:59Too scared to come in.
12:01Ethan wouldn't let him.
12:02So he just stood there.
12:03For hours.
12:04Are you family?
12:05I'm her husband.
12:05She doesn't want to see you.
12:06I know.
12:07I'll just stand here.
12:08On the fourth day, Ethan stepped out.
12:10Jason came in.
12:11He was carrying a thermos.
12:14I made you chicken noodle soup.
12:16You used to like my soup.
12:18Emma, I know nothing I say matters.
12:20Mia's not coming back.
12:21Your leg's not coming back.
12:22But I stopped paying for Emily's rent.
12:24I stopped answering her calls.
12:25I deleted her.
12:26I quit the SWAT team.
12:28Your scope was on the toy store.
12:29You saw Emily and Lily.
12:31And you saw me and Mia.
12:33And you chose to save them first.
12:36You chose her.
12:38You've always chosen her.
12:40Jason dropped his head.
12:41He didn't say anything.
12:42He didn't deny it.
12:43I had Ethan draft the divorce papers.
12:45I kept the house.
12:46The car.
12:47Every dollar Jason had sent Emily during the marriage.
12:50I wanted it back.
12:51I signed.
12:52When Jason saw the papers, he went completely still.
12:55Emma, I'm not signing.
12:59Then I'll sue.
13:00Sue all you want.
13:01I'm not divorcing you.
13:02Why?
13:02You never loved me.
13:04You married me because I was convenient.
13:06But your heart.
13:07Your heart was always with Emily.
13:09That day, in your scope, you saw her.
13:12Your first thought wasn't about saving people.
13:15It was that she couldn't die.
13:17So you saved her first.
13:19Jason dropped to his knees.
13:20He grabbed my hand.
13:21Emma, I know I messed up.
13:25The biggest mistake of my life was making that choice.
13:29I'm not asking you to forgive me, but don't push me away.
13:32Let me try to make this right.
13:36I don't need you to take care of me.
13:38I need you to sign.
13:39He didn't sign.
13:40The funeral was 14 days after the hostage crisis.
13:43Jason showed up in a black suit, dark circles under his eyes.
13:47Can I come?
13:48You're her father.
13:49At the cemetery, Jason knelt in front of Mia's headstone.
13:52He didn't get up.
13:53The service happened.
13:54He stayed on his knees.
13:56People placed flowers.
13:57He stayed on his knees.
13:58Everyone left.
13:59He stayed on his knees.
14:01He knelt for a long time.
14:02When the sky started to get dark, he stood up and walked over to me.
14:07Emma, I know you won't forgive me.
14:09I don't deserve it.
14:11But I'll wait.
14:12One year.
14:14Ten years.
14:15Forever.
14:18That day will never come.
14:21Then I'll wait forever.
14:23Jason started writing me letters every day.
14:25Not texts.
14:26Handwritten letters.
14:27He left them in my mailbox.
14:29Every morning, there was one.
14:31Emma, I went to see Mia today.
14:33I brought pink roses.
14:34She liked pink.
14:35I never knew that before.
14:37Now I know.
14:38Too late.
14:39Emma, I walked past the mall today.
14:42It's open again.
14:43I stood outside for a long time.
14:45I couldn't go in.
14:46I'm too scared.
14:48Emma, I went to AA.
14:50I can't sleep at night.
14:51I can only close my eyes if I drink.
14:54I'm working on it.
14:56Emma, I blocked Emily.
14:57She kept calling from different numbers.
14:59I didn't answer a single one.
15:00I should have done this a long time ago.
15:03I put every letter in a box.
15:05I never wrote back.
15:06Not once.
15:07Six months passed.
15:08I got better with my prosthetic.
15:10Every week, I went to Rose Hill Cemetery.
15:12I brought pink roses.
15:14Jason went every week too.
15:15We never showed up at the same time.
15:17He told me later he did that on purpose.
15:19One day, I went early.
15:20I saw his car parked outside.
15:22I didn't go in.
15:23I sat in my car and waited for him to leave.
15:25When he came out, I saw him.
15:27He'd lost a lot of weight.
15:28He looked old.
15:29He walked with a limp.
15:30I felt bad for him in that moment.
15:31But feeling bad isn't the same as forgiveness.
15:34I waited until he left.
15:35Then I went in.
15:36There were flowers on Mia's grave.
15:38Pink ones.
15:38And a doll.
15:39New.
15:40Blonde hair.
15:41Pink dress.
15:42Mia always loved blonde dolls.
15:44Another year passed.
15:45My brother Ethan introduced me to someone.
15:47His name was Daniel.
15:48He owned a coffee shop.
15:50Didn't talk much.
15:51Could cook.
15:51He knew about everything.
15:53Ethan had told him.
15:54He didn't ask questions.
15:55Didn't give advice.
15:56Didn't judge.
15:57When I woke up from nightmares,
15:59he shook me awake and handed me a glass of water
16:01and said,
16:02You're okay.
16:02I'm here.
16:03One day he asked,
16:04Do you want to go see Mia?
16:06I stared at him.
16:07He said,
16:08I'd like to meet her,
16:09if that's okay.
16:12I took him to Rose Hill Cemetery.
16:14There were already pink roses on Mia's grave.
16:16I knew who left them.
16:18Daniel didn't ask.
16:19He put his flowers next to hers,
16:20crouched down,
16:21said,
16:22Hey Mia.
16:23I'm Daniel.
16:24Your mom talks about you all the time.
16:27She says you loved blonde dolls.
16:29I'll bring you one next time.
16:31Not because I was sad.
16:33Because Mia once said,
16:34Mommy,
16:35when you look at the left lens,
16:37when I grow up,
16:39I want to find someone like Daddy,
16:40but better than Daddy.
16:43Daniel wasn't Jason.
16:45He was better.
16:45So much better.
16:46That night,
16:47I wrote Jason a letter.
16:49My first one back.
16:50I told him I was getting married.
16:52That Daniel was good.
16:53That he didn't have to keep visiting Mia's grave anymore.
16:56I never sent it.
16:57I put it in the box with the other letters.
16:59Then I picked up my phone and texted Daniel,
17:01I want a latte tomorrow.
17:02He replied in one second,
17:04What time?
17:05The wedding was in the spring.
17:06At Rose Hill Cemetery.
17:08On Mia's grave,
17:09there were pink roses.
17:10And a little blonde doll.
17:12Daniel crouched down,
17:13straightened the doll and said,
17:14Mia,
17:15your mom looks beautiful today.
17:17I'll take good care of her.
17:18I stood behind him in my wedding dress.
17:20My prosthetic was hidden under the skirt.
17:22The wind blew.
17:23Petals fell on Mia's headstone.
17:25We turned and walked down the hill.
17:26There was a car parked outside the cemetery gates,
17:29black old.
17:29A man stood next to it.
17:31Jason,
17:31so thin,
17:32half his hair white.
17:33He held out a box.
17:34Inside were Mia's drawings.
17:35And two strawberry hair ties.
17:37Is he good to you?
17:39Jason asked.
17:41Yes.
17:41He's good.
17:43Good.
17:46He turned and walked away.
17:48I put my hand on my stomach.
17:50Three months.
17:50A girl.
17:51I wanted to name her Mia.
17:53Not to replace her.
17:54To remember her.
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