- 10 hours ago
Leaving Port, Scum Is Unworthy Ep
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00I gave up everything to move to Port Victoria for my husband.
00:03Three years later, I found out I wasn't his legal wife in Port Victoria.
00:07Right after our wedding, my husband, Sean Sterling, was recruited by Port Victoria University.
00:13I left my entire career behind to go with him.
00:15I thought I was sacrificing for love.
00:17Yet three years went by.
00:19I still didn't even have valid status, let alone a local ID card.
00:23Sean told me I was on a temporary dependent permit.
00:26But his assistant, Zoe, she already had her permanent residency.
00:30He got it for her through his connections.
00:33I was furious.
00:34I threatened to leave.
00:36For the first time ever, my calm husband actually cried.
00:40I'm already supporting you, those documents can wait.
00:43And Zoe came here to work for me.
00:45Helping her settle in is only fair.
00:47I believed him.
00:49Until last week, I went to the immigration bureau to check my status.
00:53I handed the clerk at the desk our marriage certificate.
00:55She stared at her screen.
00:58Ma'am, our system shows you are not listed as Mr. Sterling's spouse.
01:03In that instant, everything became clear.
01:06All those delays.
01:07All those excuses.
01:09Sean had never listed me as his wife.
01:11I said nothing.
01:13I went straight home and started packing my bags.
01:15But when I reached my own front door, my fingerprint was rejected three times.
01:20Access denied.
01:21The lock had been changed.
01:23I called Sean immediately.
01:26Why did you change the lock?
01:28Oh.
01:29Zoe's lock was broken.
01:31She's familiar with this model, so I had ours taken off and sent over to her.
01:35Just stay in a hotel tonight.
01:36I'll be working late anyway.
01:38My mind went blank.
01:39My husband had taken the lock off our door and given it to another woman.
01:43So I went to a hotel.
01:44But when I swiped my card, it was declined.
01:48When we first moved in, Sean had given me an unlimited black card.
01:51But little by little, Zoe took over his personal shopping.
01:55Eventually, that card ended up in her wallet.
01:58And somehow, I believed him.
02:00Until our third anniversary.
02:02Just as the evening was turning intimate.
02:04It was Zoe.
02:05She casually handed Sean a box of ultra-thin condoms.
02:10Professor, it's a special night.
02:12You always say this brand feels the best.
02:15Thoughtful of me, right?
02:16I didn't even know what brand he preferred.
02:18For the past three years, we've been trying for a baby.
02:21We never used protection.
02:23The dinner was pure torture.
02:25He made some lame excuse about a work emergency and rushed out.
02:28When the door closed behind him, I finally understood.
02:31By then, it was obvious her role as his assistant extended all the way to his bed.
02:35The next morning, I was about to book a one-way ticket out of Port Victoria when my friend called.
02:40Claire, I pulled some strings.
02:44But all they would give me was the official marriage record.
02:47It's fine.
02:48Just tell me what you found.
02:51In Port Victoria, Sean was legally married to Zoe Zimmerman.
02:55Claire, are you okay?
02:57I'm fine.
02:59The woman by his side had never been me.
03:01It had always been Zoe.
03:03And in that moment, every detail I had forced myself to ignore came rushing back.
03:08All those weekends when he claimed he had work at the university and was gone all day.
03:12Whenever I asked what could possibly be so important, he always gave me the same answer.
03:16Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand.
03:19Then I remembered the time he forgot an important file.
03:22I took it to the apartment he kept near campus.
03:24On the bathroom counter were two toothbrushes.
03:27And stupidly, I didn't think anything of it.
03:30My mind drifted back to the day I first arrived in Port Victoria three years ago.
03:34Sean pulled me into his arms and spun me around like I was his whole world.
03:38Then Zoe waved at us from nearby.
03:40Sean smiled, took her suitcase.
03:43Oh, I forgot to tell you.
03:45Zoe came too.
03:48She's here all by herself.
03:50Things haven't been easy for her.
03:52The whole ride, his attention was already on another woman.
03:55And I had actually been happy for him.
03:57I really thought he had found the perfect assistant.
04:00During those first few months in Port Victoria, I couldn't find a job.
04:04For the first time in my life, I learned what rejection felt like.
04:07Eventually, I swallowed my pride and asked Sean for help.
04:11Doesn't the university have some kind of placement program for spouses?
04:15Could you look into it for me?
04:18He didn't even look up.
04:19He just kept sorting through his papers and said,
04:22I'll ask around.
04:24I waited three months.
04:25When I asked again, I got the same answer.
04:28Meanwhile, Zoe had already landed a job at his university.
04:32The job.
04:33The benefits.
04:34The place at his side.
04:35And she wasn't nearly as qualified as I was.
04:38That was when it finally hit me.
04:40Nothing had gone wrong.
04:42That job was never meant for me.
04:44Sean had already reserved it all for the real Mrs. Sterling.
04:48I had already decided to leave.
04:50I went to book the earliest flight out of Port Victoria for good.
04:54Finally, it was my turn.
04:56I slid my passport across the counter.
04:58I just wanted to leave.
05:00But after a few taps on the keyboard, the agent frowned.
05:03I'm sorry, but there seems to be a problem with your immigration status.
05:07Why?
05:08She turned the screen toward me.
05:10Our system shows that you've overstayed.
05:13Your most recent extension application was denied.
05:16At the moment, you no longer have valid immigration status in Port Victoria.
05:20I had been living in Port Victoria for three years.
05:24Legally, I had no status there at all.
05:26Not as a wife.
05:28Not as anyone.
05:29I was just a stranger.
05:30I stepped aside and immediately called the immigration consultant.
05:36Ms. Parker, my extension was never approved.
05:39Now I can't even leave without running into legal trouble.
05:41What exactly is going on?
05:45Mrs. Sterling, let me ask you something.
05:47When your husband filed on your behalf, did he sponsor you as his spouse?
05:51Because the system shows that the approved spousal sponsor under your husband's file went to a woman named Zoe Widsemarken.
05:58He did file for you too, but not as his spouse.
06:01He filed you under a different category.
06:03That category stopped accepting applications last year.
06:06That's why your case has been stuck this whole time.
06:10Standing there on the sidewalk, I suddenly wanted to laugh.
06:13So that was the truth.
06:15Sean had already handed Zoe the spousal sponsorship that should have been mine.
06:19And me?
06:19I had spent three years in the city.
06:22Only to find out I didn't even have legal status.
06:24I was only one step away from leaving for good.
06:27One step.
06:28But there was still one final document he had to sign before my case could be cleared.
06:32Without it, I still couldn't leave cleanly.
06:36I went to his university to get his signature.
06:39Before I even reached his office, I heard Zoe's voice inside.
06:43Sean, are you really giving me the Arts Foundation residency?
06:46But I'm not qualified.
06:48This should go to Claire.
06:49She actually trained for this.
06:51I stopped cold outside the door.
06:53The Arts Foundation residency.
06:55The opportunity one had needed most.
06:58And Sean had never mentioned it to me.
07:00Then I heard him answer.
07:02It's fine.
07:02I already made the calls.
07:04As for Claire, she has me.
07:07She doesn't need it.
07:08And even if you'd had the same chance, you wouldn't have done any worse than Claire.
07:12I stood outside his office and almost laughed.
07:14So everything I had sacrificed was just luck in his eyes.
07:17And the career I had once been proud of was something he thought anyone could replace.
07:22Then the door opened.
07:23Zoe saw me and smiled.
07:25Claire, visitors aren't allowed on this floor.
07:27Why don't you wait downstairs?
07:29Move.
07:31I barely touched her before she stumbled backward.
07:38Are you hurt?
07:42I'm fine.
07:43I just lost my balance.
07:45It's not Claire's fault.
07:47Zoe was just doing her job.
07:48Why would you shove her?
07:49I didn't explain.
07:51I held out the notice.
07:53This is from immigration.
07:54I need your signature.
07:56Claire, when did you become this unreasonable?
07:59Sign it now.
08:00Or I go straight to the dean and ask why the spouse-sponsored placement in your faculty
08:04relocation package ended up with your assistant.
08:07That's enough.
08:08Don't forget who's been supporting you.
08:10Without me, you wouldn't even be able to stay here legally.
08:13When he begged me to come, he had said,
08:15I'll take care of you.
08:16Now it had become,
08:18I've been supporting you.
08:20Sign it now.
08:21And you might still have a little dignity left.
08:26Escort my wife out.
08:27She's not feeling well.
08:28A second later, two guards grabbed me.
08:30I hadn't even spoken before someone covered my mouth.
08:33We'll talk tonight.
08:34Stop acting like a child.
08:35Talk tonight?
08:36There was nothing left to say.
08:38At nine that night, Sean came home.
08:40He pushed open the half-closed front door.
08:43The lights were on, so he assumed I was inside.
08:46Enough already.
08:47I told you from the beginning.
08:48Zoe needed that spot more than you did.
08:50Then he pushed the bedroom door open.
08:52And froze.
08:53The room was empty.
08:55Everything of mine was gone.
08:59Ten minutes later,
09:00two police officers were standing in front of Sean,
09:02asking questions.
09:04Mr. Sterling,
09:05are you sure this was a burglary?
09:06Yes.
09:07My wife's things are all gone.
09:09When I got back, the door was unlocked.
09:12Someone must have come in.
09:14One of the officers examined the lock.
09:17The lock is brand new.
09:18There are no signs of forced entry.
09:20I changed the lock yesterday.
09:22I just hadn't gotten around to adding her fingerprint yet.
09:24You hadn't added her fingerprint?
09:25Then how was your wife supposed to get in?
09:29Sean opened his mouth, but no words came out.
09:31Then he remembered.
09:33Over the past three years,
09:34he had made Claire wait again and again.
09:37Maybe she couldn't get in,
09:38so she found someone to change the lock herself.
09:42So your wife couldn't get into her own home.
09:44And instead of calling you or waiting for you to come back,
09:47she hired someone to replace the lock?
09:50Yes.
09:53What is your wife's phone number?
09:56It's been off the whole time.
09:59When was the last time you saw her?
10:00He thought about what he had done to Claire that afternoon.
10:03Then he lied.
10:07This afternoon.
10:09She was still home this afternoon.
10:10Besides your wife's belongings,
10:12was anything else valuable missing?
10:14No.
10:15Just hers.
10:16Mr. Sterling,
10:16this probably wasn't a burglary.
10:18It looks like your wife changed the lock,
10:20packed her things,
10:20and left on her own.
10:21That's impossible.
10:22She wouldn't leave.
10:24The doors and windows were intact.
10:25Nothing valuable was missing.
10:27Everything in the house was still there,
10:29except Claire's things.
10:30And even then,
10:31he still insisted.
10:32My wife loves me.
10:34She gave up everything for me.
10:36There's no way she would leave on her own.
10:39Before leaving,
10:40the officer asked one last question.
10:42Mr. Sterling,
10:43did you and your wife have an argument this afternoon?
10:47No.
10:48We didn't argue.
10:49The police left.
10:51Before they went,
10:52they told him to contact Claire's family and friends.
10:55Standing alone in the empty house,
10:56he suddenly realized something.
10:58In the past three years,
11:00Claire had not made a single friend here,
11:02because he had always told her.
11:04You have me.
11:06That's enough.
11:09He pulled out his phone and called Claire's mother.
11:12Mom,
11:13has Claire contacted you today?
11:14No.
11:15Why?
11:15What happened?
11:16Nothing.
11:17She lost her phone.
11:18After he hung up,
11:19he went through his contacts again,
11:21and realized he didn't have the number of any of Claire's friends.
11:24That was when he remembered.
11:26Over the past three years,
11:27Claire had brought up going back more than once.
11:29And every single time,
11:30he had said,
11:31Don't bother.
11:32It's too much trouble.
11:34So in the end,
11:35she really never went back.
11:36He used to think she was simply going along with him.
11:39Only now did he understand.
11:41She had known all along that he never wanted to go back with her.
11:46He called her number again and again.
11:48Every time,
11:50all he heard was the same cold message.
11:52Her phone was off.
11:54He walked back into the bedroom and stood in front of the empty side of the closet.
11:58For him,
11:59she had given up everything.
12:01And not once had she ever said she regretted it.
12:03So he had taken it for granted that she had done it willingly.
12:08Just then,
12:09his phone rang.
12:10It was the police.
12:12Mr. Sterling,
12:13we reviewed the building's exterior surveillance footage.
12:16At around five this afternoon,
12:18your wife was seen leaving with a suitcase.
12:20There were no signs that she was being forced.
12:22Leaning against the closet,
12:24he looked at their wedding photo on the wall.
12:26His face stricken.
12:28He thought back to the promises they had made three years ago.
12:30Then he buried his face in his hands.
12:32In it,
12:33I was in white and he was in a suit.
12:34We were both smiling at the camera.
12:38Three years ago,
12:39I had asked him,
12:41We'll always stay together, right?
12:44Of course.
12:45And I had believed him.
12:46For three whole years,
12:47I had believed him.
12:48Then his phone rang again.
12:51It was a purchase alert.
12:52The card he had given Zoe had just been used in Central.
12:56103,000
12:57for a designer handbag.
13:01While Sean was still reeling from the fact that I was gone,
13:04he received a purchase alert from his assistant.
13:07It was over 100,000.
13:09Suddenly,
13:10he remembered.
13:11Two days ago,
13:12Zoe had said she wanted a new bag.
13:14He had agreed without even thinking.
13:16The money he gave me every month was only $2,000.
13:19That had to cover everything.
13:21I had never asked him for anything more.
13:23The only time I had ever asked him for anything
13:26was when I needed his signature on that immigration form.
13:31Sean shot to his feet and called Ms. Parker.
13:35Has Claire contacted you?
13:37She came to me before.
13:38She asked about her status.
13:40Recently,
13:41she also asked me about her extension request.
13:44She wanted to know what documents she needed to fix everything
13:46so she could leave without any legal complications.
13:50Mr. Sterling,
13:52there is something else I think you should know.
13:54When Claire spoke to me,
13:55she mentioned the marriage certificate.
13:57I think she already knows what you did.
13:59She knows?
14:00Yes.
14:01That is why she never asked you again
14:03about filing for her as your spouse.
14:05Sean stood there,
14:06frozen.
14:07Just then,
14:08another message came in from Zoe.
14:10Sean,
14:10the bag needs a cute outfit to match, too.
14:13Right after that,
14:14another charge notification popped up.
14:15This one was over 20,000.
14:17He stared at the number.
14:18His mind completely blank.
14:19When had Zoe started spending his money
14:21as if she had every right to it?
14:23Then he remembered.
14:24It had started the moment
14:26the extra card that should have gone to me
14:27ended up in her hands.
14:28For three years,
14:30I had given up everything.
14:31And all that time,
14:32he had been busy giving all his care to his assistant.
14:37Sean soon found out
14:38that I had never left Port Victoria.
14:40He immediately arranged a meeting with Ms. Parker
14:42and asked urgently,
14:43What is the fastest way to fix Claire's status now?
14:48Mr. Sterling,
14:49you have always known
14:50what the fastest way is.
14:52A few years ago,
14:53someone told me that during onboarding,
14:54it was better to come in as single first.
14:57Then,
14:58once everything was stable,
14:59I could file the family paperwork later.
15:02At the time,
15:03I had no choice.
15:05I only did it to keep the older people
15:07in the family calm.
15:08Weiried up.
15:08That is nonsense.
15:10Who told you that?
15:12My assistant.
15:14She specifically asked around for me.
15:16Mr. Sterling,
15:18I have worked in immigration for 15 years.
15:20I have never heard of any rule like that.
15:22When you joined the university,
15:24you came in through an employment-based status route.
15:26That permit has never required an applicant to be single.
15:31He suddenly remembered what Zoe had told him.
15:34Sean,
15:35it is better not to list yourself as married
15:38during the hiring process.
15:40The background check gets messy.
15:43He had believed her.
15:44He had always buried himself in research
15:45and handed all those details over
15:47to the assistant he trusted most.
15:49Immigration rules,
15:50onboarding forms,
15:51relocation paperwork.
15:52He had barely read any of them himself.
15:55Later,
15:56with red eyes,
15:57Zoe had told him she wanted legal status here.
15:59He had thought about how she was a young woman,
16:02far from home,
16:03who had followed him all the way here.
16:04All it would take was one marriage certificate.
16:07So he agreed without thinking twice.
16:10Mr. Sterling,
16:11that assistant was Ms. Zimmerman, wasn't it?
16:13He said nothing.
16:16Just as he stood up in a daze,
16:18his phone rang.
16:20Sean,
16:21please come to the Office of Academic Affairs
16:22as soon as possible.
16:24There are some matters we need you to explain in person.
16:29At three o'clock that afternoon,
16:32Sean was sitting in a conference room
16:33at the Office of Academic Affairs.
16:35I was not there.
16:36I only learned the details later.
16:38There had been two documents on the table in front of him.
16:41The first was a copy of the certificate for the marriage
16:43he had registered in Port Victoria with Zoe.
16:45The second was a copy of the certificate for the marriage
16:48he had registered with me in another jurisdiction.
16:51The Director of Academic Affairs pushed the documents toward him.
16:55Professor Sterling,
16:56do you confirm that these materials are authentic?
16:58Sean said nothing.
17:00Under Port Victoria law,
17:01bigamy is a criminal offense.
17:04The university has already received a request for cooperation for immigration.
17:08In addition,
17:10you will need to explain the marital status declaration you submitted
17:13when you joined the university.
17:15How was he supposed to explain it?
17:17Soon after, the investigators arrived.
17:20Professor Sterling,
17:21Are you saying you did not know that forging documents is illegal?
17:28Later, when I heard those words repeated,
17:30I almost laughed.
17:31Did he know?
17:33Maybe he didn't.
17:34That was the cruelest part.
17:36Sean had never carefully planned to ruin me.
17:38He just never thought about me enough.
17:41Zoe spent three years figuring out how to stay by his side.
17:44I spent those same three years waiting for him to come home.
17:47She fought for a place beside him.
17:49I waited for him to remember I was there.
17:51He never did.
17:53Sean was suspended from all teaching and research duties.
17:56During the investigation,
17:58his salary was stopped as well.
18:00When he walked out of academic affairs,
18:03Zoe was already standing in the corridor waiting for him.
18:06Sean,
18:06my work has been suspended too.
18:09The residency program with the Art Foundation called.
18:12They said my spot has been canceled.
18:14When I first heard that part,
18:16I felt nothing.
18:17No triumph.
18:19No relief.
18:20He looked at her.
18:21For the first time,
18:22he really looked.
18:23The coat,
18:24the bag,
18:25the lipstick.
18:26All of it had been paid for with my card.
18:29And me?
18:30I had never spent like that.
18:32Even buying something small for myself.
18:34I used to hesitate.
18:36Then Sean said,
18:37Give the card back.
18:39Sean?
18:39Sean?
18:40That card was for Claire.
18:44Not for you.
18:47She pulled her handbag behind her back.
18:50Her eyes reddened even more.
18:51Sean,
18:52I've been with you for three years.
18:54You were with me for three years.
18:56She waited for me for three years.
18:59Zoe bit her lip and said nothing.
19:01Back then,
19:02you kept Claire and me from registering our marriage properly.
19:05This was what you wanted,
19:06wasn't it?
19:10Sean,
19:12I just wanted to stay.
19:14After that,
19:15the legal battle turned ugly.
19:16Zoe refused to dissolve the spousal relationship.
19:19She hired a lawyer and demanded compensation.
19:22Sean gave her nothing.
19:23During those three years in Port Victoria,
19:25she had already gotten plenty.
19:26A respectable job,
19:28residency status,
19:29and the card he had handed over without a second thought.
19:32What had I gotten?
19:33Nothing.
19:36In court,
19:37the two of them tore at each other until there was almost nothing left.
19:40Zoe was ordered to repay what she owed.
19:42Her reputation was ruined and she left.
19:45Sean did not fare much better.
19:47He came back to my hometown several times to look for me.
19:50But the people all told him the same thing.
19:52I had never gone back.
19:54He kept traveling back and forth.
19:56Day after day passed.
19:57Then month after month.
20:00By the time I heard the rest,
20:02his life had already been stripped down to almost nothing.
20:05No job.
20:06No home.
20:08No one.
20:10A year later,
20:12I was at the Port Victoria Art Fair.
20:14Claire?
20:15I turned around.
20:16I saw Sean.
20:17The moment I saw him,
20:19the smile faded from my face.
20:21There was no surprise,
20:22no anger,
20:23no grievance.
20:24Nothing at all.
20:25It was just like the last time I had looked at him from the doorway of his office.
20:29There were only a few steps left between us.
20:32Then a hand came across in front of him and stopped him.
20:34Sir,
20:36what exactly do you want with my wife?
20:39Your wife?
20:43She's my wife.
20:44It's fine.
20:45I'll handle it.
20:48Mr. Sterling,
20:49do you need something?
20:51Claire,
20:53I've been looking for you for a year.
20:57As for the marriage certificate,
20:58I can explain.
20:59Mr. Sterling,
21:00it has been a year.
21:01My husband and I are doing very well.
21:05You made me wait for three years.
21:07He has never made me wait even three days.
21:10At the time,
21:11I had no money,
21:12no connections,
21:13and no way to leave Port Victoria.
21:15I worked part-time jobs,
21:17trying to save enough to pay the penalty first
21:19and buy a ticket out.
21:21Adrian could stand in a gallery for half an hour
21:23just to ask me how I read a painting.
21:25What you could never give me,
21:26he gave back to me one by one.
21:28Legal status,
21:29respect,
21:30and the chance to become myself again.
21:32Sean stood there and said nothing.
21:35I looked at him for a few seconds.
21:37I have things to do.
21:38I'll be going now.
21:41I turned away.
21:42Adrian followed beside me,
21:43his hand resting lightly at the small of my back.
21:45Behind me,
21:46Sean instinctively took a step forward.
21:48Adrian turned his head and looked at him.
21:50He did not say a word.
21:51The meaning in his eyes was obvious enough.
21:53Don't come any closer.
21:55Sean stopped.
21:56I did not look back again.
21:58By the time I disappeared into the crowd,
22:00he was still standing there.
22:01The exhibition hall was full of people moving back and forth.
22:04And in front of him was the painting I had been standing before.
22:07Its title was
22:08Leaving Port.
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