- 11 hours ago
Rooftop Betrayal ENGSUB Suspense Romance Drama
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Short filmTranscript
00:00My daughter died. She died in a mall hostage crisis. My husband was the SWAT sniper on the rooftop across
00:05the street. He chose to save his ex-girlfriend's daughter first. By the time he went for mine, it was
00:10too late. Right before she died, my daughter asked me,
00:13Mommy, isn't Daddy the best sniper in the world? Why couldn't he see me?
00:19I couldn't answer. At the funeral, I called Jason. He picked up and said,
00:22Emma, can you not do this right now? Emily and her daughter just went through something terrible.
00:26They're traumatized. This isn't the time to be jealous.
00:29Then he hung up. I sat in my wheelchair, staring at Mia's name on the headstone. Then looked down at
00:33my empty left pant leg. My leg was gone, crushed when the mall collapsed. I knew right then. This marriage
00:38was over. That Saturday. I took Mia to the new mall downtown. She wanted a doll. Said it was for
00:43her birthday. Her birthday was still three months away, but she said,
00:46Better early than sorry. She was six. She already talked like a little adult. When the gunshots started, we were
00:53on the third floor, in the toy store, picking out a doll. Not one. A lot of them.
00:56Coming from the first floor, mixed with screams and the sound of glass breaking. My first instinct wasn't to run.
01:02I am a forensic pathologist. I've seen too many shooting victims. I know running is the most dangerous thing you
01:08can do.
01:08I grabbed Mia's wrist, pulled her behind a shelf, and crouched down. Don't make a sound. My voice was low,
01:14steady. Mia's eyes went wide. She didn't cry. She just hugged the doll to her chest and pressed her body
01:18against mine.
01:19I pulled out my phone and texted Jason. Downtown mall. Shooter. Me and I are on the third floor in
01:24the toy store. Then another one. Where are you? He replied in under a minute.
01:27I'm on scene. Rooftop across the street. Don't move. Wait for me.
01:30I looked out the third floor window and saw it. The sniper position markers on the rooftop across the street.
01:35I felt this wave of relief. That we're safe now. Feeling.
01:38What I didn't know was that his scope was aimed right at the toy store entrance. But he wasn't looking
01:42at me. He was looking at Emily.
01:43There were three shooters. They stormed in from the first floor, shot the security guard, and took control of them
01:48all.
01:48Dozens of hostages. Most on the first floor. Some on the second and third.
01:52SWAT showed up. Negotiators showed up. Jason was on the rooftop across the street. Best sight line in the area.
01:57His orders.
01:58If the shooters started executing people, take the shot. The shooters were on the third floor. The third floor had
02:03the toy store.
02:04And inside that toy store, there was a woman on the ground, holding a child. That woman was Emily. That
02:09child was Lily.
02:10Jason recognized them through his scope. Emily was his ex. They went to the academy together. Dated for three years.
02:16She had to leave after an injury. Switched to admin. They broke up because her family didn't approve.
02:20Jason was an orphan. No connections. No future. Emily married someone else. Had Lily. Got divorced.
02:26When she moved back to the city, Jason was already married to me. But he never let her go.
02:30Not in a cheating way. It was worse than that. He felt sorry for her. Single mom. Bad health. Low
02:35salary. No family to help.
02:36So he helped. Fixed her pipes. Paid her medical bills. Picked Lily up from preschool.
02:41Every time I said, can you spend more time with Mia? Mia has you. Emily has nobody.
02:46I thought he cared about me. Later I realized. He didn't help Emily out of kindness. He helped her because
02:50he was still in love with her.
02:52He'd never stopped. The shooters started clearing the floors. They split the first floor hostages into two groups.
02:57One group knelt by the entrance as human shields. The other got moved to the second floor.
03:01Women and children got pulled aside and sent up to the third.
03:03I heard footsteps getting closer. Someone was counting heads on the third floor.
03:07People were being dragged out of stores and pushed into the hallway.
03:10Toy store. Out.
03:11A shooter walked into the toy store. He saw Emily and Lily and pointed his gun at the door.
03:15Emily stood up, holding Lily, and walked out. Her legs were shaking. She moved slow.
03:20The shooter stepped further in. He saw me and Mia.
03:22You. Out.
03:24I stood up. My legs were numb from crouching. My knees buckled for a second, but I caught myself.
03:28I picked Mia up. She wrapped her arms around my neck and buried her face in my shoulder.
03:31We followed Emily and Lily into the hallway. There were already a dozen or so people out there.
03:35All women and children. I found a corner. Crouched down and put Mia on the floor in front of me.
03:40I used my body to shield her. Emily was right next to us. She crouched down too, setting Lily beside
03:44her.
03:44Lily was crying. Small, quiet sobs, like a kitten.
03:47Emily put her hand over Lily's mouth. Tears rolled down her own face.
03:51Emily turned and saw me. Her eyes went wide.
03:53Emma?
03:53I didn't say anything.
03:54You're here too? Mia's here?
03:56I still didn't say anything.
03:57The lead shooter started calling names. He had a list. He read them one by one.
04:00The people whose names got called stepped forward and stood against the wall.
04:03He called five names. Five people stepped out.
04:05Then he stopped. He looked at Emily.
04:07You, come here.
04:08Emily didn't move. Her whole body was shaking.
04:10I said come here.
04:11Emily stood up. She set Lily on the ground.
04:15Mommy will be right back, she whispered.
04:17Lily grabbed her sleeve.
04:18Emily pried her daughter's fingers off and walked toward the shooter.
04:21He grabbed her by the hair and yanked her to the middle of the hallway.
04:24Pressed the gun to her head.
04:25Tell them outside to get the car ready, or I kill you first, then I kill your daughter.
04:31Emily's eyes squeezed shut. Her lips trembled, but she didn't cry.
04:35I watched from the corner. Mia was in my arms. Her little fingers twisted in my shirt.
04:40Her nails dug into my skin.
04:41The shooter shoved Emily back. She stumbled to the corner, crouched down, and pulled Lily into her arms again.
04:47Her face was white. Her lips had no color. Mia whispered,
04:50Mommy, is Daddy here?
04:52Yes. He's on the rooftop across the street.
04:55Is he going to save us?
04:57Yes.
04:58Mia nodded. She believed me. She always did.
05:01Then the lead shooter changed his mind.
05:03Somehow he found out there was no car, that the cops had been lying to him.
05:06He lost it. He yanked the charging handle on the gun he had pressed to Emily's head.
05:11Tell them one minute! One minute, or I shoot!
05:13Emily screamed. Her daughter screamed too.
05:16I heard someone on a radio yelling.
05:18Stay calm. We're getting it ready.
05:20But the shooter wasn't listening. He started counting down.
05:2360, 50, 40.
05:27The air in the hallway got thin. Everyone stopped breathing.
05:31Mia grabbed my hand. Squeezed so tight.
05:3330, 20.
05:35The shooter clicked off to safety.
05:3610, 9, 8.
05:39Not from the shooter, from outside.
05:41A bullet punched through the third floor glass and hit the lead shooter in the shoulder.
05:44He went down. But the other two shooters immediately started firing around.
05:49Bullets ripped through the doorway.
05:51Hit the wall.
05:52Hit the shelves.
05:53Hit the ceiling.
05:54Dust and debris rained down.
05:56I couldn't see.
05:57Someone was screaming.
05:58Someone was running.
05:59I grabbed Mia's hand and ran for the stairwell.
06:01Her little legs couldn't keep up.
06:03I bent down to pick her up, but I was wearing heels and there was broken glass everywhere.
06:06I slipped. I fell.
06:08Mia's hand slipped out of mine.
06:09She hit the ground.
06:10Mia!
06:11Come to me!
06:13She crawled toward me on her hands and knees.
06:15Her hand stretched out, inches away from her fingers.
06:17Then the ceiling.
06:18A slab of concrete fell.
06:20It landed on my left leg.
06:22The 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.
06:30Mia!
06:31Still nothing.
06:32I tried to crawl to her, but 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.
06:39My nails broke.
06:40Blood seeped from my fingertips.
06:41I couldn't reach her.
06:43I 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.
06:49A line of blood at the corner of her mouth.
06:51Daddy!
06:52Mia screamed.
06:52The last thing she ever said.
06:54Then she went still.
06:56Jason heard the gunfire and the explosion from the rooftop.
07:00His 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, Emily was already by the ambulance.
07:22She was sitting on the curb, holding Lily.
07:24Her face was gray with dust, but 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.
07:33He got in the ambulance with them.
07:35He went to the hospital.
07:37He got Emily and Lily a VIP room.
07:39Lily wasn't even hurt.
07:40Just scared.
07:41But Emily insisted.
07:42She needed to be admitted.
07:43For observation.
07:44Jason ran around doing everything.
07:46Bought food for Lily.
07:47Poured water for Emily.
07:48Watched cartoons with Lily.
07:50He slept on the VIP room couch.
07:52He didn't know I was in the same hospital.
07:54Didn't know I was on the third floor in the ICU.
07:56Didn't know my left leg was gone.
07:58Didn't know I was covered in injuries.
07:59He didn't know.
08:00Mia was in the morgue.
08:01He stayed on the fifth floor for three days.
08:03Never went down to the third.
08:05He passed it on the elevator when he went to buy food for Emily.
08:08The doors opened.
08:09The doors closed.
08:09He never stepped out.
08:11For three days, I lay on a bed on the third floor and asked the nurses the same question
08:15over and over.
08:16Where is my daughter?
08:17Every time, the nurse looked down.
08:19On the third day, a 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.
08:28My 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.
08:35Mia, dead.
08:36Those two words spun in my head until I got dizzy.
08:39Where is she?
08:39The morgue.
08:41The morgue.
08:41Mia was scared of the dark.
08:43She slept with a nightlight every night.
08:45Now 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.
09:00I reached out and touched her face.
09:02Cold.
09:02Mia.
09:03Mia.
09:04I said it a lot of times.
09:06She never answered.
09:07That same day, the fire department came to the hospital looking for Jason.
09:10We need you to come identify a body.
09:11Whose?
09:12A female child.
09:13Six years old.
09:14Pulled 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.
09:22There 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.
09:28Purple.
09:29Swollen.
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.
09:40Then he started shaking.
09:41His fingers first.
09:42Then his whole body.
09:43He finally said.
09:45No.
09:46No.
09:46No.
09:47He crawled to her.
09:48Grabbed her hand.
09:50Cold.
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.
10:02Not 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.
10:12Daddy's sorry.
10:15Please look at Daddy.
10:16Mia didn't look at me.
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.
10:25He crouched in the hallway outside the morgue.
10:27Held his head in his hands.
10:29Then he remembered me.
10:30Jason ran to the curb floor.
10:32I was already back from the morgue.
10:34He stood outside my room.
10:36Didn't come in.
10:37He walked in.
10:38Dropped to his knees.
10:39Beside my bed.
10:40Emma.
10:41Emma.
10:41Mia.
10:42Do you know what her last word was?
10:43He froze.
10:44She said Daddy.
10:45She thought you were coming to save her.
10:47She 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.
10:59Watching cartoons with Lily.
11:00I didn't know.
11:02I 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.
11:07You 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.
11:13Snot 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.
11:21My brother Ethan flew in from Chicago the next day.
11:24He walked into my room.
11:25Looked at my missing leg.
11:27Looked at Jason kneeling by my bed, refusing to leave.
11:29And his jaw went tight.
11:31Out.
11:32Jason didn't move.
11:33I said out!
11:35Jason stood up and walked out.
11:37He stood in the hallway.
11:38Didn't leave.
11:39Ethan closed the door.
11:40Saturday on my bed.
11:41Took my hand.
11:45Emma.
11:46I'm getting you a lawyer.
11:48I'm handling Mia's arrangements.
11:49Don't worry about anything except getting better.
11:52What about Jason?
11:54Divorce.
11:55He already knew.
11:56I was in the hospital for 10 days.
11:58Jason came every day.
11:59He stood in the hallway, too scared to come in.
12:01Ethan wouldn't let him, so he just stood there.
12:03For hours.
12:04Are you family?
12:05I'm her husband.
12:06She doesn't want to see you.
12:07I know.
12:08I'll just stand here.
12:09On the fourth day, Ethan stepped out.
12:11Jason came in.
12:12He was carrying a thermos.
12:14I made you chicken noodle soup.
12:17Used to like my soup.
12:18Emma.
12:19I 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.
12:26I deleted her.
12:26I quit the SWAT team.
12:28Your scope was on the toy store.
12:30You saw Emily and Lily.
12:31And you saw me and Mia.
12:33And you chose to save them first.
12:36I...
12:37You 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.
12:44I had Ethan draft the divorce papers.
12:45I kept the house.
12:47The 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.
12:56Emma.
12:57I'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.
13:22Emma.
13:23I 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.
13:41The funeral was 14 days after the hostage crisis.
13:44Jason 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.
13:53He didn't get up.
13:54The service happened.
13:55He stayed on his knees.
13:56People placed flowers.
13:57He stayed on his knees.
13:59Everyone left.
14:00He 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.
14:06Emma.
14:08I know you won't forgive me.
14:09I don't deserve it.
14:11But I'll wait.
14:13One year.
14:14Ten years.
14:15Forever.
14:18That day will never come.
14:22Then I'll wait forever.
14:24Jason started writing me letters every day.
14:26Not texts.
14:27Handwritten letters.
14:28He left them in my mailbox.
14:29Every morning, there was one.
14:31Emma.
14:32I went to see Mia today.
14:33I brought pink roses.
14:35She liked pink.
14:36I never knew that before.
14:37Now I know.
14:38Too late.
14:39Emma.
14:40I walked past the mall today.
14:42It's open again.
14:43I stood outside for a long time.
14:46I couldn't go in.
14:47I'm too scared.
14:49Emma.
14:49I went to AA.
14:50I can't sleep at night.
14:52I can only close my eyes if I drink.
14:54I'm working on it.
14:55Emma.
14:56I blocked Emily.
14:58She kept calling from different numbers.
14:59I didn't answer a single one.
15:01I should have done this a long time ago.
15:03I put every letter in a box.
15:05I never wrote back.
15:06Not once.
15:08Six 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.
15:21I saw his car parked outside.
15:22I didn't go in.
15:23I sat in my car and waited for him to leave.
15:26When 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.
15:32But feeling bad isn't the same as forgiveness.
15:34I waited until he left.
15:36Then I went in.
15:36There were flowers on Mia's grave.
15:38Pink ones.
15:39And a doll.
15:40New.
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.
15:49He owned a coffee shop.
15:50Didn't talk much.
15:51Could cook.
15:52He knew about everything.
15:53Ethan had told him.
15:54He didn't ask questions.
15:56Didn't give advice.
15:57Didn't judge.
15:57When I woke up from nightmares,
15:59he shook me awake and handed me a glass of water and said,
16:02You're okay.
16:03I'm here.
16:04One day he asked,
16:05Do 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.
16:17I knew who left them.
16:18Daniel didn't ask.
16:19He put his flowers next to hers,
16:21crouched down,
16:21said,
16:22Hey Mia,
16:23I'm Daniel.
16:25Your mom talks about you all the time.
16:27She says you loved blonde dolls.
16:29I'll bring you one next time.
16:32Not because I was sad.
16:33Because Mia once said,
16:35Mommy,
16:35when you look at the left lens,
16:38when I grow up,
16:39I want to find someone like Daddy,
16:41but better than Daddy.
16:44Daniel wasn't Jason.
16:45He was better.
16:46So much better.
16:47That night,
16:48I wrote Jason a letter.
16:49My first one back.
16:51I 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.
17:03He replied in one second.
17:04What time?
17:05The wedding was in the spring.
17:07At 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.
17:21My prosthetic was hidden under the skirt.
17:23The wind blew.
17:24Petals fell on Mia's headstone.
17:25We turned and walked down the hill.
17:27There was a car parked outside the cemetery gates,
17:29black old.
17:30A 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.
17:36And two strawberry hair ties.
17:38Is he good to you?
17:39Jason asked.
17:41Yes.
17:42He's good.
17:44Good.
17:47He 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.
17:55To remember her.
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