- 6 hours ago
After the Wedding Was Cancelled, I Killed Our Child
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:02The night before my wedding, I catch my fiancé in bed with his dead savior's sister.
00:08She's wrapped in my white embroidered wedding quilt, still flushed from whatever just happened.
00:16I throw the positive pregnancy test at his face.
00:20You still want this baby?
00:30He chain-smokes half the night. At dawn, he stubs out his last cigarette and says,
00:36She's just an obligation. You're the one I love.
00:39For those words, I put on my wedding dress and decide to give him one last chance. What I get
00:45instead.
00:48Sorry, Ms. Snow. Mr. Hale says the wedding's off. Ms. Witwaiter's having heart problems. They're in the ER.
00:54My bridal bouquet hits the floor. So does every shred of my dignity.
00:58I run outside. All I catch is his car disappearing down the street. On the phone, I'm coming apart.
01:04Julian Hale! You go to her today. I go to the hospital tomorrow.
01:08And I'll make sure your family line ends with you.
01:10A beep of silence. Then he hangs up.
01:13I'm standing outside the hotel, still in my wedding dress.
01:18Guests are staring, whispering behind their hands.
01:21The officiant's up on stage clutching the mic like he has no idea what to do.
01:26Julian's mother, Regina Quinn, power walks over and grabs my hands.
01:30Sonia, come back inside. Don't let them turn this into a spectacle.
01:34I look at her, quiet.
01:36Mrs. Quinn, there is no wedding.
01:40Since Julian's not thinking straight, Vivian's condition is just not for me.
01:43You're the woman he's marrying. You need to be gracious.
01:45I'm not marrying him.
01:47Sonia Snow, you walk out that door, don't bother ever setting foot in this family again.
01:50I peel off the wedding dress, put on my own clothes.
01:55Miss Snow, your makeup?
01:59Leave it.
02:01The sky outside is bluzzed and heavy.
02:06St. Clair's Medical Center.
02:10I don't answer.
02:11I know exactly what he's gonna say.
02:14Mr. Hale's handling an emergency.
02:16Mr. Hale didn't mean for this to happen.
02:18Mr. Hale will explain everything later.
02:2110 years.
02:22I know this script by heart.
02:24Vivian Whitmore is Julian's responsibility.
02:27Because Vivian's brother, Leo, died 5 years ago saving Julian's life.
02:32That debt has been sitting on Julian's chest for 5 years.
02:35I used to think taking care of her was the right thing to do.
02:38I didn't understand until today.
02:40Some debts come with boundaries.
02:41And he crossed every single one.
02:44Sonia, you came.
02:45I'm so sorry about today.
02:47How is she?
02:47The doctor said acute heart failure.
02:49She's still in there.
02:50It's not looking good.
02:52Okay.
02:53Sonia, please.
02:54Leo died for me.
02:55I can't just leave Vivian.
02:56She has no one else in this world.
02:58Julian, I'm not doing anything.
02:59I just realized our wedding wasn't quite as important as some girl you've known for 5 years.
03:03Sonia, you are the most important thing to me.
03:05But she could die.
03:06The doctor didn't say she's dying.
03:08That's not...
03:09Sonia, you are the most important thing to me.
03:12But she could die.
03:13My voice comes out flat.
03:14The doctor didn't say she's dying.
03:20The doors open.
03:22A doctor steps out.
03:25Family for Vivian Whitmore?
03:27That's me.
03:28The patient experienced tachycardia due to emotional stress.
03:31She's stable now.
03:31No danger.
03:32We're moving her to a regular room for observation.
03:36See?
03:37She's fragile.
03:38Can't you just be a little understanding?
03:45They wheel the bed out.
03:47Vivian's lying there, pale, eyes closed.
03:50Her lashes flutter.
03:51Her eyes slit open.
03:53The second she sees me, the tears well up on cue.
03:56Julian's right there, grabbing her hand.
03:58Vivian, I'm here.
03:59I've got you.
04:00I turn and walk out of the hospital.
04:03Cold wind hits my face.
04:04That's when I notice my heart's pounding.
04:07Julian doesn't come home the next day.
04:09The house we were supposed to share.
04:11Dead quiet.
04:16I call a real estate agent.
04:18List the property.
04:19Yeah.
04:20Urgent sale.
04:21Sonia, I'm here to apologize for Vivian.
04:23She didn't mean for any of this to happen.
04:24She can't apologize herself?
04:25She's still very weak.
04:26Julian, let's put her aside for a second.
04:27Let's talk about us.
04:28What do we do about the wedding?
04:28We tell our families.
04:29Well, wait.
04:30Once things settle down, we'll have another ceremony.
04:31Another ceremony?
04:32You think this is something you just reschedule?
04:34Well, what do you want me to do?
04:35It already happened.
04:37Sonia, I know you're hurting, but Vivian just nearly died.
04:39Can we please have a little compassion?
04:50What are you doing?
04:52I'm selling the house.
04:55Sonia Snow, are you done?
05:00I'm not doing anything.
05:01I just don't want to live here anymore.
05:03You're not selling it.
05:04This is our home.
05:06Stopped being our home the second you walked out on it for another woman.
05:17What's wrong?
05:19Another nightmare?
05:21Don't be scared.
05:21I'm on my way.
05:22He actually thinks I'm gonna fold, like I always do.
05:26Sonia, stop this.
05:27Vivian's still fragile.
05:28I need to check on her.
05:29We'll talk when I get back.
05:31You walk out that door?
05:33Don't bother coming back.
05:36Sonia, my patience has limits.
05:39I listen to the door click shut.
05:42I move back into my studio.
05:45A tiny loft, design space downstairs.
05:48Bedroom upstairs.
05:50Julian doesn't reach out, neither do I.
05:53A week later, Regina Quinn summons me for coffee.
05:56She slides a check across the table.
05:59Ten million dollars.
06:01Leave Julian.
06:02I look at all those zeros.
06:05Mrs. Quinn, this was never about money.
06:10I'm aware.
06:11You two have ten years of history.
06:14But Sonia, you need to understand.
06:17The Hall family requires a wife who knows how to handle things.
06:22Someone who eases Julian's burdens.
06:25Not someone who creates them.
06:26And Vivian's the one who eases his burdens?
06:29Vivian is gentle.
06:31Kind.
06:32Her brother gave his life for my son.
06:35Of course Julian is going to protect her.
06:37As his fiancé, you should be supporting that.
06:40Not fighting him on it.
06:42There it is.
06:42Everything I went through.
06:44Keep the money.
06:45And keep Julian, too.
06:47I hope he and Vivian are very happy together.
06:50I walk out of that cafe and block every single Hale family contact.
06:54Peace.
06:55Finally, I throw myself into preparing for the Milan International Jewelry Design Competition.
07:01Three months away.
07:03It's my highest dream as a designer.
07:05The days are full and quiet.
07:07Until the afternoon an uninvited guest shows up at my studio.
07:11Vivian.
07:12Sonia, I came to apologize.
07:16It was my fault.
07:17I shouldn't have...
07:18Say what you came to say.
07:19Julian, he's been drinking a lot.
07:21He's miserable.
07:22And I know it's because of me.
07:23Sonia, this is the card he gave me.
07:25I saved everything.
07:26Never used a cent.
07:27Take it back, okay?
07:28Please just stop being mad at him.
07:30Vivian.
07:31Do you honestly think this is cute?
07:33I don't understand what you mean.
07:34Every single time you get sick.
07:36Every single time some crisis happens, it's always right at a moment that matters for me and him.
07:41You really expect me to believe you're not doing this on purpose?
07:43I'm not...
07:44Take your card.
07:45Get out of my studio.
07:46Sonia, I know you hate me.
07:48But if Leo hadn't died five years ago, if it had been Julian instead, what would you have done?
07:53Believe me or not, I never wanted to destroy anything between you two.
07:58I was just so lonely.
08:07Sonia!
08:07What the hell did you do to her?
08:10She went home and slit her wrists.
08:12If the housekeeper hadn't found her, she'd be dead.
08:14Are you happy now?
08:15I didn't do anything.
08:17Don't lie to me.
08:18She's so sweet.
08:19She was giving you her savings, trying to make things right.
08:21Why would you push her like that?
08:22Julian, do you believe her or me?
08:26You're coming to the hospital.
08:27You're going to apologize.
08:30No.
08:31Like hell you're not!
08:33Julian, you've lost your mind!
08:35You're the one who's lost it.
08:36This isn't you.
08:38When did you get so vicious and impossible?
08:40Yeah.
08:41This isn't me.
08:42The old me would have believed every word he said.
08:45Shouldered every burden he handed me.
08:47Made his responsibilities my own.
08:49When did that change?
08:51Probably around the time he started throwing me away for someone else.
08:54Again and again and again.
08:56He drags me down the stairs.
08:59His car's right out front.
09:00He yanks the door open and tries to shove me inside.
09:03I wrench myself free.
09:05Every ounce of strength I have.
09:10Julian, we're done.
09:12Excuse me?
09:13I said we're over.
09:14From now on, you and your Vivian?
09:15Not my problem.
09:17Sonia, don't you dare regret this.
09:20My only regret is pulling you out of the gutter ten years ago
09:24and then spending another ten years
09:26with Stonky's letting you push me back into it.
09:28I walk upstairs, close the door, lock it.
09:31I lean against it, listening to him pound on the other side.
09:35Sonia, open the door!
09:37Then an engine rolls to life.
09:39He's gone.
09:41I sink to the floor.
09:43Wrap my arms around my knees.
09:45A sharp, tearing pain rips through my lower belly.
09:47There's blood.
09:48Seeking through my clothes.
09:51Running down my legs.
09:52I went to the hospital by myself to see the emergency room.
09:56Seven weeks pregnant.
09:57Signs of a threat and miscarriage.
09:59Your stress levels are dangerously high.
10:00We need to admit you for observation,
10:02but I'll need a signature from your husband for any procedure.
10:05He's traveling.
10:06What about another family member?
10:08I don't have any family.
10:09My parents died when I was a child.my grandfather raised me.
10:13He passed five years ago.
10:14I thought I still had Julian in this world.
10:17Now, I have no one.
10:20A message underneath.
10:22Miss Snow.
10:23Mr. Hale says he'll come find you once Miss Whitmore is stable.
10:26I stare at that photo for a long, long time.
10:29Then I stand up, walk back to the doctor's office.
10:35Doctor.
10:36I don't want this baby anymore.
10:41Have you decided?
10:44I've decided.
10:49At the consent desk, I pick up the pen.
10:52The line for family member's signature is blank.
10:56I write my own name in the patient's signature box.
10:59Then I lie down on the operating table.
11:01Anesthesia slides into my veins.
11:04One last thought before everything goes dark.
11:06Julian Hale.
11:07We're even.
11:13The day I'm discharged, it's raining in New York.
11:16I go straight to the airport.
11:18I buy a one-way ticket to Milan.
11:21Before I leave, I send Julian one last message.
11:24Then I pull the SIM card.
11:26Toss it.
11:28As the plane lifts off, I watch the city shrink beneath me.
11:32I tell myself, Sonia Snow, you're reborn.
11:35Milan is harder than I ever imagined.
11:38I don't speak the language.
11:40No friends.
11:41No money.
11:43I rent the cheapest studio apartment.
11:46Eat the simplest food.
11:49Days, I audit classes at the Jewelry Institute.
11:54Nights, I wash dishes in a tiny restaurant.
11:57It's brutal, but my soul is quiet.
12:00I pour everything into my designs.
12:03Ten years of love.
12:04Ten years of pain.
12:06All of it goes onto the page.
12:08Three months later, I'm standing on the stage at the Milan International Jewelry Design Competition, holding my piece, Caged Bird.
12:15It takes gold.
12:17That day, under the spotlight, a thousand camera flashes lighting up the crowd.
12:21I smile.
12:22I'm not that Sonia Snow anymore.
12:24The one who needed Julian Hale to survive.
12:27I'm Sonia Snow, designer.
12:31Three years pass.
12:32I bring my brand, Snowlight, back to New York.
12:36My first major show is here in the city.
12:39The venue is packed.
12:41Celebrities everywhere.
12:42Backstage, I watch models walk out wearing my pieces.
12:45Julian Hale from Hale Enterprises is here.
12:48Front row hasn't taken his eyes off you.
12:50Has he?
12:51He's lost a lot of weight.
12:53Looks wrecked, honestly.
12:57Anna, go prep the finale piece.
12:59Got it.
13:01At the end of the show, I step out for the final bow.
13:04Applause crashes through the room.
13:06I see Julian.
13:07He's right there, staring at me across the sea of people.
13:12We hold for three seconds.
13:14I give him a small smile.
13:16Then I turn and walk off.
13:20His eyes are full of shock.
13:23Backstage, Anna tells me Julian wants to see me.
13:26Tell him I'm busy.
13:27He said he'll wait.
13:28Long as it takes.
13:31Then let him wait.
13:43Anna wasn't wrong.
13:44He looks thin.
13:45Older.
13:46Nothing like the man I remember.
13:48Something about learning how to love too late.
13:52Snowlight explodes.
13:54Orders pour in like a blizzard.
13:56I'm running on no sleep.
13:59Julian tries everything to get to me.
14:01He buys the cafe beneath my studio.
14:04Sits in the window every single day.
14:08He buys the billboard across from my office.
14:11My face runs on it 24-7.
14:13He buys every single piece I design.
14:15The harder he tries, the more ridiculous it feels.
14:19Now he cares.
14:20Where was this before?
14:23One afternoon, I've just wrapped a meeting when Anna walks in.
14:26Boss, there's a Miss Whitfield downstairs.
14:29Says her name is Vivian.
14:33Send her up.
14:36She's changed.
14:38Vivian.
14:39It's been years.
14:40Sharp makeup.
14:41Designer suit.
14:43Something hard around her eyes.
14:45Not that wounded little dove anymore.
14:50What do you want?
14:51I came to ask you to leave New York.
14:54And why would I do that?
14:55Because Julian's in love with you now.
14:57The second you came back, he changed.
14:59He wants me gone.
15:00He's breaking up with me.
15:01Sounds like good news.
15:02You two never belong together anyway.
15:04No.
15:05I was the one who stayed with him for three years.
15:07I took care of him when he had nothing.
15:09You don't get to waltz back in and take him.
15:11Vivian.
15:12Do you actually forget he was mine first?
15:15You throw him away!
15:16He threw me away first.
15:19Don't you gloat, Sonia.
15:20You think he actually loves you?
15:22It's just guilt.
15:23Look at this.
15:26Just a date.
15:27The date of my surgery.
15:29And engraved beneath it, our beloved angel.
15:31Signed, Father Julian Hale.
15:34He told me the biggest regret of his life is that baby.
15:36That's why he wants you back.
15:38To make it right.
15:39You're just the tool he needs for his own redemption, Sonia.
15:45That was for the child I never got to hold.
15:48You hit me?
15:50Get out.
15:51Security.
15:52Remove this woman.
15:53Now.
15:54You wait, Sona!
15:55I'll make you pay for this!
15:57I crouch down.
15:58Pick up the photos, one by one.
16:01I stare at that small headstone.
16:02And finally, finally, the tears come.
16:05I get sick.
16:07Fever that won't break.
16:09Anna takes me to the hospital.
16:12I lie in that bed, drifting in and out.
16:15Feels like I'm back in that cold operating room.
16:18Three years ago.
16:19Nightmares every time I close my eyes.
16:22A tiny baby, crying.
16:24Asking me, Mama, why didn't you want me?
16:27I wake up sobbing.
16:30Sonia, you're awake.
16:32I'm sorry.
16:33About the baby, I'm so sorry.
16:35Back then, I thought you ended the pregnancy because you hated me.
16:37I was too afraid to ask, too afraid to find you.
16:39I thought you'd hate me even more and to visit him every year.
16:41I gave him a name.
16:42I've been searching for you for three years, Sonia.
16:43I know I was wrong.
16:44Please, give me one more chance.
16:45He almost says it.
16:46Our child.
16:47The one who's gone.
16:48How absurd.
16:50Julian, go.
16:51I'm not leaving.
16:55Sonia.
16:55You're right about one thing.
16:56I ended that pregnancy because I hated you.
16:59I hated you for abandoning our wedding.
17:01For abandoning ten years.
17:02For choosing her over me again and again.
17:04So yes, I took it out on your child.
17:06No.
17:07No, that's not...
17:08You're not that kind of person.
17:09I am exactly that kind of person.
17:11So there's no going back.
17:13The woman you're looking at right now is Sonia Snow.
17:15Not that idiot who loved you so much she gave up everything.
17:18That idiot died on an operating table three years ago.
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