- 6 days ago
Ninety Nine Divorces
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:01It was the summer I turned 18. I tried to seduce my godfather for the first time, and he pressed
00:06his gun under my chin.
00:07I wore a white slip dress so thin, it might as well have been water, straddling the lap of Sicily's
00:12most ruthless godfather, pressing his own Beretta 92F against my jaw.
00:16You are crossing the line, Lola.
00:18Deep eyes that hid whirlpools beneath still surfaces, to the mole there, the one he'd seen when he bathed me
00:23ten years ago.
00:24I leaned forward, my lips grazed the gun barrel, tasting oil and leather and something darker, then kill me.
00:31My legs tightened around his waist, through his towel I felt him harden, felt the war in his body between
00:35protector and predator.
00:37Or claim me.
00:39Your choice, Uncle Asher.
00:44The ocean crashed against the cliffs outside, same sound as that night ten years ago.
00:48I still remember everything.
00:49The gunshots are down for security signs, the blood-hitting feedback is warm, so warm it's steam.
00:57The rough hands dragging me from a pile of corpses, fitting headphones over my ears, playing something loud and ancient.
01:03Count to one hundred, then I'll be back.
01:11I counted to thirty-seven.
01:13He kissed my forehead, his lips burning, his hands shaking.
01:16Thirty-nine.
01:26I counted to sixty-eight.
01:28More gunshots.
01:40I counted to one hundred, he returned covered in blood, lifted me into his arms, carried me to the car.
01:45Since then, I have never celebrated another birthday, and never looked forward to summer.
01:49Except for him flying back to this seaside villa every July to spend this damn anniversary with me.
01:54Ten years.
01:55Ten summers.
01:55Then times he handed me gifts, said happy summer vacation, little princess.
01:59Then vanished into his study like I was something to be locked away.
02:02But this year I was eighteen, legally adult, and physically, I looked down at my dress.
02:06The fabric clung like a second skin, nipples visible, hip bones sharp.
02:10I knew I was ready.
02:15The shower stopped.
02:16Also stopped my heart.
02:17The doorknob turned.
02:18I pushed the door open.
02:20Steam poured out.
02:21And there he was.
02:22Thirty.
02:22When he saved me.
02:23Forty now.
02:24Time had carved him.
02:25Fine lines at the corners of his eyes.
02:27A sharper jaw.
02:27With those eyes, Mediterranean depths.
02:30The surface might be calm.
02:31However, the undercurrents could drag you in and drown you underneath.
02:33His towel sat low.
02:35Water tracked from his collarbone.
02:36Down his chest.
02:37Over the ridges of his abs.
02:38Disappearing into.
02:40Lola.
02:40He pinned me in place with my name.
02:42What are you doing in my room?
02:45This year I prepared a special gift.
02:48I untied my robe.
02:49Silks lit off my shoulders with a whisper.
02:51The slip dress left nothing hidden.
02:53His gaze moved over me like touch shoulders to waist to thighs.
02:56I watched his throat work.
02:57Watched his hand tighten on the towel.
03:00I stepped closer.
03:02I'm eighteen.
03:04Not a little girl anymore.
03:13Close enough to smell him.
03:14Mint soap over tobacco and leather.
03:16The scent of him that haunted my dreams.
03:18I caught his wrist.
03:19Guided him toward the bed.
03:21Felt the tension in his muscles.
03:22Like a leopard deciding whether to snap his prey's neck.
03:25I fell back onto the mattress looking up at him.
03:29Lola, I'm your-
03:30I know who you are.
03:31The godfather.
03:32My father's best friend.
03:33The man who raised me.
03:35But remember that summer night?
03:37That summer night you saved me?
03:38It's not just my life.
03:40You didn't just save my life.
03:42You stole my soul.
03:44It's been yours ever since.
03:46His eyes went dark.
03:48Dangerous.
03:48Then his hand moved.
03:49Not to caress me.
03:50To the pillow beneath my head.
03:52Then the gun barrel pressed under my chin.
03:53I didn't close my eyes.
03:55I stuck out my tongue.
03:56Licked the metal.
03:57His breath hitched.
03:58His finger whitened on the trigger.
03:59That cross tattoo swam in my vision.
04:01The one I'd seen a thousand times over these ten years.
04:04The one on the hand that held the pen when I handed him the document.
04:06On the hand that supported my waist when I was taught to swim.
04:09On the hand that fed me medicine when I had a fever last summer.
04:12Now this hand trembled.
04:15I don't care.
04:16Next summer, I'll come again.
04:18The summer after.
04:20Every summer.
04:20I wrapped my lips around the cold steel.
04:23Blame me.
04:24Or kill me.
04:27Staring into his eyes.
04:28Silence crushed us outside.
04:30Waves beat the cliffs like a heartbeat.
04:31Just like they had ten years ago.
04:33He threw the gun.
04:34The Beretta hit the carpet with a dull thud.
04:36His towel fell.
04:43Silence crushed us outside.
04:45Waves beat the cliffs like a heartbeat.
04:46Just like they had ten years ago.
04:48He threw the gun.
04:48The Beretta hit the carpet with a dull thud.
04:50His towel fell.
04:54In one violent motion.
04:56He snatched the bed sheet.
04:57Wrapped it around me.
04:58Rough.
04:59Angry.
04:59Tucking the edges against my shoulders.
05:01Like he was trying to sew me inside.
05:02Stay that again.
05:03And you'll learn what happens when you provoke me.
05:10The door slammed in the dark.
05:12I sat on the bed.
05:13Cheek clutched to my chin.
05:14Counting my heartbeats.
05:15107.
05:16108.
05:17109.
05:18I won't give up Uncle Asher.
05:20Next summer.
05:21I'll be here.
05:22Every year.
05:23Until you say yes.
05:24I shouted into the darkness.
05:26Laughing to tears.
05:27Footsteps paused at the stairs end.
05:28One second.
05:29Two.
05:30Then faded away.
05:31Moonlight spilled through the window.
05:32Landing on the nightstand.
05:33I curled around the battered teddy bear he'd given me ten years ago.
05:36Nose chewed bald by me.
05:38Ears sewn back three times.
05:40I buried my face in familiar fur.
05:41Couldn't smell lavender.
05:42Couldn't smell blood.
05:43Only smelled myself.
05:44Exactly like ten years ago.
05:48Three years later I gift wrapped myself and waited two hours.
05:52Red ribbon.
05:52Clear shellafane.
05:53I wore a red bikini and sheer cover up.
05:55Curled behind the living room sofa like a present waiting to be unwrapped.
05:58Provence's July heat baked the air through the French windows.
06:01Sweat slicking my back against the wrapping pepper.
06:03Heartbeat 21.
06:04Heartbeat 22.
06:06The lock turned.
06:07Footsteps.
06:08Two sets.
06:09Heels clicking like bullets chambering against marble.
06:13Engagement ceremony in August?
06:16What about your little girl?
06:18She had you every summer.
06:20Time she learned independence, no?
06:22Uncle Asha!
06:23When I burst out of the bar, his lips were pressed against her neck.
06:26Black dress.
06:27Pearl earrings.
06:28Typical Italian socialite 35 ripped from the pages of Vogue.
06:31Her gaze scraped over my bikini.
06:33Lips curving in a knowing, venomous smile.
06:35Her nails circled his chest.
06:38Lola.
06:38Yes?
06:39She extended her hand.
06:41Maxime Capone.
06:42Your uncle Asha's fiancé.
06:51Fiancé.
06:52The word detonated in my skull.
06:53I looked at Asher.
06:54Stiff, embarrassed.
06:56Something broken in his eyes like a caged beast caught in its own trap.
06:59When the fuck did you get a fiancé nobody told me about?
07:03Go change.
07:04Now!
07:05Oh, relax, darling.
07:08No mother to raise her, poor thing.
07:11No wonder she doesn't know how to dress like a decent woman.
07:14But don't worry, dear.
07:16Once Asher and I marry, I'll teach you some manners.
07:19Don't you fucking touch this, you bitch!
07:22Crack.
07:22My face snapped sideways.
07:24Fire bloomed across my cheek.
07:26Asher's hand hung in the air.
07:27Shock in his eyes.
07:28Regret.
07:29The cross tattoo burning like it had against my jaw three years ago.
07:32Lola.
07:32I shoved him hard and ran towards the stairs.
07:34Knee cracked against the banister.
07:36Numb with pain.
07:37But I didn't stop.
07:38Poor little thing.
07:39Pity she'll never learn her place.
07:47I slammed my door, slid down the wood, spine hitting cold grain.
07:50My cheek burned, not from the slam.
07:52From my eyes, tears flooded, wiped away by my wrist.
07:54Tasting salt.
07:55Outside, the lavender fields turned deep purple in twilight, like clotting blood.
07:59Like that night.
08:00I counted breaths until the knock came.
08:02Maxine entered with a perfect smile, carrying a glass.
08:05Condensation beaded the surface.
08:06Black dress.
08:07Low neckline.
08:08A mole below her collarbone.
08:09Almost exactly where mine sat.
08:11Your uncle Ash so sorry.
08:12He squeezed this lemonade himself and asked me to bring in it.
08:16Lemonade.
08:16Pale yellow.
08:17Pulp floating.
08:18Poison in the light.
08:19I was deathly allergic to citrus.
08:21He knew it well since he saved me ten years ago.
08:23No lemons.
08:23Oranges.
08:24Grapefruit in this villa.
08:25Ever since I came here.
08:27Last summer I ate one bite of lemon tart by accident.
08:30He drove me to the hospital at 2am.
08:32Holding my hand through three epinephrine shots.
08:34He forgot.
08:34Or, I took the glass.
08:36Drank it dry under her gaze.
08:37Acid burned my throat.
08:38In the mirror I saw my own expression.
08:40I knew what she'd done.
08:41And I knew.
08:42I knew he would save me.
08:43I always knew.
08:50Finished?
08:51Good girl.
08:52Now go help prepare dinner.
08:54Asher wants to see us getting along.
08:56I set down the glass.
08:57Fingers already tingling.
08:58Snow filled the edges of my vision.
09:00Old television static.
09:04Fifteen minutes later, I sliced cake in the kitchen.
09:07Maxine and the maids blocked me from the living room.
09:09Pretending busyness.
09:10Their laughter needling my eardrums.
09:12I heard Asher's voice low.
09:13Impatient.
09:14Asking Maxine about the terrace view.
09:16The moon's beautiful time.
09:18Perfect for discussing wedding details.
09:20Wedding, the knife slipped.
09:22Sliced my finger.
09:23Vision blurred.
09:24I heard Asher crash through the crowd.
09:26Let me see.
09:27Nothing.
09:28Just a small cut.
09:29He brought my finger to his lips and began to suck on it slowly.
09:32Still hurt?
09:33I wanted to say no.
09:35But the allergic reaction hit full force.
09:38Lola!
09:39Lola!
09:40The world tilted.
09:41Last conscious thought.
09:42Him rolling me onto my side.
09:43Tearing my jeans waist.
09:45Slamming the epinephrine pen into my hip.
09:50Pills water.
09:51His fingers forced me to swallow.
09:53Tasting of blood and mint.
09:54Exactly like three years ago.
09:58Breathe with me.
09:59Tingling fingers.
10:00Heart hammering like it would explode.
10:01I moved and felt the nightstand.
10:03The battered teddy bear with its nose chewed fall and ear sewn three times.
10:07He sent it to me ten years ago and said,
10:09He will protect you.
10:10Just like I will.
10:11The door opened.
10:11Asher entered with water.
10:13Black shirt sleeves rolled to elbows.
10:14Cross tattoo exposed.
10:16Forty.
10:16Fine lines mapping his face in lamplight.
10:18Every man he'd killed.
10:19Every life he'd saved.
10:20And me.
10:21Awake.
10:22Maxine left.
10:23The maids are gone.
10:24He handed me the cup.
10:25I took it.
10:26Didn't drink.
10:27Gone?
10:28Fired.
10:29They almost killed you.
10:31And Maxine?
10:32Your fiancé?
10:34His jaw tightened like when he threw the gun.
10:40A business arrangement.
10:41Capone family needs Myceria ports.
10:44I need someone to manage my affairs.
10:46Manage affairs?
10:47She just tried to kill me.
10:48With lemonade.
10:49I know.
10:50You know?
10:51I know what she is.
10:52I also know you drank it.
10:53Knew I'd save you.
10:54You always know.
10:55Silence crushed us.
10:57Waves outside like that night.
10:58I set the cup down slow.
11:00Deliberate.
11:00Let one camazole strap slide off my shoulder.
11:02His gaze stuck.
11:04Magnetized.
11:04Then forced away.
11:05You knew three years ago too.
11:07Knew I'd lick that gun.
11:08Knew I'd come every summer.
11:09Knew I'd-
11:10Lola.
11:10Warning.
11:11But he didn't move.
11:12You know everything.
11:13I leaned close.
11:14Close enough to smell mint over tobacco and leather.
11:18So did you know I've thought of you every day for three years?
11:22His breath caught.
11:24Know I rejected every man in college because they didn't have your crow's teeth?
11:27Know I sleep with that teddy bear every night pretending it's you?
11:29I caught his wrist, guided it to my hip.
11:32I'm not a little girl anymore, Uncle Asher.
11:34I'm 21.
11:35My body changed.
11:40His restraint vibrated like a plucked string under my touch.
11:44I straddled his lap, felt him hard through dress pants.
11:48Lola, we can't.
11:49Feel that?
11:50That's me.
11:51All of me.
11:52Not your little princess anymore.
11:54My hand found his shirt buttons.
11:55Trembling.
11:56He caught my wrist.
11:57Grip crushing but didn't push me away.
11:59Let me be your woman.
12:00Just tonight.
12:01Just now.
12:02Tomorrow you can pretend nothing happened.
12:04Marry Maxine.
12:05Have your arrangement.
12:05But tonight, his phone rang.
12:07Maxine's name.
12:08He said it face down on the nightstand.
12:12Eat something.
12:14Rest.
12:14I need to see my fiance.
12:16She needs me.
12:17But you've never left me on summer vacation night.
12:20This year, the maids are gone.
12:21I'm alone.
12:22You're 21.
12:23An adult, right?
12:24One night.
12:25Endure it.
12:26The door closed.
12:27I heard my heartbeat.
12:28I lay down.
12:29Buried my face in the teddy bear outside.
12:31Provence lavender turned silver in moonlight.
12:33A frozen sea.
12:34Sleepless.
12:36Dawn breaking.
12:38I decided to make him jealous.
12:42Mia and Daniel friends from college dragged me to a beach club's back rooms.
12:47Want to drive an old man crazy?
12:49Make him walk.
12:50White bodysuit.
12:51Bridal veil.
12:52They pushed me on stage where dozens of drunk men howled.
12:57Money rained like confetti.
12:59I stood in spotlight, shaking, thinking what Asher was doing.
13:02Dinner with Maxine.
13:03Whispering promises.
13:04Or bang.
13:05Gunfire tore the music.
13:07Everyone turned.
13:08Asher stood in the doorway.
13:09Black trench coat.
13:10Pistol smoking.
13:11The chandelier above him sparked.
13:13Glass raining down.
13:14He looked at no one.
13:15Only me.
13:16Eyes burning through me like they wanted to incinerate me alive.
13:18He strode to the stage.
13:20Tore a stack of cash from his pocket.
13:22Slapped it across the manager's face.
13:24Take this stripper to VIP.
13:25Now.
13:26Private show.
13:27The room froze.
13:28I followed him down the hall.
13:30Into the red room.
13:31A lock clipped.
13:33You like dancing for men in places like this?
13:35He sat on the sofa.
13:36Legs spread.
13:37Cigar smoldering.
13:39Then dance for me.
13:40Strip.
13:40Give me your full show.
13:45Insulting me.
13:46Claiming me.
13:47I walked to him.
13:48Draped the bridal veil over our heads.
13:49White fabric enclosed us.
13:51Faces inches apart.
13:56You taught me.
13:59Don't tell me you forgot.
14:00His pupils blew wide.
14:02Outside.
14:02Daniel's voice.
14:03Lola!
14:04Next bar!
14:06I pulled back.
14:07Smiled.
14:08Oops.
14:08That's my boyfriend.
14:09Gotta go.
14:09He shot up.
14:10Threw me over his shoulder.
14:12Kicked open the door.
14:13Stormed through the crowd.
14:14Daniel stood at the entrance.
14:15Face painted.
14:16Crop top showing skin.
14:18Asher stopped.
14:19Sneered.
14:20This is your boyfriend?
14:21Jesus fucking.
14:22He threw me in the car.
14:24Silence crushed us until I exploded.
14:30Engine more.
14:33Why did you do that?
14:34You humiliated me in front of my friends.
14:36I'm protecting my child from trouble.
14:38I'm not a child.
14:41He slammed the brakes.
14:43Tires screamed at the cliff's edge.
14:46Then he turned.
14:47Eyes holding something I'd never seen.
14:49Vulnerability.
14:50Hunger.
14:52Sorry.
14:53I know I shouldn't keep treating you like a kid.
14:56If you want me to see you as an adult.
15:01First step?
15:02Learn to drive.
15:03Not that strip club bullshit.
15:06I climbed over the console.
15:08Saturday in his lap.
15:10His hands covered mine.
15:12This is what adults do.
15:13Feel it.
15:14The car swayed on the coastal highway for three hours.
15:17Not out of control.
15:18Deliberate.
15:18Every turn.
15:19His chest pressed my back.
15:21Every shift.
15:21His hand accidentally slid up my thigh.
15:24Watch the road.
15:25Focus.
15:25I counted his heartbeat through my spine.
15:27Faster than mine.
15:28You're distracting me.
15:29This is dangerous.
15:30I'm teaching you.
15:32Feel the engine.
15:33Feel the speed.
15:35This is what adults do.
15:46We stopped at a viewpoint.
15:48City lights spread below.
15:49Like scattered jewels.
15:52I turned to find him smiling.
15:53Real smile.
15:54Crow's feet.
15:55White teeth.
15:56You look good smiling.
15:58I mean.
16:00You rarely smile.
16:03You rarely make me this uncontrolled.
16:07The word hung between us.
16:09Forbidden invitation.
16:10Then he ruffled my hair like I was 12.
16:13Drove me home.
16:17Three days later they crucified me in lecture hall.
16:20My presentation slides were placed with photo strip club champagne room.
16:25Asher's hand on my leg.
16:27His mouth on my ear.
16:30The classroom erupted in laughter and screams.
16:33Vestitial howling.
16:37Advanced stripper studies?
16:39Lola, is this your project?
16:42I ran for the door.
16:43They blocked me, Mia, Daniel, Kylie, others.
16:51They dragged me to the lab.
16:59Industrial glue pressing me to the wall like a specimen.
17:08Admit it.
17:09You're an incestuous whore.
17:10Say it loud.
17:11Or you stay here overnight with the corpses.
17:14White sheet.
17:15Pale hand underneath.
17:17Glue burned my skin.
17:18He screamed.
17:19They laughed.
17:19Phone lenses hunting my face like ritual.
17:21Then the door exploded.
17:26Wood spanners like that night.
17:28Piano room door.
17:29Shard knocking bolts.
17:31Asher stood in the frame.
17:32Black trench coat.
17:33Pistol smoking.
17:37His gaze swept the room.
17:39Found me.
17:40Pale.
17:40Shaking.
17:41Glued to the wall like captured prey.
17:43He tore the fabric from my body.
17:44You like this?
17:49Let's see how you like being stuck.
17:51He coated her mouth.
17:52Lips to chin like a mask.
17:54Her eyes widened.
17:55Muffled screams.
17:57Call police.
17:58Call lawyers.
17:59Call your rich daddy.
18:00I don't care.
18:07I wept in his arms.
18:08Face buried in his shoulder.
18:09Tobacco and leather.
18:10Exactly like 10 years ago.
18:13I knew you'd come.
18:15You always come.
18:17He kissed my forehead like that night, but longer.
18:22What I didn't know, Maxine's plot started at the hospital.
18:25Shelly, my only real friend, pregnant, needed comfort.
18:28I held her ultrasound in the hospital.
18:30Her masked men dragged me down the road.
18:31First thought, at least Shelly's not here.
18:37They slammed me on a cold room.
18:39Fists to my ribs.
18:40Trying to shake organs loose.
18:45Which bitch is pregnant?
18:48Tell us or we kick this belly until it miscarries.
18:52In the corner, Shelly screams muffled by tape.
18:55I looked at her, at her belly.
18:57Then I made a decision.
19:02Hey, I'm pregnant.
19:04The biggest lie of my life, the truest sacrifice.
19:06If they thought it was me, they wouldn't touch Shelly.
19:08If they thought the child was mine, they'd keep me alive.
19:11At least until confirmation.
19:14Asher burst in as I coughed blood.
19:18Asher's face, shock.
19:19Then something complex, breaking.
19:21That look from the piano room 10 years ago, but something shattered.
19:25I'll raise your baby, Lola.
19:30But you've been with the wrong men.
19:32There are consequences.
19:35That's what you think of me?
19:38Some cheap slut sleeping around?
19:43He carried me to emergency.
19:50Save her!
19:51She's losing the baby!
19:56The doctor looked at him, confused.
19:58What baby?
19:59She's not pregnant.
20:05Put me down.
20:08It was Shelly.
20:11She's pregnant.
20:13I was just keeping you from faith.
20:16He misunderstood.
20:17Thought I'd been with some man.
20:19The unseen, non-existent man.
20:20And lost his child.
20:21Then a new doctor entered my chart.
20:23Paused, looking at Asher.
20:24Notifying him to leave.
20:26When it was just the doctor and me.
20:27Miss Bruno, we ran some tests.
20:30There's something you should know.
20:32Stomach cancer.
20:33Late stage.
20:35You have three months.
20:46I didn't tell Asher.
20:47Instead, I pushed him away.
20:48Let him believe I was with Joe.
20:50His nephew.
20:50Just returned from Italy.
20:53We kissed in front of him.
21:00Walked in gardens.
21:02Watched stars from terraces.
21:06I moaned with Joe in the bathroom.
21:11Listening to Asher's footsteps.
21:13Shattering outside.
21:16Imagining his face.
21:18That thing suppressed for 10 years.
21:20Finally cracking, then breaking.
21:22I told the mirror.
21:23Tears and smile mixing.
21:25Happy summer vacation.
21:27This is the last gift I can give you.
21:30Maxine's engagement party.
21:32August.
21:32Capone Estate on the Amalfi Coast.
21:34Clifftop White Palace.
21:35Lit like a sunken cruise ship.
21:37I attended as family.
21:39Maxine's chosen dress.
21:40Her delivered invitation.
21:42Her designed humiliation.
21:44She waited in the dressing room.
21:46Holding a white wedding gown.
21:47Not bridesmaids.
21:48But her gown.
21:49Gone from Milan.
21:51Her name on the label.
21:52I saw her honey knife smile.
21:54I knew the trap.
21:56Try this.
21:56I want my future daughter's opinion.
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