- 11 hours ago
Too Late for Your Tears, Brothers EP Betrayal, Redemption & Emotional Family Drama
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00The day after my bone cancer diagnosis, my three brothers took me to Thrill Skate Park.
00:05Staring at the giant pendulum ride, I bit back the weakness.
00:09Seb, I can't go on that.
00:10I tried to explain again and again.
00:12Viv, you've got some nerve!
00:14Making up cancer lies for attention?
00:19Chloe stayed up a whole week to grab VIP passes for your birthday.
00:23Could you act grateful for one?
00:24In the end, they forced me on the ride anyway.
00:27You're riding every thrill ride today.
00:30Time to cure you of this lying, attention-seeking bullshit.
00:32The second the ride lifted off, searing pain shot through my bones.
00:36I couldn't stop shaking.
00:38The pendulum, pirate ship, drop tower.
00:41Everything I loved as a kid had turned into torture.
00:44Round after round, the pain wore me down until I couldn't even cry anymore.
00:48When he saw how quiet and compliant I was, my oldest brother finally smiled.
00:53After the last roller coaster, we'll head to the private suite.
00:56Got your favorite triple-layer cream cake.
00:58But, I never got off that roller coaster alive.
01:02The doors popped open, and tourists filed out, chattering about the drops and g-forces.
01:07They were all hyped up, still buzzing from the rush, a little shaky from the thrill.
01:11Only the back corner had one girl, sitting completely still.
01:15Her head was pressed into the cold safety bar, her brown wavy hair falling over her face.
01:20It looked like she'd just passed out from tiredness after the ride.
01:23I darted through the crowd, shoving my way to the car.
01:27When I saw her face, I froze, my brain short-circuiting.
01:30I reached for my own arm, and my hand went right through it.
01:34That was me.
01:35I was dead.
01:36A wave of grief crashed over me.
01:39God really has a sick sense of humor.
01:41I died on my 18th birthday, the day I wanted to live more than anything in the world.
01:46The exit was loud and crowded.
01:48Families who didn't dare ride the thrill rides were pressed against the metal rail,
01:52craning their necks to spot their people.
01:54My three brothers, and our adopted sister Chloe, were right there with them.
01:59Chloe was in her favorite pink sundress, bouncing on her heels as she stared at the crowd.
02:03Where's Viv?
02:07Why hasn't she come out yet?
02:09Sebastian was in his tailored suit, standing behind her, hands in his pockets.
02:13We'd been waiting 20 minutes, and his face was getting colder by the second,
02:18flicking his eyes to his watch over and over.
02:21This girl is so out of line!
02:23Seb growled, his eyes ice cold.
02:26She's just throwing a fit because it's her birthday.
02:29Ethan jumped in, putting on that gentle smile he always used.
02:32Come on, cut her some slack.
02:34She's probably just having fun.
02:37It's not a big deal, she's just a kid.
02:39Leander leaned against the rail, joking like usual.
02:41She's always been slow.
02:42But I saw the tiny flicker of worry he couldn't hide.
02:45I used to do the same shit at home.
02:50You spoiled her too much, that's the problem.
02:52Chloe turned right away, putting on that sweet, innocent act she did so well.
02:56Don't say that, guys.
02:58Viv will be out soon.
03:00She didn't mean to keep us waiting.
03:02Meanwhile, the ride attendant at the unloading platform was already fed up.
03:06Ma'am, we're at the station.
03:07Stop sleeping in the car.
03:09Get off now.
03:10You're holding up the next group.
03:11But no matter how much he yelled, my body didn't move an inch.
03:15This park's rides are always packed.
03:17And it's a public holiday.
03:19Every ride has an hour plus wait.
03:21The next group, who'd been baking in the sun for an hour, lost it when they saw the platform blocked.
03:26They started yelling.
03:27Dude, go sleep at home!
03:28This ticket cost me 100 bucks!
03:30I didn't wait an hour for nothing!
03:31What the hell is wrong with this person?
03:33Is she just trying to piss everyone off?
03:35Hey, are you guys gonna do something?
03:37If not, I'm calling your manager to complain!
03:39The heat and the weight had everyone on edge, and the crowd started pushing.
03:43I was panicking, floating back and forth, sweating through my ghostly form.
03:48I'm sorry!
03:49I didn't mean to block the ride!
03:52I'm dead!
03:53I can't move!
03:54But no matter how loud I screamed, they couldn't hear me.
03:57My voice went right through them.
03:59Finally, the attendant couldn't take the pressure anymore, and grabbed his radio to call dispatch.
04:03A second later, the park's loudspeaker blared, echoing through the whole park.
04:09Is the family of Vivian Grayson here?
04:14Please report to the Extreme Coaster unloading platform immediately.
04:19We have an emergency.
04:20Please cooperate with Steph.
04:22When Steph heard my name over the speaker, he froze.
04:25His face went dark.
04:27Are you kidding me?
04:28She's really pulling this shit, getting on the park's speaker?
04:31She's embarrassing the whole Grayson family!
04:33Fred was furious.
04:34He pushed past Ethan and Leander, who tried to stop him, shoved through the crowd, and
04:39stormed onto the platform, right up to the coaster car.
04:41He stared down at my still body, forcing his anger down in front of everyone.
04:46Vivian, you think you're tough?
04:47I'm gonna count to three.
04:51Three.
04:52Two.
04:53He dragged the words out, but I still didn't move.
04:57The crowd behind him started cheering, pulling out their phones to film, all just here to
05:02gawk at the drama.
05:04Fine.
05:05Fine.
05:07Today I'm gonna teach you a lesson, you lying little brat!
05:11He stormed forward, grabbed me by the collar, and slapped me hard across the face.
05:16Smack.
05:17The sharp crack echoed across the platform.
05:19I didn't fight or make a sound, going limp with the hit and slumping lifeless into the
05:24coaster seat.
05:26Step had no idea I'd react like this.
05:29Normally, when he got mad, I'd be shaking and crying.
05:32But now, I was just like a broken doll, flopped there, completely motionless.
05:37Vivian!
05:38What the hell is wrong with you?!
05:40So mad, his chest was heaving, his fingers shaking hard.
05:43The crowd behind him was getting more and more fed up.
05:46Quit faking!
05:48Keep it up if you're so tired!
05:50You got slapped and you're still playing dead?
05:52Viv, you're really something else!
05:54Just then, Ethan, Leander, and Chloe finally caught up.
05:58When they saw me, they all froze.
06:00Snorked.
06:01Chloe stepped forward, voice full of mockery.
06:03Viv, you're such a lightweight.
06:05One coaster ride and you're wiped out?
06:07Come on, get up!
06:09Stop playing dead!
06:10Everyone's watching!
06:11She faked reaching for me, but before her hand even touched me, Ethan, who'd always doted
06:16on her, scared she'd get caught up in my mess, yanked her back into his arms.
06:20Seb turned his head away, huffing.
06:22Wouldn't even glance at me.
06:24Seb!
06:25Ethan!
06:26I'm really dead!
06:27I'm not faking this!
06:28Please!
06:29Just look at me!
06:31Check my pulse, please!
06:33Just look at me!
06:35Enough.
06:37She's embarrassing us.
06:38Let's get her out of here.
06:39Seb said coldly to his brothers.
06:41The attendant was fed up too.
06:42Sir, can you please get her out of here?
06:44You're holding up the ride!
06:47With the attendant rushing them, Seb grabbed me by the collar again and dragged me roughly
06:51off the coaster seat.
06:52I still didn't move.
06:53My limbs hung limp, and he dragged me across the cold concrete floor like I was trash.
06:58The sky was starting to dim.
07:00The original plan was, after the coaster, we were going to head to the park's luxury viewing
07:05suite from my birthday one I'd been dreaming of for months, but Seb slung me roughly over
07:09his shoulder.
07:09Lips pressed tight.
07:11His voice getting colder.
07:12Vivian, this is the la-
07:13Didn't look back once.
07:14I watched my cold body get left alone in that abandoned car, and I had no choice but to
07:19float after them.
07:20My 18th birthday party?
07:22Seb changed it right then, to a celebration for Chloe three years since she'd joined the
07:26Grayson family.
07:27In the luxury suite up high, all the birthday decor for me was torn down by security, replaced
07:32with the pink teddy bear theme Chloe loved.
07:34Even the triple layer cream cake Seb had custom made for me months ago.
07:37The staff just tossed it in a corner like it was trash.
07:40When I saw that, I couldn't take it anymore, and finally broke down crying, floating in the
07:45air.
07:46Chloe, tonight we're celebrating three years since you came to us.
07:50You settling in, oh kiddo, kiddo?
07:55Seb softened his voice.
07:56This is for you, Chloe.
07:58And clipped that pink diamond necklace, the one he'd gotten me for my coming of age present,
08:01right around Chloe's neck.
08:02Chloe ran her fingers over the necklace, looking shocked, like she couldn't believe it was
08:07real.
08:08Chloe, don't act surprised.
08:09You earned this.
08:11Anything Viv had will give you double.
08:13You're just as much our princess as she is.
08:16When Ethan said my name, Seb and Leander both frowned, so fast you almost couldn't see
08:20it.
08:21Watching that fake, sweet scene, I couldn't help but snort.
08:25Cold as ice.
08:26Treat her the same as me.
08:29Ethan, do you even feel guilty saying that shit?
08:31I remember Clear's Day, the day Chloe first moved in.
08:34She offhandedly said her room was cold, and Ethan gave her my master bedroom, the one with
08:39the best light in the whole house.
08:40And me?
08:40I got forced to move into the dark, damp basement.
08:44Lived there for three years.
08:46And that wasn't even the worst of it.
08:48Chloe transferred in, but she was too far behind to keep up with high school classes.
08:52To protect her ego, they made me hold back a grade with her.
08:55That's what Leander told me.
08:57You're both Grayson girls.
09:00If you don't do this, what if they make fun of her?
09:05After that, everything in the house was all about Chloe.
09:08You're the older sister, act mature.
09:10You've had it easy for 18 years.
09:12Viv, why are you so cold now?
09:15All those stupid, unfair accusations, they were like hammers, beating on my chest nonstop
09:21for two years.
09:23Just then, outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, fireworks started going off, bright as hell.
09:27Hundreds of drones lit up the night sky, spelling out Chloe's name.
09:30Chloe, my princess, welcome to the Grayson's.
09:34With us three brothers here, no one's ever gonna hurt you.
09:39Seb said, pulling the teary Chloe into a hug, his voice soft as could be.
09:44Chloe wiped her tears, all emotional.
09:47Then suddenly remembered something.
09:48She grabbed her phone.
09:50You guys are so good to me.
09:53I-I-I can't keep this from you.
09:55It's about Viv.
09:57There's a reason she acted out today.
09:59When he opened the screen, there it was a video of me, with some blonde punk, all over
10:04each other.
10:05Gross.
10:05It was obviously AI faked, but anger burned through the guy's common sense before they
10:10could notice.
10:10Are you kidding me, Viv?
10:12You really outdid yourself!
10:15Hooking up with some sketchy loser?
10:18Vivian is not our sister anymore!
10:20I was floating next to them, seeing the hate in their eyes, screaming as loud as I could,
10:24my throat raw.
10:25No!
10:26That's not real!
10:27I didn't do that.
10:28I don't even know that guy.
10:30But, I was a ghost.
10:32No body.
10:33Disgrace!
10:34She's a disgrace to our name!
10:36Acting out, playing dead, hooking up with thugs!
10:39Is she trying to ruin our family's name?
10:41Ethan and Leander sighed, too, staring at the phone.
10:45When they looked at me, all they had was disgust and disappointment.
10:48After a while, Seb calmed down, and pulled a velvet box out of his pocket, cold as ice.
10:54When he opened it, there was Mom's sapphire pendant.
10:57When I saw that pendant, my heart dropped right into my stomach.
11:01It was the only thing Mom left us.
11:03We each had one, a pair.
11:05It was his most prized possession for twenty years.
11:08But the next second, he clipped it right around Chloe's neck.
11:12Chloe froze, shocked, like she couldn't believe it.
11:15Chloe, from now on you're the only Grayson daughter.
11:18But this pendant, it's yours now.
11:23I just stared, frozen, too shocked to speak.
11:26The next second...
11:27Harrison, remove Vivian's name from the inheritance completely.
11:31All her stuff in the house, throw it out.
11:34From this day on, there is no Vivian.
11:38Not in this family.
11:41He hung up, his face blank, and put his phone away.
11:45Like he'd just handled a tiny errand, nothing important.
11:48I was floating in the air, so numb I couldn't even cry.
11:51Seb.
11:52He used to be the most loving person in the world to me.
11:55He took care of me my whole life, like a dad as much as a brother.
11:59I remember clear as day.
12:01In middle school, I got cornered by punks in an alley.
12:04Seb was only in middle school, too.
12:05And when he heard, he didn't think twice.
12:08Grabbed a baseball bat, and ran over alone, ready to fight them all.
12:12He got hurt bad.
12:13Don't be scared.
12:15That day, I didn't get a scratch.
12:16But Seb, he spent over a month in the hospital.
12:19First ICU, then the regular ward.
12:22To this day, that scar from that fight, it's still right there on his forehead, clear as day.
12:27For 18 years, I looked at that scar, and swore I'd love him forever.
12:32I never thought his love for me would just rot away like that.
12:35But ever since Chloe came to live with us, everything changed.
12:39I floated there, staring at his cold, cruel face.
12:42And suddenly, all that sibling love I'd clung to for 18 years, it was all bullshit.
12:47Pointless.
12:48Just then, sharp emergency sirens blared across the park.
12:51The speakers went off at the same time.
12:54Attention all guests!
12:56Due to an emergency, please evacuate!
12:59Please evacuate in an orderly manner!
13:02The tourists outside the suite panicked right away.
13:05They didn't know what was going on.
13:07But if a huge park like this was evacuating everyone at night, something bad had happened.
13:12The party got cut off.
13:13Chloe looked at the chaos, and I saw that flash of annoyance and frustration cross her face.
13:18Just then, there was a sharp knock on the suite's oak door.
13:21Seb frowned.
13:23That brat finally got over her fit, huh?
13:28Heard the alarm, now she's playing the victim.
13:32She sure knows how to pick a time.
13:34Chloe saw that, grabbed Seb's arm right away.
13:36Don't be mad, guys.
13:39Viv's been out in the cold.
13:41She must have realized she was wrong.
13:47She's probably here to come home with us.
13:49But then, the door swung open.
13:51It wasn't me.
13:53It was a couple of NYPD cops.
13:55Their face is serious.
13:55Excuse me, are you the family of Vivian Grayson?
14:00The lead cop asked.
14:01Deep voice.
14:02Serious.
14:03Seb froze.
14:04Nodded.
14:05Dumbfounded.
14:06At first, he thought I must have smashed something.
14:08Or fought with a tourist.
14:09That's why the cops were here.
14:11His face went right back to angry.
14:12I'm sorry to tell you this.
14:14Just now,
14:16staff found your sister's body
14:18in that abandoned train car.
14:20We need you to identify her.
14:24Identify her?
14:25What, is this a joke?
14:27Officer, don't pull that shit!
14:29Viv was just here throwing a fit!
14:31Viv was just here throwing a fit!
14:33Are you even NPCs?
14:35Is this a prank?
14:37He was yelling, tough.
14:39But when he saw the cop's cold face,
14:41he couldn't help that flicker of panic crossing his eyes.
14:44Ten minutes later,
14:45that woods and the old train area,
14:47the cops strung up yellow police tape around it.
14:50Evacuating tourists craned their necks,
14:52curious, trying to see.
14:54But the guards yelled them back sharp.
14:56The whole place was so tense,
14:58you could feel it.
14:59Seb's face got darker as we walked closer.
15:01Ethan and Leander followed,
15:03pale as ghosts.
15:04Chloe, at the back,
15:05when she saw the police lights,
15:07she panicked.
15:08Mr. Grayson, we're not messing with you.
15:10Time of death was three hours ago.
15:13She was terminal bone cancer.
15:15Extreme stress shut down her organs.
15:19Seb went rigid instantly.
15:21This can't be!
15:23This is impossible!
15:25What are you talking about?
15:29He yelled, out of his mind,
15:31ripping the white sheet off my body with his shaking hand.
15:34The cop's work light snapped on,
15:36the cold light shining straight on my face.
15:38The second he saw my face,
15:41Seb froze.
15:42That's when he saw it.
15:43Under the light,
15:44my face was pale as death.
15:46My lips were chapped and bleeding
15:48from where I'd bit them dying.
15:50For three hours,
15:51he'd carried me,
15:52thrown me in that cold car as punishment.
15:54He never noticed my skin was already that wrong pale back then.
15:57He lifted his shaking hand,
15:59fingers reaching slow for my cheek.
16:01When his skin touched mine,
16:03that ice cold shot through his body from his fingertips.
16:07No warmth,
16:08no breath,
16:09nothing.
16:10Seb yanked his hand back
16:11like he'd been burned by a hot iron.
16:13Ethan,
16:14when he saw my face,
16:15he lost it,
16:16panicked.
16:17Viv!
16:18Stop it!
16:18This is too far!
16:19Get up!
16:20Don't scare us!
16:21Get up!
16:23I'll take you home!
16:24We'll do the birthday!
16:25Just get up, please!
16:28Leander's eyes were red too,
16:29reaching for my stiff arm,
16:30begging,
16:31panicked.
16:31Viv, stop playing!
16:33Viv, stop playing!
16:34I'm begging you!
16:36This isn't funny anymore!
16:38The cops saw that,
16:40stepped in,
16:40pulled the two apart.
16:41Sir, calm down!
16:43This is a crime scene!
16:46Don't, don't touch the body!
16:47You'll contaminate the evidence!
16:49Chloe stood off to the side,
16:51twisting her dress hem,
16:52trembling so hard from fear
16:54she could barely stand.
16:55The cop walked up to Seb.
16:57Mr. Grayson,
16:58can you confirm
17:00the deceased is Vivian Grayson?
17:02Seb snapped back to reality,
17:03lost it.
17:04He grabbed the cop by the collar,
17:06fingers so tight they creaked,
17:08almost choking him out right there.
17:09How the fuck could my sister be dead?
17:12She was on that coaster
17:13ten minutes ago!
17:15And the bone cancer,
17:16what the fuck is that about?
17:18She was fine!
17:20How could she have terminal cancer?
17:22You tell me right now!
17:24He yelled,
17:25rambling,
17:26shaking so hard from fear and anger
17:28he could barely stand.
17:29That calm Grayson CEO,
17:31gone,
17:32just like that.
17:33The M.E. saw that,
17:35frowned,
17:36stepped forward,
17:36pulling Seb's hands off the cop.
17:38Your sister was diagnosed
17:39with terminal bone cancer
17:40a year ago.
17:43How the hell did you,
17:44her family,
17:45not know a thing about this?
17:47The M.E. shook the autopsy report.
17:49Her terminal bone cancer
17:51destroyed all her bones.
17:52They were so brittle,
17:53even moving a little
17:54would cause agony.
17:57She could break a bone
17:58just like that.
17:59In that state,
18:00forget coasters,
18:01pendulum rides,
18:02all that extreme stuff.
18:03Even just walking around the park,
18:05that would have been agony for her.
18:06And you,
18:07her family,
18:08brought her to a thrill park like this,
18:09forced her to ride
18:10all the most extreme rides.
18:12That wasn't fun.
18:13That was torture.
18:14When Seb heard that,
18:15his legs gave out.
18:16He collapsed to his knees,
18:18and that's when it hit him.
18:19This morning,
18:20at the park entrance,
18:21me,
18:22pale as hell,
18:23holding my chest,
18:24begging him not to make me go.
18:26He mumbled,
18:27I didn't know.
18:28I really didn't know.
18:31She never told me.
18:33She never said it hurt that bad.
18:37I floated a few feet away,
18:39watching them panicking
18:40and regretful.
18:42All I felt was numb,
18:43disappointed.
18:44Brother,
18:45I did tell you it hurt.
18:47I told you,
18:48a million times,
18:49you just ignored me.
18:51Every single time.
18:52Before we even came to the park today,
18:54I was so weak,
18:55I could barely walk out the door.
18:57In the car,
18:58I told you over and over
18:59I was in pain.
19:00I couldn't move,
19:01but you wouldn't even look at me.
19:02You assumed I was faking it for attention,
19:05stealing Chloe's spotlight.
19:06You yelled if I didn't go.
19:08I was cold,
19:09throwing away what Chloe did,
19:10staying up for those VIP passes.
19:12At the end of the day,
19:14for two years,
19:15all you saw was that perfect,
19:16sweet Chloe.
19:17There was never any room for me,
19:19not even a little bit.
19:21Right then,
19:21when the whole place went dead silent,
19:24a cop ran over with papers,
19:26his face tight and serious.
19:27He leaned in,
19:28whispering to the lead officer.
19:30Then,
19:31the lead officer turned,
19:32his eyes cold and sharp,
19:34scanning you guys one by one.
19:36Mr. Grayson's,
19:37we pulled the park's logs,
19:39got security footage from earlier today.
19:42It's about what happened to the victim
19:44while she was here.
19:46The cop stepped forward,
19:47pulled out a tablet,
19:49hit play,
19:50the screen lit up,
19:51and there it was,
19:52footage stitched from multiple security cameras.
19:55First up was the sky carousel area.
19:57The video showed it clear as day.
20:00Before the ride started,
20:01I was in so much pain from cancer,
20:03I tried to slide off,
20:04but this rough attendant grabbed my shoulders hard,
20:06shoved me right back on that broken horse.
20:09Its safety latch was totally loose,
20:11nothing like the working ones around it.
20:13Even an idiot could tell someone tampered with it.
20:16The ride started,
20:17the carousel spun slow,
20:18but every bounce or shake,
20:20that broken seat slammed and wobbled like crazy.
20:23In the footage,
20:24I was tense from pain,
20:25face white as a sheet.
20:27I didn't want you guys to think I was lying.
20:29So,
20:30I bit my lip so hard,
20:31I didn't make a sound.
20:33Right after that,
20:34the footage cut to the next,
20:35the massive pendulum ride we did earlier.
20:38The close-up showed it.
20:39When the attendant buckled me in,
20:41he did it half-assed.
20:42The main buckle didn't even click into the slot,
20:45just left it hanging.
20:46Until,
20:47the pendulum launched,
20:48swinging hard,
20:49high up.
20:50And sure enough,
20:51the G-forces hit.
20:53The whole seatbelt came loose.
20:54Half my body got thrown right over the safety bar.
20:57Then,
20:58inertia yanked me right back,
21:00slamming my back into the hard metal seat.
21:02Blood ran down my chin.
21:03My eyes went unfocused.
21:05The seatbelt trapped me,
21:07so I bit my lip and held on.
21:09Wouldn't break in front of them.
21:11Pirate ship.
21:12Drop tower.
21:13Every ride they forced me on,
21:15all the safety locks were tampered with.
21:17The park I loved as a kid,
21:19it was a torture chamber for me.
21:21Seb stood frozen,
21:22shaking so hard his fists clenched tight,
21:25nails sticking into his palms,
21:27blood dripping onto the concrete.
21:29Ethan and Leander's eyes were red too,
21:31too shocked and guilty to say a word.
21:33But,
21:34the footage kept rolling.
21:36Then it cut to Chloe.
21:37She stood by the staff break room,
21:39slipping a stack of hundreds to an attendant,
21:42their heads bent close,
21:43whispering,
21:43go.
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