- 13 hours ago
After 50 Broken Weddings, I Built My Empire
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Short filmTranscript
00:00I was the heiress from the Upper East Side. He thought I was just some small-town girl from
00:04Texas. Five years at Harvard Law. We were in love. Then, he, the law school star,
00:08canceled our engagement 50 times. 50 times. All for the same woman. This time, the 50th broken
00:14promise. On graduation day, I finally gave up. I decided to leave. The second I walked away,
00:20he lost it. Started looking for me everywhere. In front of the vanity mirror, I put on that
00:25wedding dress for the 50th time, though I was 104 degrees in fever. Dominic walked into the
00:29PhD common room. Vivian twisted her ankle. I need to take her to the health center. The
00:34engagement at graduation, we'll reschedule. I promise. 50th time. It's fine. Her ankle
00:42can't wait. Go. You're being so understanding. I'll bring you your favorite junior's cheesecake
00:49tonight. Okay. He turned and left. I watched him carry Vivian out. Vivian looked back and
00:56smiled in my direction. He forgot. I hate cheesecake. He used to keep a note of everything
01:01I loved in his phone. Said he'd never forget. One year later, never was over. I picked up
01:07scissors and slashed through the skirt of that dress. The one I'd worn 50 times.
01:12I pulled out my phone and video called my parents.
01:15Dad. Mom. Come get me.
01:20You're finally ready to come home.
01:22I looked up at my parents on the video call. They'd given me the life of an Upper East Side
01:26heiress. But I pretended to be ordinary, all for Dominic. He came from nothing. Hated when
01:31anyone brought up background. So for five years, I never told him who I really was. In those five
01:36years, I grew from a regular student into a well-known Harvard Law PhD student. We two won
01:41the highest JD scholarship every year. Schoolmates called us the power couple of Harvard Law.
01:46Looking back now, pathetic and ridiculous.
01:48Okay. I'll come home. Good girl. The family private jet will come get you at your schedule.
01:56The next day, I placed my withdrawal form on Professor Harrison's desk. Dominic walked in
02:01with his thesis. He saw the form and frowned. You're not staying? Still mad? I didn't say
02:07anything. Just stared at the hickey on his neck. He noticed and covered it instinctively.
02:12It's just a mosquito bite. Don't overthink it. If you want a vacation, just request time off.
02:17Suddenly leaving like this, people will think you have a problem with Viviana.
02:20I've used up all my leave. On every single engagement you canceled.
02:29Forget it. Don't say things you don't mean. I'll take you to the River Cafe tonight.
02:34Make it up to you. Okay. I know.
02:42Dominic, sorry to interrupt your date, but I really need help. I don't get some footnotes
02:47in chapter three. Professor Harrison told me to look it up myself, but I've been there
02:50for so long. I walked out of the office and closed the door behind me. My bracelet slipped
02:55off my wrist and hit the marble floor in the hallway. It shattered. Pieces scattered to Tiffany's
03:00feet. Broke? Don't worry. It's not expensive. Cheap stuff. Our one-year anniversary gift from Dominic.
03:08Oh. Sorry, I didn't mean... You're right. Really cheap.
03:14I bent down, picked up the pieces, and dropped them in the trash can at the end of the hallway.
03:19Serena!
03:21I followed Tiffany's gaze and looked back through that big glass window. Dominic opened a red box
03:25and put a bracelet on Vivian's wrist. Cartier. I knew that one. Ten thousand dollars. Eyes met through
03:31the glass. Serena, there's nothing going on between Dominic and me. This is just a regular bracelet.
03:38You're right. Very regular. Back in my Upper East Side home, bracelets like that were regular.
03:44He just never knew. Dominic walked out, frowning. Serena, don't be ridiculous. Don't worry. I'm
03:49just a little disgusted. Hours later, my phone rang. Dominic. He sounded drunk. Vivian has a stomach
03:58ache. I'm not coming home tonight. I'll plan the post-graduation dinner. This engagement will
04:01be perfect. I promise. No one will bother us this time. Dominic. This time. No, there won't be a next
04:10time. 37 missed calls. All from Dominic. I typed. Sent. Dominic. I've left Harvard. We're done.
04:20Don't contact me again. Three days later, I finally turned my old phone back on. Tiffany's call came in
04:30right away. She told me Dominic had been looking for me everywhere after I left. He went through
04:35the trash outside the ADM office, found the pieces of your bracelet, squatted there picking them up
04:39one by one. He still thought you were some small town girl. Said he was going to your hometown to
04:44find
04:44you. I told him you're an Upper East Side Harris, that you hid it all to protect his pride. Guess
04:50what? His face went white. Like someone punched him. Now all Dominic does is try to find you.
04:56And that shameless Vivian, she finally shut up. No matter how much Dominic begged, Tiffany never gave
05:02him my address. She even slapped him once right in front of Harvard Law's landmark building. He just held
05:07his face, head down, mumbling. Tiffany. Yeah? Thank you for that slap.
05:17Congratulations to our little princess. Three months and you're already a senior researcher.
05:22Go wash your hands. Dinner's almost ready. The doorbell rang. I opened the door.
05:29A man stood outside. I froze. It was Dominic. But he looked different. He wore a wrinkled shirt and
05:36held something in his hand. Serena. How did you find me? I looked for three months and I... He pulled
05:44out the thing in his hand. It was the bracelet. Carefully repaired with glue. Our anniversary gift.
05:50The one you broke. I got it from the trash. Fixed it. Don't bother. Why don't you give it to
05:56Vivian
05:57instead? Then again, you've given her so many designer things, she probably wouldn't want this cheap thing
06:02anyway. I was wrong. Just give me one chance, okay? No. I will never ever make a fool of myself
06:11for that
06:11relationship again. Dominic stubbornly pushed the bracelet into my hand. Take it. This was your
06:18favorite bracelet. No strings attached. I just want you to be happy.
06:27I don't want this stupid thing anymore.
06:38I cherished it back then because I loved you. Anything you gave me, I treasured. But now,
06:44I hate you. Everything that reminds me of you, I don't want to see it. The door closed in his
06:49face.
06:52Who was that? Through the window, I saw Dominic bend down and search through the trash for the pieces.
06:57Just a salesman. The next morning, I left for work. Dominic was leaning against the wall,
07:02holding the bracelet pieces. Like he hadn't slept all night.
07:06Serena. I didn't look back. Got in the car and drove away. He ran after the car.
07:11I know you're still mad. I can't wait. Wait if you want. I'm already driving toward a new life.
07:16Upon arrival, the receptionist at the research institute stopped me.
07:20Serena, flowers for you. Have a good day. Oh, really?
07:23I smiled and checked the card. Serena, hope you have a good day. Dominic.
07:28My smile faded. I looked outside. Not a good day.
07:34I threw the flowers in the trash. Next time he sends anything, throw it out for me. Thanks.
07:39The next day, trash it. Day three, day four, day five. Finally, one day, the receptionist told me
07:48the cleaning staff was overwhelmed. They formally protested. The next day, I woke up extra early.
07:53Dominic. He whipped around. When he saw me, his eyes lit up.
07:59Serena, you're up early?
08:01I walked over, picked up the bouquet, and smashed it in his face. Petals scattered everywhere.
08:10I was just trying to- Trying to what? Make me feel touched? Make me think you're so devoted?
08:15Dominic, you're not sorry. You're just bitter. You're bitter that I walked away.
08:19Bitter that you lost someone who treated you like gold.
08:22But let me tell you something. I'm not that person anymore.
08:25I know I don't deserve your forgiveness. I just want you to be happy.
08:31You want to know the one thing you could do to make me happy? After making me the punchline 50
08:36times?
08:37Get the hell out of my life.
08:41I thought he'd leave New York after that. I didn't know he tricked colleagues I was
08:44friendly with into helping him ambush me. When I got to the institute's lawn, I couldn't believe my
08:49eyes. Dominic. He'd recreated the exact proposal scene from Harvard's lawn. Standing at the end of
08:55a path covered in rose petals. Serena, will you marry me?
08:58Around us, co-workers started cheering. Say yes! Say yes!
09:04My heels sank into the rose petals as I walked toward him, one step at a time. His eyes were
09:09bright. Certain.
09:10Serena, I know I messed up. These past three months, I've thought about nothing but-
09:19It echoed across the entire lawn. Everyone went quiet.
09:23He said he's your boyfriend? And that you two just-
09:28He said that so you believed him? Aren't you all legal researchers? Where's your evidence?
09:33Dominic probably thought if you put together a big enough scene, I'd be moved. Then forgive him.
09:39You thought if the setting was romantic enough, if you had enough audience around, I'd cave?
09:43You forgot something. I'm a legal scholar. The one thing that doesn't work on me is emotional
09:48manipulation. I drove away. In the rearview mirror, Dominic ran after the car.
09:56Let's welcome our new colleague, Tiffany, again. Any other business before we adjourn?
10:01The man on the lawn last Saturday was my ex-boyfriend. We're done. From today on,
10:06I'm not dating anyone. And I'm not accepting advances from any man.
10:09Someone gasped.
10:10True. I can vouch for her.
10:13After the meeting, Tiffany caught up with me.
10:16You're really not going to date ever again?
10:18Nope.
10:19What if someone better comes along? Then he can go find someone better else.
10:24Dominic is still downstairs. He can stay there.
10:28Sir, you can't stand here all day. I'm waiting for her.
10:31Dark fell. He didn't leave. I looked down from my office window. He stood under a street lamp,
10:37clutching that repaired bracelet in his hand. I didn't go downstairs. I waited for him 50 times at
10:42our engagements. No show. This time, he could wait a lifetime. I wasn't coming.
10:49Three months. 12-hour workdays. Every day. Tiffany told me to rest.
10:56I wasted five years on a man. Now I'm making those five years back.
11:00Academic conference. 100 senior researchers in the audience.
11:03I opened my data appendix. Page by page.
11:06Historical data. Theoretical models. Documentary evidence chain.
11:11Project of the year. Unanimous vote.
11:14I walked out of the lecture hall. Sunlight hit my face. My phone rang. Unknown number.
11:22Serena, I saw you in an academic journal. That project, you did amazing.
11:27Yeah.
11:28Are you doing okay?
11:29I looked out the window.
11:31Great. Better than you.
11:33Hung up. Blocked. Deleted.
11:38I started going to court. Five years. Case after case.
11:4230 million. 50 million. 100 million.
11:46Lawyer of the year. Serena Wintock.
11:49Award stage. Spotlights. My name engraved on the trophy.
11:53My parents sat in the front row. Mom wiped away tears.
11:57Applause filled the room. Tiffany clinked her champagne against mine.
12:01Serena is unstoppable. I heard her family are investors. So what? She's got real talent.
12:08Listening to everyone's praise, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
12:11I really had made it. After the reception, I went back to my office.
12:16There was a letter on my desk. No name. I opened it.
12:20Inside was a newspaper clipping of my winning verdict. Handwritten next to it, congratulations.
12:26D. I fed the clipping into the shredder.
12:31D. After the celebration, my firm forced the overworked me to take time off.
12:35I used the vacation to go everywhere.
12:37Beaches in Hawaii, California coast, kayaking on the Mississippi.
12:41Last stop, I met up with Tiffany. She asked me to revisit an old place.
12:46Finally got you out here. Do you still remember this place?
12:49Harvard campus, where I used to study, on the law school honor wall.
12:53My photo as a distinguished alumnus.
12:55After visiting Professor Harrison, we left.
12:58Walking down the hallway.
13:00Passed an office.
13:01The nameplate on the door said Dominic Black.
13:03Crossed out. Tiffany glanced at me.
13:05I didn't stop.
13:06Kept walking.
13:07Tiffany grabbed my arm.
13:09A lot happened after you left.
13:11I looked at her.
13:12Go ahead.
13:14Law school coffee shop.
13:16Tiffany poured me a coffee.
13:18Do you know Dominic and Vivian haven't worked here for a long time?
13:21Oh?
13:22He fell apart after you left.
13:24Failed one academic project after another?
13:27Vivian lied and said she was pregnant with his kid.
13:29Sat at home spending his money every day.
13:31Dominic tried to break up with her.
13:33Vivian brought her family to the law school and made a scene.
13:36They forced him to marry her.
13:37He got pushed out of the program.
13:39Sold the house.
13:40Moved back to some small town with Viviana.
13:41Tiffany pulled out her phone.
13:43Showed me a page.
13:44Dominic Black.
13:45A small law firm in some town.
13:47No.
13:47A tiny consulting office.
13:53Is that right?
13:54That's all you have to say?
13:57What else?
13:58Throw a party?
14:01You're right.
14:02Assholes deserve to end up worse and worse.
14:07Tiffany kept telling me the after story of Dominic and Vivian.
14:10They were famous around town, the miserable couple.
14:13They fought constantly.
14:14It hurt Dominic's work.
14:16After his career collapsed, he drank every day.
14:19Once, Dominic got blackout drunk and knelt all night outside my old dorm at Harvard.
14:24Vivian couldn't drag him away.
14:26She just had to let him make a fool of himself.
14:28I lost the only person who ever truly loved me.
14:31What do you think?
14:34Because he never treasured what was with him.
14:39He didn't love me.
14:40He loved the person who loved him.
14:42That person was gone.
14:43So he felt empty.
14:45That's not love.
14:46That's dependency.
14:48You really have changed.
14:51Yeah, for the better.
14:55A current Harvard student walked into the coffee shop.
14:57What are you guys talking about?
14:59This is your friend?
15:01She's gorgeous.
15:03Yeah, this is Sophie.
15:05Want to get to know each other?
15:07Come hang out together.
15:09Sure.
15:10Okay.
15:11Tiffany and Sophie walked ahead, chatting.
15:13I followed behind.
15:17Serena, come on.
15:18Have you been to this place before?
15:22Yeah.
15:22He used to bring me here a lot.
15:25You're still talking about H.E.?
15:27What's wrong with mentioning him?
15:29It's not like it's forbidden.
15:31What's past is past.
15:33The things you can say out loud,
15:35those are the things you've really let go of.
15:37Okay.
15:38Then today we're walking all over this place,
15:41stomping every bad memory into the ground.
15:43With them, I realized
15:44I hadn't thought about him in a long time.
15:46Not because I was trying to forget.
15:48Because there were too many good things in my life.
15:50Those 50 rejections?
15:52I'd left them behind.
15:55The three of us walked down the old street.
15:58Passing a small grocery store,
16:00Tiffany's face changed.
16:02What are you doing here?
16:03A man stood at the entrance.
16:05It was Dominic.
16:06He saw me too.
16:07The bag dropped.
16:08Serena?
16:10Long time no see.
16:13What are you doing here?
16:15Just passing through.
16:17Can I talk to you for a minute?
16:19Just a minute.
16:21She's gone.
16:22Left last year.
16:24Took the kid.
16:24My mom is sick.
16:26Debts piling up.
16:27The consulting firm isn't bringing in much.
16:30I have nothing now.
16:32What do you want me to say?
16:34I don't know.
16:36Do you still hate me?
16:38Dominic, I don't hate you.
16:40And I don't love you anymore.
16:42How you're doing, it's nothing to do with me.
16:44Those five years!
16:45Do you regret?
16:47No.
16:48Because those five years made me who I am today.
16:51But Dominic, I'm not going back.
16:56He had the nerve to come find you.
16:58That was...
17:00That him?
17:01That jerk?
17:02The one who cancelled 50 times?
17:03Now that his life is garbage, he comes crying to you?
17:05Who does he think he is?
17:06He didn't say much.
17:08Just said he's not doing well.
17:10Then why did you even talk to him?
17:12I talked to him.
17:14Then I left.
17:16Have you really let him go?
17:21In the beginning, when I thought about him, it hurt.
17:25Later, when I thought about him, I felt angry.
17:29Now when I think about him, it's like thinking about an acquaintance I haven't seen in a long time.
17:33No pain, no anger, no hope, no regret.
17:37Just nothing to do with me.
17:39Tiffany was quiet for a moment, then raised her glass.
17:45To nothing to do with me.
17:54We were heading on a train trip.
17:56Serena.
17:58I turned around.
18:00Dominic stood a short distance away.
18:02Out of breath.
18:04I fixed it again.
18:07I know you don't want it.
18:08But I still wanted to give it to you.
18:11For a long time.
18:13I won't break it this time.
18:16His tears fell.
18:17Not because I still love you.
18:20Because this bracelet is proof that I loved.
18:24I'll keep it.
18:26To remind myself how bravely I loved someone once.
18:30And to remind myself that the cracked can never go back.
18:35Goodbye, Dominic.
18:36I turned.
18:37Didn't look back.
18:40The train pulled out of the station.
18:42I sat by the window and took the scarred bracelet out of my pocket.
18:45Held it up to the light.
18:47Sunlight filtered through the cracks, scattering tiny rainbows.
18:52You're really keeping it?
18:53It broke twice.
18:54Got fixed twice.
18:55Not new anymore.
18:56But it carries experience.
18:57And lessons.
18:59People are like that too.
19:01Since when did you get so wise?
19:03Five years with a jerk.
19:05I had to learn something, right?
19:06We both laughed.
19:08The train ride ended.
19:09Before getting off, I took the bracelet out of my pocket.
19:12Took one last look.
19:14Then, I left it by the window.
19:16Turned and walked away.
19:17The bracelet stayed there in the sunset.
19:19Bathed in golden light.
19:21I didn't look back.
19:24After the train, I went back to my Upper East Side mansion.
19:27I walked barefoot on the estate's lawn.
19:29I had dinner with my parents.
19:31Laughed like I meant it.
19:33I clinked glasses with Tiffany at the bar.
19:35Once.
19:36I spent five years loving someone fiercely, 50 times over.
19:4050 times of waiting for a promise that never came.
19:43That woke me up.
19:44Then I learned to love myself.
19:46In the next five years, I focused on my career.
19:49Now I am the rising star of the legal world.
19:51Harvard Law Distinguished Alumni.
19:53I crush it in the courtroom.
19:55Sunset.
19:56Manhattan lights begin to glow.
19:58I walk out of the courthouse.
20:00A limited edition bracelet shines on my wrist.
20:03Catching the city lights.
20:04My phone rings.
20:06Mom, another win today.
20:08I'll be home for dinner soon.
20:10Oh, and the bracelet you gave me today?
20:11It's beautiful.
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