Julian: I said I was sorry, okay? What else do you want me to do? Get on my knees?
Clara: I want you to pick up my ring and look me in the eye when you talk to me.
Julian let out a heavy sigh, bending down near the edge of the rug. He ran his fingers through the mess of soft golden hair clumps and pulled out the shining platinum ring, wiping it against his trousers.
Julian: Here. Put it back on so we can fix this mess.
Clara: Put it on my hand yourself, if you still mean it.
Julian stepped closer, extending his hand, but before he could touch her fingers, the suite door opened again. His mother, Evelyn, walked inside wearing an elegant navy lace dress and a string of heavy pearls.
Evelyn: What on earth is taking so long up here? The organist has been playing interlude music for twenty minutes! The guests are melting in the sun!
Julian: Mom, not right now. We had an emergency.
Evelyn: An emergency? My god, look at Lily! What happened to her beautiful hair?!
Lily: Clara shaved it, Grandma!
Evelyn: She did WHAT?! Are you insane, Clara?! You shaved my granddaughter's hair on her father's wedding day?!
Clara: Evelyn, she had construction epoxy stuck to her hair and scalp. It was burning her!
Evelyn: Construction glue? Why on earth was there construction glue in a bridal suite?! Did you leave it lying around?!
Clara: It was in your son's jacket pocket!
Evelyn: Don't you dare blame my son for your carelessness! Julian is a successful business contractor, he carries tools! You were supposed to be watching her!
Clara: I was getting my makeup done by the artist downstairs! Lily went into the closet on her own!
Evelyn: You see, Julian? I told you she wasn't ready to be a mother. She can't even keep track of a child for thirty minutes!
Julian: Mom, please stop. Clara was just trying to help her with the burning glue.
Evelyn: Help her? Look at the child! She looks like she's going through medical treatment! How are we supposed to explain this to our family from Boston? To your father's business partners?!
Clara: Is that really all you care about, Evelyn? How it looks to your rich friends downstairs?
Evelyn: This family has a reputation to uphold, young lady! You came into this family with nothing, no family trust, no property, no title, and now you ruin our family photos!
Clara: Julian, are you going to let her speak to me like this?
Julian looked down at his watch, visibly sweating under his stiff collar.
Julian: Mom has a point about the timing, Clara. We have two hundred people waiting down there. My boss from the investment firm flew in from New York on a private jet.
Clara: You've got to be kidding me. Your daughter's scalp is red and raw, and you're worried about your boss's flight schedule?
Julian: We can take Lily to an urgent care clinic right after the reception! The doctor can look at it then!
Clara: Right after the reception? That's four hours from now!
Evelyn: Put a silk bonnet or a decorative hat on the girl's head and let's get down the aisle! We are wasting thousands of dollars every minute this wedding is delayed!
Clara: She is a seven-year-old child, not an accessory for your social status!
Evelyn: How dare you raise your voice at me in this facility!
Clara: I will raise my voice as loud as I want! This entire morning has shown me exactly who you people are!
Julian: Clara, stop shouting! You're making a scene!
Clara: I'm making a scene? Julian, you grabbed my arm and threw my ring because you were embarrassed! You didn't care if Lily was hurt, you only cared that her hair looked bad!
Julian: I care about my family! But I also care about the life insurance, the mortgage on our new home, and the reputation I built!
Clara: Is that what this wedding is to you? A business transaction?
Leave a Comment