The bright sun beat down on the light marble tiles of the mansion garden courtyard. A large American flag hung mounted on the white stone wall, fluttering softly in the warm afternoon breeze. But the peaceful day was shattered by the harsh, violent blast of a garden hose.
Chloe stood near the rose bushes in a red satin gown, holding the heavy brass hose nozzle with a haughty, cold smirk across her face.
Chloe: Maybe this will teach you a lesson!
A few feet away, seventy-year-old Martha sat curled on the wet marble floor, her clothes completely soaked. Water sprayed directly against her face and chest, making her gasp for air as she wept tearfully.
Martha: Please, stop! I didn't do anything wrong!
Sarah, the young housemaid, jumped between them, using her own apron to shield the trembling older woman from the heavy stream of water.
Sarah: Stop it, Miss Chloe! She needs help, not punishment!
Chloe: Move out of my way, maid! I run this estate now, and she needs to learn her place!
Martha: Sarah, please... I can't breathe...
Sarah: Hold on to me, Mrs. Vance! I won't let her hurt you!
Heavy footsteps thundered across the marble tiles. Daniel Vance rushed out through the French doors of the mansion, his dark navy suit jacket unbuttoned, the small American flag patch on his lapel catching the sunlight. His face turned pale with shock as he saw his soaked, weeping mother on the ground.
Daniel: What are you doing?!
He stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes wide with furious rage.
Chloe: Daniel! You're back early!
Daniel: Drop that hose right now, Chloe!
Martha: Daniel... my son...
Chloe: You don't understand, Daniel! She's unmanageable!
Daniel: I understand enough!
Daniel's hands shook with intense, gritting fury as he stepped forward onto the wet tiles, his eyes locked onto his fiancée's smirk, ready to blow the whole family secret wide open.