Elena: Shh, it's okay, baby. It's okay. I've got you... I've got you...
Elena sat on the cold floor, holding the crying toddler tightly against her chest, her own tears streaming down her cheeks as shock washed over her. The child wept loudly, burying her face into the grey fabric of Elena's maid uniform.
Elena: You're safe now. I won't let her hurt you again. I promise you, I won't let her.
Up on the balcony, Victoria leaned over the railing, her face pale as she stared down at the living child. She gripped the cold white marble rail, her knuckles turning white with frustration.
Victoria: You stupid, meddling servant! You were supposed to be in the kitchen setting the breakfast table!
Elena: You tried to kill her! She's just a baby! How could you do something so evil?!
Victoria: Shut your mouth, Elena! You are paid to clean the floors, not to question me!
Elena: I am calling the police right now! You belong in a cage!
Victoria: Who do you think the police are going to believe? A billionaire's wife, or a little maid who works for minimum wage?
Victoria turned and began rushing down the grand staircase, her expensive green gown swishing against the marble steps with quick, furious sounds.
Victoria: Hand that child over to me right now, Elena, or I will make sure you are arrested for kidnapping and trespassing before the sun sets!
Elena: Stay back! Don't you dare come near this baby!
Victoria: Give her to me! She slipped! It was an accident, and you are making a scene!
Elena: It wasn't an accident! I saw your hands push her! I saw you drop her on purpose!
Before Victoria could reach the bottom of the stairs, the massive front doors burst open with a loud, echoing crash that reverberated through the vast hallway.
Arthur: How could you do this?!
Arthur Vance, a wealthy businessman in a dark suit, charged into the foyer, his eyes wild with distress and fear as he took in the scene before him.
Victoria: Arthur! Oh thank God you're back! The maid lost her mind! She dropped Lily!
Elena: No! Mr. Vance, no! She tried to kill our baby! She tried to kill our baby!
Arthur stopped dead in his tracks, looking from Elena, who was weeping on the floor while holding his crying daughter, to Victoria, who stood on the lower steps with a dramatic, panicked expression.
Arthur: What did you just say, Elena?
Elena: She pushed her over the balcony! I ran and caught her right before she hit the floor! Look at the baby, Mr. Vance, she's terrified!
Victoria: She's lying, Arthur! The maid was holding her near the railing and dropped her! I ran down to save her!
Arthur: Stop talking, Victoria.
Victoria: Arthur, darling, you have to believe me! I love Lily like my own daughter! Why would I ever hurt her?
Elena: Because of the inheritance! She told Lily this morning that she wasn't going to let a baby take her money!
Arthur turned his gaze slowly toward Victoria, his face darkening with a furious, explosive rage as he stepped closer to the foot of the stairs, directly beneath the giant American flag mounted on the wall.
Arthur: Is that true, Victoria?
Victoria: Of course not! She's a lying staff member trying to extort us for a lawsuit settlement!
Arthur: Don't you dare lie to me!
Arthur raised his hand and brought it down hard, slapping Victoria sharply across the face with a loud, resounding crack that echoed off the white walls.