Victoria: No!
Sarah scrambled down the first three steps, her knees slamming hard against the sharp marble edge as her arms reached out into the empty air. She caught the infant by his grey vest just inches above the step, pulling him tight against her chest as she collapsed onto the landing.
Sarah: I’ve got you! I’ve got you, baby, you’re safe!
Victoria: You stupid girl! Look what you made me do!
Sarah: You dropped him! You lifted him over your head and you let go on purpose!
Victoria: Shut your mouth right now if you want to keep your job in this house!
Victoria smoothed down the front of her sparkly maroon dress, standing triumphantly at the top of the staircase beneath the large American flag. She looked down at Sarah with cold, sneering contempt while the maid sat trembling on the step, holding the sobbing baby against her heart.
Sarah: How could you do that to a three-month-old child?! He could have been killed!
Victoria: Nobody is going to believe a word that comes out of a maid's mouth!
Sarah: He’s Arthur’s son! He’s your husband’s flesh and blood!
Victoria: He’s a reminder of his dead ex-wife, and he’s taking up half of the family trust fund that belongs to my future children!
Sarah: You’re insane! You’re absolute evil!
Victoria: Say another word and I’ll tell Arthur you slipped on the stairs and dropped him yourself!
Sarah looked upward with tears streaming down her face, her body shaking in pure distress as she cradled the terrified child.
Sarah: She dropped him, I tried to stop her!
Victoria: Keep crying, Sarah. See who Arthur believes when he walks through those double front doors!
The heavy front oak doors swung wide open, slamming against the foyer walls with a loud thud. Arthur Sterling stepped inside, his black coat covered in light rain as he returned early from his business meeting in Chicago. Hearing the screaming and weeping, he dropped his leather briefcase onto the floor and rushed forward into the mansion foyer.
Arthur: What on earth is going on in here?! Why is Toby screaming like that?!
Victoria: Arthur, thank God you’re home! It’s terrible!
Sarah: Mr. Sterling! Help us, please!
Arthur sprinted across the pristine white marble floor, his shoes squeaking against the stone as he rushed toward the base of the grand staircase.
Arthur: Sarah! Why are you kneeling on the steps?! Is Toby hurt?!
Sarah: She dropped him, Mr. Sterling! She lifted him over her head and she let go!
Arthur: What did you just say?!
Victoria: Don't listen to her, Arthur! She’s out of her mind!
Arthur reached out and gently scooped baby Toby up from Sarah’s arms, holding the infant safely against his black coat. The baby’s crying slowly softened as Arthur patted his tiny back, his dark eyes shifting between the crying maid on the stairs and his wife standing above under the flag.
Arthur: Toby... shh, Daddy’s here. Daddy’s got you, buddy.
Sarah: I swear on my life, sir! She held him over the railing and opened her hands!
Victoria: Arthur, darling, look at her! She’s hysterical because she almost dropped him herself while walking down the steps!
Arthur: Victoria, keep quiet for one second!
Sarah: I caught him by his grey vest, sir! Look at his clothes, they’re stretched from where I grabbed him before he hit the stone!
Arthur looked down at Toby’s grey vest, noticing the torn stitching along the shoulder strap where Sarah’s fingers had gripped the fabric.
Arthur: Victoria... why is my son's vest torn?
Victoria: Because she was pulling on him while trying to take him away from me! She’s manipulating you, Arthur!
Arthur: You did what?
Victoria: I was trying to save him from her careless hands! She’s trying to blame me so you don't fire her for negligence!
Sarah: I have worked for your family for three years, Mr. Sterling! I loved your late wife, and I love this baby! I would never hurt him!
Victoria: You’re a low-wage worker looking for a lawsuit payout! Arthur, call the police and have this girl removed from our estate right now!
Arthur: I don't need to call the police to find out what happened, Victoria.
Victoria: What are you talking about?
Arthur’s face hardened into an expression of intense suspicion and skepticism as he reached into his black coat pocket with his free hand.
Arthur: I watched the cameras.