Julian: Mother! Are you okay?
Nora: Julian... my chest... it burns so much...
Julian: Don't try to speak. I've got you, Mom. I'm right here.
Julian gently lifted his mother's head, supporting her frail body away from the spilled juice pool on the floor.
Julian: Elena, what happened here? Tell me right now!
Elena: Mr. Vance, she was forcing her to drink that glass... she wouldn't let her stop!
Victoria: She's lying, Julian! The old woman was refusing to take her morning vitamins!
Julian: Shut your mouth, Victoria!
Julian stood up instantly, his hands clenched into tight fists. Fueled by raw anger, he stepped right up to Victoria.
SFX: Loud sharp slap impact!
Julian: HOW DARE YOU!
Victoria stumbled backward, holding her red, swollen cheek in complete disbelief.
Victoria: You... you hit me? For a maid and a senile woman?
Julian: She is my mother!
Before Victoria could recover her balance, Julian kicked her hard in the midsection, knocking her flat onto her back across the marble floor.
Victoria: Oof! Julian, stop! You're crazy!
Julian: I gave you everything! I gave you access to my family estate, my money, my trust fund, and this is how you treat my mother?
Victoria: She was wasting our money! She doesn't belong in this mansion!
Elena: Mr. Vance... please look at the glass. The juice smells strange.
Julian turned his head toward the floor, sniffing the air near the broken glass shards.
Julian: What did you put in this, Victoria?
Victoria: Nothing! Just standard heart medication!
Elena: That's not what was in the prescription bottle, sir! I saw her mixing powder into it earlier this morning!
Julian: Powder? What powder, Victoria?
Victoria: She's making things up! She's trying to ruin our marriage because she wants a raise!
Elena: I have the extra packet right here in my apron pocket! I took it from the counter when she wasn't looking!
Elena handed a small silver foil packet to Julian. His eyes narrowed as he read the warning label printed in red ink.
Julian: High-dosage sedative? This is meant for large animals!
Victoria: I didn't know! The online vendor said it would just help her sleep!
Julian: You were poisoning my mother to keep her quiet!
Nora: Julian... please... no more fighting...
Julian: Stay still, Mom. The ambulance is on its way. I called them from the car.
Victoria: You can't call the police or doctors here! Think about our family business! Think about the stock price!
Julian: My business? My business was built on my mother's blood and hard work after my father died!
Victoria: You wouldn't even have this estate if my father hadn't signed the loan guarantee last year!
Julian: Your father took a thirty percent stake in my firm as collateral, Victoria. Don't act like it was charity.
Victoria: If you throw me out, he will call that loan immediately! You'll be bankrupt by tomorrow morning!
Julian: Then let me be bankrupt. I'd rather lose every penny than live another day under the same roof as a monster.