Evelyn: What... what is the meaning of this?
Claire: Read it out loud, Evelyn. I want to hear you say it.
Evelyn's hands began to shake uncontrollably as she turned the heavy paper pages. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
Evelyn: This... this is a mistake. The lawyer made a mistake!
Claire: There is no mistake. David transferred the title to the entire estate six months before he fell ill.
Toby: Mommy, is Grandma still going to throw my potato away?
Claire: No, baby. Grandma isn't throwing anything away ever again.
Evelyn's eyes darted frantically across the legal seals, the county clerk stamps, and her late son's official signature at the bottom of the page.
Evelyn: He couldn't have done this! This house has been in the Vance family for forty years! I am his mother!
Claire: And David was my husband. He knew what you were planning to do the moment he got sick. He knew you'd try to kick his wife and child out onto the street.
Evelyn: You tricked him! You manipulated him while he was weak!
Claire: David was fully conscious when he signed that paperwork in front of three witnesses and his corporate attorney. Every single room, every piece of furniture, and the very land this house sits on belongs to me.
Evelyn stumbled back against the dining chair, clutching her chest as her face turned completely white with terror and panic.
Evelyn: Claire... please. You wouldn't throw your own mother-in-law out...
Claire: Five minutes ago, you watched my six-year-old son cry over a cold potato while you slapped his mother across the face.
Evelyn: I was angry! I was grief-stricken! You know how hard David's passing has been on me!
Claire: You weren't grieving when you called the movers yesterday to pack up Toby's bedroom while he was at school.
Toby reached out and took Claire's hand, his small fingers wrapping tightly around hers.
Toby: Mommy, do we get to keep my bed now?
Claire: Yes, Toby. We get to keep everything.
Claire stood up straight, towering over the older woman who was now trembling in her navy dress.
Claire: YOU HAVE TWO HOURS TO PACK!
Evelyn: Two hours?! That's impossible! All my clothes, my jewelry—
Claire: Take your personal items. Leave the keys on the counter. If you are still on this property when the clock hits two, I will have security escort you off the land for trespassing.
Evelyn: Claire, please! Let us talk about this like adults!
Claire: The conversation is over, Evelyn. Your time in my house is done.
Claire grabbed Toby's hand, picked up his plate, and walked out of the dining room without looking back, leaving Evelyn clutching her chest in total defeat.