Clara: Thank you, Miss Lily... thank you for saving me.
Lily: I knew you didn't do it, Clara. I saw Richard sneaking down the back stairs with a velvet box earlier today.
Julian stepped toward Richard, grabbing his brother by his dark wool lapels.
Julian: Where is the ring right now, Richard? Where did you take it?!
Richard: Get your hands off me, Julian!
Julian: WHERE IS THE HEIRLOOM RING?!
Richard: It's in my coat pocket, alright?! It's still in my coat pocket!
Julian shoved Richard back against the mahogany door, reaching deep into Richard's jacket pocket and pulling out the velvet box.
He popped the latch open, revealing the massive two-carat diamond ring shimmering under the foyer lights.
Mrs. Sterling: My husband gave me that ring on our wedding day forty years ago...
Mrs. Sterling: You would sell your own father's memory for a card game, Richard?
Richard lowered his head, setting his whiskey glass down on the side table.
Richard: I was desperate, Mother. The loan sharks came to my office yesterday morning.
Julian: That doesn't give you the right to ruin an innocent girl's life!
Richard: Oh, don't pretend you care about Clara, Julian! You wanted an excuse to fire her anyway so you could cut the mansion staff budget!
Clara gasped softly, pulling her apron closer to her chest.
Clara: Is that true, Mr. Julian?
Julian: Of course it's not true! I run this estate responsibly!
Lily: It is true! I heard Uncle Julian talking to his estate lawyer on the balcony last night!
Lily: He said cutting Clara's salary would save the family five thousand dollars a month!
Mrs. Sterling stood up slowly from the sofa, leaning on her ivory walking cane.
Mrs. Sterling: Is this what my sons have become while I've been sick in bed?
Mrs. Sterling: One is a thief who steals from his mother, and the other is a bully who hits old women and fires loyal servants?
Julian: Mother, I was protecting your estate!
Mrs. Sterling: You hit me, Julian! You struck your own mother across the face because of your reckless temper!
Julian looked down at his right hand, his face flushing with deep embarrassment as the staff watched from the hallway shadows.
Julian: I thought you were lying to protect Clara's stolen goods...
Mrs. Sterling: I never lie. I have lived in this mansion for fifty years with honor, something neither of my sons possess.
Lily: Grandmother, your cheek is swelling up. Let me get you some ice from the kitchen.
Mrs. Sterling: Thank you, my sweet child. At least someone in this house has a heart.