Imagine this: A room filled with the steady, hypnotic clack of a Newton's Cradle, the distant hum of city life whispering through the window. Ted, our anxious protagonist, stands before his mirror, rehearsing words that could alter his fate forever. He's not just preparing for a birthday dinner; he's gearing up to confess his love to Gabi, his best friend, who's currently tangled up in a long-term relationship with Drake. Little does Ted know, the pocket watch he holds—a gift for Gabi—is about to turn his world, and time itself, on its head. As Ted fumbles with the watch, thinking it broken, a hidden compartment reveals itself with an eerie effect. Suddenly, silence descends like a heavy curtain. The city sounds mute, the clock's hands freeze, and the Newton's Cradle halts mid-swing. Ted's bewilderment is palpable. What just happened? Could it be... the watch? With a tentative touch, Ted sets the Newton's Cradle back in motion. But outside his window, the cityscape remains frozen, as if held in a giant photograph. People are statues, birds suspended mid-flight. It's impossible, yet there it is: time, paused at Ted's fingertips. The realization dawns on him like a slow sunrise—the watch has granted him control over the uncontrollable. What will he do with this newfound power? Cut to the dinner party. Gabi's laughter rings out, surrounded by friends celebrating her special day. But Ted is distant, absorbed in the secret he holds. While others chat and joke, he's silently grappling with the magnitude of his discovery. Gabi notices his distraction, her touch pulling him back to reality. Just as Ted steels himself to confess his feelings, Drake drops to one knee, proposing. Panic surges within Ted, and in a split-second decision, he activates the watch. Silence crashes down once more. Gabi freezes mid-acceptance, her hand outstretched, displaying the engagement ring. Ted walks through the frozen scene, his eyes lingering on Gabi, then Drake, a mix of longing and jealousy swirling within him. He circles their friends, ensuring they're all paused, lost in their moments of laughter and joy. Alone in this still world, Ted considers his next move. Seated back at the table, Ted reaches out, unfreezing Gabi with a touch. Her panic is immediate, her attempts to rouse Drake futile. Ted explains the watch's power, hoping this grand gesture will win her heart. But Gabi doesn't reciprocate his feelings. Instead, she's terrified, her dream dinner party now a twisted nightmare. Ted, desperate and hurt, resorts to threats, pushing Gabi to a dark ultimatum. "You aren't the person I thought you were, Ted," Gabi says, her voice laced with resentment. Still, she agrees to his demands, hoping to find a way out of this temporal prison. Ted, blinded by his obsession, believes she'll change her mind, that she'll see the depth of his love. But Ted wants more than just Gabi's compliance; he wants to prove his superiority over Drake. In a chilling decision, he insists they stay in the dining room, their intimate act a grotesque performance for their frozen audience. Gabi, appalled but cornered, agrees. And so, the stage is set. The city remains frozen, the dinner party paused in eternal laughter. Ted and Gabi, locked in a twisted dance of power and fear, have all the time in the world. The question is, what will they do with it? Will Gabi find a way to outsmart Ted? Will Ted's obsession consume him entirely? And what of the watch, this tiny, powerful prop that has upended their lives? The curtain rises on their dark, captivating performance, and we're left to watch, to wonder—what happens next when time is just a plaything? Nominated for Best Art Direction and Best Special Effects at the AVN Awards 2020, this isn't just a scene; it's a mind-bending journey into the heart of obsession, power, and the lengths we go to for love. Get ready to dive in, to question, to gasp. After all, when time is in your hands, anything can happen.
