Chapter 67

When the scene of the hospital emergency room appeared on the screen, no one could tell that it was actually a dentist's office.

Watching the dazed and sorrowful expressions of Anna's parents, and the medical staff bustling about, at this moment, every viewer in front of the screen felt their hearts tighten. Even though they knew it was a short film, they were still so tense, and some mall visitors even silently prayed, making the sign of the cross, hoping that God would bless her.

After a transition shot, the scene returned to Anna's house. In the wide-angle shot, Bella lay in the hall, her head resting on a small, blood-stained dance shoe, gazing out the window at the hazy night. In a close-up, her eyes were filled with sorrow, and she lowered her head to lick the bloodstains on the shoe, tears welling up in her eyes...

Summer had already passed, and the melancholy of autumn permeated the entire screen.

"Oh, poor thing..." The compassionate audience was immediately moved, their eyes also feeling a bit moist.

Many children were almost on the verge of a tantrum, "Don't do this," "Anna still has to perform for everyone," "Anna, you must live!" ...

The Dream Alliance members in various mall shops, while watching these scenes, gave a thumbs up, "Vic, I really hope you can see this! Willis must feel the same, right?"

At this moment, the camera panned to the window, and the sky gradually brightened, indicating that a night had passed, a night of agony.

Suddenly, the sound of a door opening was heard, and Bella immediately sprang up and ran to the door! The audience's hearts were on edge, would Anna return unharmed?

However, it was only Anna's parents. The camera angle was very low, as if from Bella's perspective, only capturing the chest area of Anna's parents, not their faces. More feet hurried by, and the background sounds were indistinct. Anna's mother was crying, and Anna's father was comforting her, but no one paid attention to Bella.

The low angle deepened the sense of oppression, fear, and helplessness. At this moment, the intermittent sad piano music faded away, replaced by a more sorrowful bagpipe melody, making people feel as if they were alone in a vast, empty prairie. Despite the vastness of the world, they felt so lonely, so concerned about Anna...

In a series of quick shots, Bella lay by the shoe cabinet, people's feet passing by one after another. The scene changed noticeably; Anna's dance shoes were gathering dust, and Bella's fur was becoming disheveled. Time was passing, but her position never changed. She remained there, watching the door, occasionally lifting her head, her eyes filled with hope.

The mournful bagpipe music tugged at everyone's heartstrings, making their hearts tremble.

There is a kind of love in the world that is very great, and that is the love of a dog for its friend, family, and master. It is sincere, selfless, and devoted. They will travel a thousand miles to return home, and they will wait for their master in one place forever, just to see the person they care about again, to embrace them, to lick their face, and to express their love.

Bella was waiting for Anna.

More and more viewers had tears in their eyes. Anna, come back, dance with Bella!

"Amazing," Wang Ying was deeply moved and impressed. The setting of this scene was excellent, not only creating the atmosphere of adversity needed for the second act but also elevating the bond between Anna and Bella, making the audience even more invested, their hearts moved by the story...

Suddenly, the sound of a door opening was heard again, and he couldn't help but widen his eyes, as Bella excitedly got up and ran to the door. Anna was back!

"Anna is back!" "Anna is safe!" Cheers of joy echoed around the world!

At this moment, the Willis family, the Collins family, the USC students... many people had their eyes wide open. The camera rose, and a new small wheelchair entered the frame. It rose again, and a left foot stepped on the wheelchair's footrest, slowly rising. The audience could see clearly that Anna's right leg had been amputated from the knee. She had lost her right calf.

It rose again, and her gaunt little face appeared. Although she stroked the excited Bella, she didn't say anything, her expression so dejected and sad, devoid of any vitality, as if the whole world had lost its light, as if she were in a dark abyss.

The lighting in the scene was indeed much darker, always a grayish hue behind Anna.

"Oh no! No, oh no!" The audience found it hard to accept this tragedy, feeling immense heartache for Anna, who had become a broken-winged angel!

"Poor Anna, she doesn't deserve this. She hasn't done anything wrong..."

"Damn the screenwriter and director, give Anna her right leg back!"

"Oh, look at her, it's breaking my heart."

Listening to the murmurs and sighs around him, Lev was very moved, and also a bit sad, as this was his first time watching. "Anna is like Meryl Streep. The last time I cried watching a movie was 'Sophie's Choice'..." It wasn't a shameful thing; at this moment, many people wiped their eyes.

In Las Vegas, Bery exclaimed, "She really lost a leg? That's terrifying!"

"That's special effects..." Ye Wei smiled, explaining, but couldn't say too much to avoid dampening the viewing mood.

"You're really heartless, creating such sad special effects." Laru looked sad. Lamoh said, "That's exactly what he wanted, isn't it?" Ye Wei silently responded: Yes!

"You better have a good reason for doing this." Willis glanced at Ye Wei with a fierce look, then looked back at the TV screen, his expression immediately softening.

In Los Angeles, Wang Ying was once again amazed by Anna's performance!

This young actress, influenced by stage acting, often had many micro-expressions and small movements, which could sometimes be excessive. But in this short film, her choices were fewer and more precise, and with the help of the camera, editing, and music, it resulted in her excellent acting.

But he thought that was all there was to it, that she could only play the happy and lively side, which only required her to be herself. But he was wrong again!

Look at her now, Anna Sophia Robb, such a lively and mischievous little girl, was able to portray the melancholy and sorrow so vividly, just as believable and genuine as when she was happy, making people feel her emotions deeply!

"Poor her..." In New York, Nicholas was almost in tears. A child's innocent heart is often more easily moved than an adult's.

Lily blinked her moist eyes, feeling a bit choked up. The short film's story, and the memories of her own childhood facing major life changes, brought back the difficulties, sadness, and confusion that had been trapped in her heart, struggling to break free...

She took a few deep breaths, silently encouraging herself: Come on, Anna! No difficulty is insurmountable, everything will be fine, come on!

Jolie and Simon also felt a wave of sad memories, their expressions momentarily silent. Come on!

Who hasn't faced setbacks, sadness, and difficulties? The older you get, the more you feel like you're being abandoned by the world. The audience empathized because they had truly experienced it.

No one wanted to see Anna sink into despair, whether adults or children, the whole world hoped to see a scene where Anna stood up again!

But it wasn't that easy. After a smooth transition, the living room of Anna's house was filled with a Christmas atmosphere. The TV played a dialogue from "It's a Wonderful Life," and Anna's parents sat on the sofa, while Anna, in her wheelchair, had a blanket over her legs, her face still lifeless.

When Anna's father mentioned Santa Claus, she showed no interest: "There's no Santa Claus, it's all a lie."

This statement pierced the hearts of the adult audience!

The reason humans like cuteness, like to protect cuteness, and cherish innocent childhood is because they live in an imperfect, even ugly world. So people need those beautiful things to feel happy in this imperfect world.

However, in Anna, they no longer saw beauty but a pitiful figure tormented by reality, losing her innocence! People felt sorry, people felt heartache...

Would that heartwarming little angel return?

"Angering Santa Claus means he won't give you any gifts." In the screen, Anna's father's voice-over laughed.

Anna's dejection turned to anger, "I just want my right leg back, can he give it to me? He can't!"

Oh! This desperate statement was like a heavy blow, striking people's hearts. Yes, Santa Claus can't give it to her, but, but...

The darkness behind Anna grew heavier, already engulfing the wheelchair's backrest, about to swallow her! The USC students noticed the change in lighting and couldn't help but look at Harry King, "No way, when did King get so good..."

"It was Ye Wei's idea, I just followed it." Harry didn't take credit.

Indeed, without a clever composition, the lighting wouldn't work. Everyone scratched their heads, how could a high school short film have something to learn from?

But what made them feel even more was yet to come.

When the scene returned to the backyard, unlike the beautiful setting at the beginning, the backyard seemed neglected, withered, and the scene setup was excellent! Anna's wheelchair stopped on the wooden porch, gazing blankly at the gray sky, while Bella began her own efforts to encourage her!

It was jumping, rolling, and looking at her, but Anna repeatedly rejected it, pushing it closer and closer. Bella was about to leave the right side of the frame, and she was about to be hidden in the left side of the corridor.

The strength was so uneven, but the light was on Bella's side! It continued to approach her, encouraging her...

The audience's hearts melted, a burning sensation suddenly welled up from the bottom of their eyes, almost bringing tears. Come on, Bella, don't give up on Anna!

"Bella, do you understand? I can't dance anymore... The Anna from before is gone..."

When Bella approached again, its head rested on the empty right footrest of the wheelchair, and Anna, with tears welling up in her eyes, stroked it, her whole body fragile as if it could be blown away by the wind.

At this moment, when Bella heard the word "dance," it suddenly had a new idea and ran off! It fetched a small dance shoe from the shoe cabinet and ran back to Anna!

"Good job, Bella!" The audience couldn't help but get excited, their eyes brightening, watching Anna hesitate, nervously murmuring, "Angel, dance again!"

Wang Ying was also excited, the acting and filming were both excellent. This short film kept surprising him, with no end in sight...

This was no longer just a regular short film; it was art, with its refined mise-en-scène and deep emotional meaning, elevating it to a higher level.

Although Anna was hesitant, the space in the frame was shrinking, the distance between Bella and her was closing, her darkness was receding, and the light was gradually brightening, becoming warm again.

That was Bella's optimistic belief, that was Anna's strength. She was at the door of new hope, but she was still hesitating...

"Sorry, I can't do it, Bella..." Suddenly, Anna threw the small dance shoe away, biting her lip and closing her eyes, giving up in a dejected manner.

Oh no!! The audience's hearts were shattered again, their eyes moist, tense, heartbroken, unwilling to give up...

This was the midpoint of the story, the darkest hour before dawn, the most desperate moment, the classic setup of the three-act structure.

"Kid...!" Willis didn't care about anything, feeling annoyed and about to scold Ye Wei, but then he suddenly focused on the TV!

Bella ran out, it didn't give up! In a close-up, it rushed into the grass, picked up the dance shoe, and the image was slightly shaky, making the audience feel as if they were following Bella's steps, sensing its trembling heart. In a close-up, its eyes were determined, never giving up on Anna, and they wouldn't either!

"Bella, oh..." On the screen, when Bella used the shoe to touch Anna's left foot, she opened her eyes, tears immediately falling, and then she smiled like an angel, "You stubborn little rascal..."

What further excited the audience was that Bella suddenly started dancing on one foot. Watching its clumsy but happy steps, everyone's broken hearts were mended, refreshed by a stream of Eden's clear water! They were looking forward to it, staring at Anna!

"Oh, Bella, Bella..." Anna laughed, her face gradually showing a determined expression. She wiped away her tears and smiled, "You're right, look how happy you are dancing... Okay, I'll try, but don't laugh at me..."

Great!! The audience also smiled, watching her put on the dance shoe, turn the wheelchair, and dance with Bella, laughing like the tinkling of wind chimes!

"Anna, Bella, you two are amazing!" "What a strong girl!" Many people cheered, especially the children, their faces full of joy, dancing along!

Those beautiful moments returned to this imperfect world, and light returned! People were moved, and they felt the same joy and relief as Anna's parents.

"Ha ha ha!" Willis laughed, patting the sofa a few times, as if to say, "That was really satisfying!"

Suddenly, the music started, "You'll Be In My Heart"!

The gentle prelude instantly elevated the emotional tone of the story to its peak, everything burst forth! When Phil Collins' magnetic voice began, the screen started a montage: Anna, with the help of her parents, put on a prosthetic leg, got out of the wheelchair, and took her first steps again...

"Come on, don't cry, everything will be fine, just hold my hand tightly, I'll always be by your side, protecting you, I'll always be here, don't cry..."

In New York, Lily covered her trembling mouth, tears welling up in her eyes. Looking at the shocked audience, especially her stunned father, she couldn't help but smile, feeling so much! She felt like she was Anna, whether Ye Wei knew it or not, this was her childhood...

Anna was learning to walk, and Bella followed closely, very tense. Whenever she wobbled and was about to fall, it rushed to support her...

"You are so small, yet you look so strong, my warm embrace is your safest place."

When Anna really fell on the lawn, her parents rushed to her, and Bella was frantic, always by her side.

"The bond of flesh and blood between us cannot be severed, I am here, don't cry, you are in my heart, you are in my heart."

The intense emotional impact, like a tsunami, overwhelmed all the viewers. They were laughing, they were crying, they were moved!

As the song played, one by one, scenes of Anna's resilience and her dancing with Bella appeared on screens around the world!

"Don't listen to their idle talk, what do they know, we just need to hold each other's hands, one day they will see!"

When the song reached the high part, another scene showed a sunny day, Anna moving freely, running on the lawn, and Bella happily running beside her, suddenly leaping up, and she hugged it!

This was a two-person side shot, each taking up half the frame, Anna on the left, Bella on the right. She kissed it, and Bella licked her face, both laughing!

"When fate tests you, you must be strong, maybe I can't be with you, but you must be brave, one day they will understand, we will face it together! Because, you are in my heart, I believe, you are in my heart, from this day on, until forever..."

At this moment, many adult viewers were in tears, and the children were cheering.

Seeing this, the Dream Alliance members were extremely excited, moved, and proud, trembling and shouting, "