Daughter Slut-Shaming

The scene unfolds in a vestibule in the wee hours of the morning, where 18-year-old Veronica (played by Emily Willis) is attempting to slip through the door without making a sound. After a night of revelry, indicated by her slightly disarranged appearance and party attire, the young woman is cautious not to alarm her father. She carries her high heels in her hands to minimize noise, and begins to tiptoe down the hallway. She navigates her way into the kitchen, where she procures some painkillers for her burgeoning hangover. Turning a corner, she's taken aback to see her stepfather Hugo (Steve Holmes), nursing a cup of coffee. His facial expression is stern and his stance rigid. Veronica is mortified at being caught, but attempts to act nonchalant -- 'hi daddy,' she greets sweetly, 'uhh, how long have you been awake?' He replies just long enough to notice that she didn't sleep in her bed last night. She informs him that she was studying at a friend's place and ended up staying the night. Doubtful, he picks up the pill bottle, commenting that algebra seems to give her a headache. Veronica stands by her story, but Hugo isn't buying it, and forcefully places the pill bottle back onto the countertop while demanding an explanation. Reluctantly, Veronica confesses that she was at a late-night party. Visibly uncomfortable and clearly hesitant to express her next need, she requests a ride to the pharmacy. On being asked why, she cringes. She admits she needs to purchase some emergency contraceptive pills -- she let loose at the party. Hugo inhales deeply, struggling to maintain his composure. Who was the boy? Veronica is extremely anxious, and confesses she isn't sure... some guy at the party, she didn't learn his name. Hugo appears furious, and berates her - she lost her virginity at a party to an absolute stranger?! That's utterly reckless! Veronica reluctantly corrects him, 'well.... not exactly... I sort of... well, I didn't lose my virginity tonight, to be accurate.' Hugo looks at her stone-faced and incredulous. 'How many times have you had sex?!' he enquires. She averts her gaze and remains silent. He seizes her by the wrist and insists she looks him in the eye. 'How many men have you slept with?!' he repeats. Humiliated and on the verge of tears, she hesitantly meets her step-father's stare. 'I've sort of... lost count.' Something within Hugo snaps. He takes a lengthy, angry breath through his nostrils, and then exhales. He clenches Veronica's throat and begins to walk away, dragging her along with him. She resists being moved -- 'what are you going to do to me, daddy?!' she exclaims. He throws her onto the living room couch and leans in threateningly. 'I'm going to discipline my step-daughter like the promiscuous girl she is.' CUT TO TITLE PLATE Hovering over her, he scrutinizes her for a moment. He tells her that she's been behaving like a spoiled child, so he's going to treat her like one, and discipline her just like when she would misbehave as a child. He asks condescendingly if she recalls what that entails. 'You want to SPANK me?!' she exclaims in alarm, recoiling from his angry glare. She's 18 years old now, she implores, he can't do that anymore, she's an adult. It's strange. It's DISGUSTING. Hugo counters, she's certainly not behaving like an adult. She's behaving like a spoiled child who needs to be taught a lesson. If she wants to continue living under his roof, she must adhere to his rules. She does want to stay living under his roof, right? Reluctantly, she agrees. She doesn't want to be evicted, right? Begrudgingly, she responds in the negative. Then she's going to obey him, right? With clenched teeth and holding back tears, she agrees, she'll do whatever he commands. He instructs her to remove her trousers, it's time for her chastisement. He tells her to turn around. She complies, and we view from a male gaze POV as she slowly and reluctantly undresses. She shoots him a betrayed look before also slowly removing her underwear. She stands there for a moment awkwardly. Finally, he coldly instructs her to come and bend over his lap. Lying across her step-father's lap, bottom exposed, Veronica grimaces and braces herself for the spanking. Hugo begins by taunting her, rubbing the palm of his hand in circles across her buttocks for several seconds, before comm