By Juan Markos
Hollyshorts Nominated for Best Sci-Fi
Los Angeles, CA, (The Hollywood Times) 7/26/2025 – Caroline Goodall and Hannah Onslow star in the short film The Second Time Around. On a stormy night, while closing a café, Elle, a waitress, is visited by an older woman. Startled by her unexpected appearance, Elle drops a mug. The woman says she had forgotten something and mentions that she had been there earlier. Elle lets her inside, but an ominous vibe surrounds the woman’s presence, though Elle remains unfazed.
As Elle goes to the back of the café, she can see the older woman looking around. The woman comments on the pictures on the bulletin board, and they discuss how taking photos of people grabbing their morning coffee hasn’t taken off. Elle mentions considering taking pictures of people’s dogs, but explains that the manager doesn’t allow dogs inside. The older woman remarks that the manager is “not cool,” as if she knows him.
Feeling a bit sad, the woman takes a seat, and Elle offers her a cup of tea. The two sit down for a chat, during which the older woman shares a poignant story. She reveals that she hasn’t been to the café in a long time and recounts a memory of a loved one who has passed away. She reminisces about how they met in the café on a rainy night and how she had a crush on a waitress there.
The woman explains that she had left something behind in hopes of returning with an excuse, but it was stolen. They ended up sharing a bottle of wine left in a bag, fell in love, and tragically, the woman she loved ended her life. The older woman expresses her regret about not being able to tell her loved one something important before she died. Just then, an alarm sounds, and Elle glances at her phone. The woman stands up, preparing to leave. Elle asks her what she would have told her loved one, and she replies that she would have said she was loved very much.
The woman picks up an umbrella from the lost and found and exits the café. Left to ponder her words, Elle hears a knock on the door. It’s a young woman who has forgotten something. As Elle heads to the door, she notices a bottle of wine in a bag. The film ends.
“The Second Time Around” is special; the two actresses deliver powerful performances that are truly moving. It isn’t just a film; it embodies a time loop or a memory of how two lovebirds once met and how their story ends in the same place. The narrative is touching, shocking, and deeply emotional, reminding viewers of everlasting love and how life can contain moments that endure forever.
The Second Time Around Trailer
The film is written and directed by Jack Howard and will screen at this year’s Hollyshorts Film Festival in Hollywood. For tickets or more information, please visit Hollyshorts.com.
