Her Last Will (2016) Movie Script
Dina.
Don't forget.
Hello?
It's me.
...heavily damaging 30 homes
triggering an exchange of fire
that killed two Palestinians
and wounded more than a dozen.
About a dozen
downtown businesses
were boarded up Wednesday.
I miss you.
Hello?
You promised me.
You promised me.
Is anybody there?
Don't leave me.
Who are you?
Answer me!
Tony?
Oh, my God! You cut me!
What is wrong with you?
I... I heard something.
You heard something?
What did you hear?
I... I...
It's gone.
What's gone?
I don't know.
I'm so...
I'm sorry.
Mother?
Mother?
What happened last night?
I understood that
you heard something.
I didn't know what
I was talking about, I...
I had a nightmare.
I was sleepwalking.
You did a lot more
than just walk.
If I haven't said
I'm sorry, I am.
It was just an accident.
Are you feeling alright?
- I'm fine.
- Are you sure?
What's that supposed to mean?
You stabbed your daughter
last night.
We should cancel the party.
Don't be absurd!
And I think that
you need to talk
to somebody about all of this.
I don't.
I'm not.
The only thing I need to do...
is get ready for my guests.
It's a surprise. She's making us wait.
Do you have somewhere you have to be?
Believe it or not,
I occasionally have places to go
that you're unaware of.
Oh, I definitely believe that.
Please, can you not start
with me right now?
Oh, right, because God forbid
your mother hears us fighting.
- No, it's not that.
- Oh, my God.
Would you guys please shut up?
I'm sorry, Iona,
did we wake you?
Yeah, you did.
I can't believe she's
making us meet this early.
It's 1:15.
I'll get it.
- Leslie!
- Hey, Harold.
Your mother asked me to be here.
- Good afternoon, Leslie.
- Dina.
You remember my attorney,
Leslie Morgan.
Hi.
Oh, this is Patricia.
Gill's wife.
I don't believe you've met.
- Pleasure to meet you.
- Hi.
I asked Leslie to join
us because of a decision
concerning the disposition
of my estate.
I've decided to increase
my charitable efforts
beginning with
a sizable donation
to the Philharmonic.
Thank you.
- How much?
- Five million dollars.
- Is this a joke?
- No.
Well, that's quite a donation.
That's a tremendous gesture, Dina.
This is merely the first step.
In the coming years, I will make similar
annual contributions to other
deserving institutions.
You can't do that.
That's our money.
It's mymoney.
And if you hope to see any of it,
you will liftyour jaw
off the floor
and say, "Well done, mother."
- Or learn to play the oboe.
- Excuse me?
Well done, mother.
Thank you, Harold.
Not only will this strengthen
the cultural fabric of our city,
but it will insure
our family name...
come what may.
Ms. Rayfield, Mr. Manning will see you now.
There she is.
Hey there. Hey.
Hey.
How are you?
- I'm good. I'm nervous.
- What?
You'll do great. You look great!
Come on, sit down. Sit down.
You know you can come
to me for help
if you have questions
or whatever.
Thank you.
I'll probably just go
to whoever I'm reporting to.
Yeah, I know, of course.
I'm-I'm just saying that...
I know.
I know, it's just...
It's weird. We dated.
It's your dad's firm.
If people find out,
they'll probably assume
that's why I got the job.
Which I realize
I know is why I got the job.
Whoa! Listen. Listen.
You got this job
because you were brilliant
and they will see that
as soon as they meet you.
So... how does this work?
Do I sign the papers here?
Do I have to...
Oh, it's gonna have
to wait till tomorrow.
Some problem with HR,
but you can go
through orientation today.
Okay. Great.
Thank you, Mitch.
- I owe you.
- What are friends for?
- Hello?
- Hey, Mags.
We're in the living room.
It's gonna be good, sweetie.
- Hi, Maggie.
- Hey, what's goin' on?
You wanna tell her?
They are moving in
with a lovely couple,
Tim and Anne.
This means we get
to go on the wall.
That's right.
Who cares?
I care, young lady.
I plan to catalog all the great
things that you do.
And just because you're not
living in this house
doesn't mean you won't
be living here
and right in here.
Aw, come here,
give me a hug.
Now, I want you to go
finish packing, okay?
- Okay. I love you, Ruth.
- Okay, bye, guys.
I love you, Maggie.
Last one there is a rotten egg.
Hey, babe.
Hi.
Race you there.
How are you feelin'
about all this?
The adoption?
Oh, fine.
I'm-I'm thrilled for them.
Can I ask you something?
Why did you take me in?
And after everything
I did to you,
why did you let me stay?
Honey, I didn't, uh...
I didn't take you in.
I didn't let you stay.
I adopted you.
Because I loved you.
I still do.
I've always loved you.
You're my daughter.
And... for better and worse, Margaret,
you have... you have
no quit in you.
And that's a rare quality.
I love your...
your warrior spirit, your...
Oh! Which reminds me...
Surprise.
What did you do?
- This is too much.
- No, it's just right.
Honey...
every warrior needs her armor.
- Hi, Mitch.
- Hey.
Hey, I was just about
to head in.
Uh, I-I don't know how to say this,
I'm just gonna
come out with it.
The job isn't gonna happen.
What do you mean?
I thought it was a done deal.
I know, and I can't tell you how bad I feel.
There was just one last person
who had to sign off
and... well,
in the end,
this is still a law office.
I'm so sorry.
I made your lunch, I know
it's totally silly, but I...
- Anyhow, I-I should...
- I'm gonna go. Okay.
- What's wrong?
- Nothing.
- Did something happen?
- I didn't get the job.
- Why? What's going on?
- And I know about the house.
I found all the foreclosure
papers in your desk.
I knew there was
something wrong.
Why didn't you tell me?
Because it's not yours
to deal with.
It's mine, and I blew it, okay?
I just...
I got talked
into refinancing the house
and I thought I had read
all the fine print, but...
Oh, I don't wanna
lose this house. I just...
Ah, it's okay.
You're not gonna lose the house.
Honey...
Let me take care
of you for once.
No, it's my job
to take care of you.
Not the other way around.
It's gonna be okay.
Hello?
Over here.
No. No, I-I can't do this.
So, w-what's the problem?
When we talked on the phone,
you told me
that this was a meeting
about a job opportunity.
It is. And it's one
that you should seize.
The pay is $30,000.
The problem is...
The problem is
you have the wrong person.
"Margaret Rayfield,
born April 16, 1971.
Moved among a series
of foster homes
until 1982 when you came
to permanently reside with
Ruth Atterly of Lawndale.
1985, convicted
of simple assault,
expunged on your
18th birthday.
1990, convicted
of aggravated assault
served two years.
'99, cyber fraud,
served one year."
There's another
aggravated assault charge in 2012.
You were required to undergo
court ordered therapy,
but otherwise acquitted
when the jury
could not reach a verdict.
You were one sympathetic juror
away from your third strike,
so, I'm pretty sure
we got the right person.
"Two tours in Iraq
from 2002 to 2010.
Including most crucially,
PSYOPs work in Abu Ghraib."
You manipulated, warped,
and eventually broke
hardened militants.
Where the hell did you get that?
A lawyer friend of mine
knows a lawyer friend of yours,
so they recommended you.
"Dishonorably discharged, 2010."
We want our mother institutionalized
but she's of sound mind,
so we were hoping
that you could change that.
We want you to drive
our mother crazy.
That's not me anymore.
Yeah, well, people don't change.
Maybe your people don't change.
Fifty thousand dollars.
Seems fair.
No?
Alright, sixty.
I already gave you my answer.
Seventy.
- Eighty!
- Gill.
Shut up, Harold.
Ninety thousand.
Do you have the cash?
Half now, half when you're done.
Take that.
We all have one.
Our numbers are on that.
Memorize it, burn it.
So, how does this all work?
I have to put together
a profile of your mother.
Her background, her history,
her personality, everything.
Okay, she grew up
in one of Pasadena's
most prominent families.
After high school,
she went to Scripps College
like her mother and grandmother
before her
and just like them,
she was set to marry a young man
from a suitable family,
but then she fell in love
with somebody else.
- What do you know about him?
- Not much.
His name was Tony.
He was an army private
from Brooklyn.
He was stationed somewhere
nearby and somehow
our grandfather found out
they were planning to elope,
so next thing you know,
he's shipped off to Vietnam.
Few months later, declared MIA.
Presumably dead.
About a year after that,
she married the young man
from the suitable family.
Your father.
We think that she never
got over losing Tony.
That's probably how she
grew to become... so closed off.
That's one way of putting it.
So, you're her, huh?
I'm Maggie.
Charmed.
Um, Margaret,
this is our sister, Iona.
So, where were we?
Right. The thought
of what she could have had
all these years with her
one true love,
instead of our father.
That's probably
what turned her into such
a miserable controlling bitch.
- Where's your father now?
- Six feet under the ground.
- Thank God.
- Jesus, Iona.
I'm sorry, what,
am I embarrassing you?
- Oh, no, not me.
- Well, then good.
Stop it!
Well, look at that,
looks like dad
isn't so dead after all.
Tell me how your mother
is controlling.
She has very specific views.
Rules. Call them what they are.
Rules.
Regarding our conduct.
And she's tied our obedience
to her money.
There's even
stipulations in her will that trim
or erase our inheritance
if we were to slip up.
- How do you know that?
- I gained access to the will.
However, if she's declared
mentally incompetent,
we can have
the will invalidated,
we can all move on
with our lives.
Amen.
The key here is the boy, Tony.
You have to somehow convince her
that he is still alive.
No. You have to start smaller.
You have to plant the seeds
of doubt first.
I would like to get started,
if I could.
- How long do I have the house?
- Four hours at least.
Harold's gonna show you around.
Okay. And which of you
is gonna see her next?
That'll be me.
We're hitting the spa
this afternoon.
Are you driving?
No, that won't be legal
for another
couple of months,
I'll cab it there
and she'll drive me back.
Is there a spare key to her car?
- Yes.
- Yeah.
Well, that's the grand tour of the grounds.
These pathways
were designed so that
the servants could move
around the property
without disrupting
the residents.
They all lead up to the house.
- You have help or housekeepers?
- Oh, yes.
Yes. A whole family
works for us.
Once a year,
they go back to Guatemala.
They're gone for two weeks.
Uh... Just up here,
there's a staircase that leads
directly to the attic.
Father had it built so the help
wouldn't disrupt us decorating
during the holidays.
Yeah. This will do.
Uh, that's where
Gill found the diary.
And there's a lot more in there.
This place mean something
to you?
I used to come up here
as a teenager and hide out.
By yourself?
Did your mother ever catch you?
She didn't catch me.
A friend of a friend
of hers saw me
in Palm Springs
with a couple of guys.
Didn't take long
for it to get back to her.
What'd she do?
What she always does.
Apply pressure.
If I wanted to see
any part of my inheritance,
I was to stop
embarrassing the family.
Immediately and permanently.
She told me to pick up
a hobby instead.
But you didn't stop.
No. I'm just a hell of
a lot more careful.
What about your siblings?
What about 'em?
What were their rules?
Iona, as you might imagine,
has to keep
the partying under control.
Frankly, on that score, I think
that mother might have a point.
And Gill?
He was supposed to stop
cheating on his wife.
Was?
Why doesn't he
just get a divorce?
According to mother,
divorce just means
that you didn't try hard enough.
- They never had children?
- No.
No, no, no, they...
they really wanted them,
they just...
weren't able to.
- His wife?
- No.
No. God, no, not her.
That one was all on Gill.
Needless to say,
mother was very disappointed.
Hmm.
Must have been hellish.
Growing up under her rules.
Mother has her reasons
for being the way she is.
If you saw how she grew up,
you would know.
Oh, I understand.
Excuse me.
I'm gonna get to work.
Of course.
I really don't see what the big deal is.
Fifteen percent
is reasonable and fair.
Anything beyond that
is excessive.
You know, if you'd ever worked
for tips in your entire life...
You have had one such job
which you held on to
for three weeks
until you tired of it,
as you do of all things,
so spare me
your working-class wisdom.
Sorry, I don't think
I broke the bank.
- How much?
- What?
How much did you give him
in relative or absolute terms?
- I have no idea.
- Exactly.
You just grabbed a wad of bills
and you shoved them
into his hand!
Frivolity with gesture.
Frivolity with the money.
My car has been stolen.
Excuse me?
My car was here,
and now it's gone.
I don't think
the car has been stolen.
You need a ticket to get out.
Are you sure you remember
where you parked it?
Of course I'm sure.
Well, why don't we look
on another floor?
Don't take that patronizing
tone with me.
I know exactly where I left it.
This SUV was parked to my right,
taking up two spaces.
It was a tight squeeze,
so I had to wedge myself out.
And I took the elevator down
one floor to the spa.
On the off-off-chance
that's not the case,
who would you rather
have discover it,
us or the police?
Make it quick, I can only
imagine how long it takes
to fill out a report.
- Satisfied?
- There's one more floor.
Oh.
This is an exercise in futility.
It's okay, you just forgot.
No.
Don't worry,
it happens to everybody.
Not to me.
- Are you feeling okay?
- I'm fine.
Mommy?
Do you want me to drive?
Get in the car!
Oh, I forgot to ask.
How was the spa?
Fine.
Someone had a senior moment
in the parking lot.
I had no such thing.
- What happened?
- Nothing. Drop it.
- No, seriously, what happened?
- It was nothing.
She just forgot where she parked.
You forgot something?
No.
So, then the car moved itself?
This conversation is over.
Your inquisition has succeeded
in ruining my appetite.
I'm going to bed.
You sure you remember
how to get there?
What are you doing?
Having a little bit of fun. Would you relax?
Okay, this is only gonna work
if you don't make it
too obvious.
Where do you keep
your mouthwash?
Middle cabinet, behind you there.
What kind of perfume
do you wear?
Chanel.
Why?
- She'll notice.
- Oh, please.
- You're being paranoid.
- No, I'm not.
Don't wear it next time.
Or you'll do what?
Not that.
- Hello?
- Check your text.
- See what I did to the photo?
- Yes, I do.
I've done it to all of them.
- Well done.
- One more thing.
Keep an eye on your brother tonight.
Why?
He doesn't hate your mother
the way you do.
If he sees her suffering,
he might break.
Okay.
I gotta go.
Dina, you do realize that nobody
reads these things.
Writing this card
is a pointless ritual.
It's bragging,
disguised as holiday cheer.
Where is your brother?
I did say 7:00 on the dot.
I'm sure he's just
working late.
On what?
Hello, everyone.
Sorry I'm late.
Good evening, mother.
Patricia wears Chanel?
She's trying it out.
How unlike her,
she's such a creature of habit.
People can surprise you, mother.
Not usually.
Did you all start without me?
Dream on.
Would you like to begin, Harold?
Alright.
For my...
fall class, they had an opening
that received
very positive reviews.
I had my own opening
at the Wilhelm Gallery.
Mixed reviews, but, um...
a very positive experience.
Very good, Harold.
Any women in your life?
Only you, mother.
Harold remains one of Pasadena's
most eligible bachelors.
Iona, what about you?
- What about me what?
- What did you do this year?
Molly, blow, and Jamaal.
Not necessarily in that order.
Iona continues
her volunteer work
with some of our
neediest citizens,
and last but not least...
Actually, I'm working
on a new venture
that I, I can't say
too much about
but it is going
reallywell so far.
I haven't heard
anything about this.
You will, mother.
And how's Patricia?
Depressed and overspending,
per usual.
Gill and Patricia
remain as in love as ever
and continue working on
bringing us the next
generation of Cottons.
How about a song, mother?
Come on. I'll play you in.
Why not?
Why did you do this?
Who did this?
Who did what?
Someone decided to redecorate
to see if I noticed.
Well, congratulations.
I'm disappointed in you.
I have no idea
what you're talking about.
You moved my vases.
I did no such thing.
Did you move the vases, Harold?
- Of course not.
- Gill?
N-no one moved the vases.
They've been in that
same position for years.
That's preposterous.
- What are you doing?
- I am ending this charade.
But... I... I don't...
That picture was taken
at least five years ago.
That's not possible.
- Someone changed them.
- No!
Yes, they did.
I know you won't lie to me, Harold.
What's going on?
I don't know, mother,
they've always been this way.
You sure?
I think I'll go lie down.
Mother.
That's a good idea there.
Goodnight, mother.
I miss you, D.
The weather sucks out here.
It's hot every day.
Uh, it rained for about...
three weeks straight.
Um, I met this guy from Texas.
Taught me how to pack a dip.
So, that's been fun. Hah!
I promise my teeth will be good
when I get back, alright?
I hope everything's
good back home.
Just... just promise me
something, alright?
Promise me you won't
forget me, alright?
I'm gonna come back for you.
I love you.
I'm coming home.
Just wait for me, D.
Please promise me that, alright?
Alright, I-I wrote
this letter...
Maggie.
You shouldn't be up here.
She's not getting up
any time soon.
Don't worry about it.
Still.
For you.
- What you got in here?
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Don't!
- What is it?
It's a hallucinogen.
Not that kind of hallucinogen.
The kind that will kill you
if you're not careful.
Put it back.
- Now.
- Okay, okay.
- What do you want, Iona?
- I'm just bored.
I figured while I have you here,
I might as well learn
a little about you.
You already know
too much about me.
I'm not talking
about your record, Maggie.
I'm talking about you.
- What do you wanna know?
- You grew up in foster care.
- What was that like?
- Unpredictable.
Anything else?
Yeah.
A lot.
You've got one more question
before I kick you out
and get back to work.
So you better make it good.
Okay.
Why were you discharged?
Gill said the only gap
in your bio
is just the specifics of
your discharge from the army.
So, what happened, Maggie?
Were you a bad girl?
You think this is a joke?
Is this a game to you?
'Cause it isn't to me.
I know what your mother
is going to look like
when this is over,
and it's not pretty.
So you were a bad girl.
I can read someone's weaknesses
in an instant.
Their pressure points.
I got too good at pressing them.
Like I can tell
when they've been drinking
since breakfast.
And when they sleep around
to make up for the love
they never got
from their father.
He didn't want a daughter.
He wanted a third son
to make up for the first two
who reminded him
too much of his wife.
Looks like we hired
the right person for the job.
See you later, Maggie.
Hi, honey, how goes the remodel?
You know...
It's fine, I guess.
Oh. What's the matter?
Did you get the check?
I did. Thank you so much.
But please, don't, honey,
don't send any more.
Don't worry about it.
I made a good deal with them.
There'll be more.
Well, I appreciate that.
I love you so much.
I would do anything to help you.
Anything.
Hello?
It's me.
Don't leave me.
- Wait for me.
- Who's there?
Answer me!
Oh, my God! You cut me!
What is wrong with you?
What'd you get your mom?
This isn't for her.
Open it.
Who is she?
Who's who?
You're covering for something,
and that takes balls.
But I guess you've
always had those.
It is not what you think.
Oh, come on.
We haven't given each other
any kind of present in years.
Who is she?
I made you a promise
last time it happened
that it would never
happen again
and I am sticking
to that promise.
I learned my lesson.
I don't want to lose you.
Hello?
She did what?
- We should cancel the party.
- Don't be absurd.
And I think that you
need to talk with somebody
about all of this.
I don't.
I'm not.
The only thing I need to do...
is get ready for my guests.
I need to get that stuff
for her drink.
Uh... Two drops.
That's enough.
And one Valium tonight.
Nothing more.
- Understood?
- Yes.
I have a couple of things
I have to do in the house.
How long will it be empty?
Dina's going to the salon,
so you have an hour.
Make it quick.
It doesn't bother you?
What we're doing to her?
No.
Not a bit.
Make sure the bottom
of that is dry.
Put it here, please.
"Dear Dina, I miss you
more and more every day."
- No.
- "I'm coming home to you.
I promise you
with all my heart."
"Just wait for me, D.
Knowing you're out there
helps me get through this.
I love you.
Tony."
Just a minute.
Is everything okay, mother?
I'm fine.
Your guests are starting to arrive.
I'm ready.
- Oh, sweet. Oh, thank you.
- You have a great house.
- It's so good to see you.
- Happy birthday.
- Thank you. Thank you.
- Nice meeting you.
Hello, mother.
I haven't seen you this evening
and you look lovely.
Wh... Thank you.
Birthday girl.
- Ha ha ha.
- Leslie.
Good to see you.
- Harold.
- Hello, Leslie.
- Nice to see you again.
- Likewise.
Good evening, everybody.
- How are you?
- Good, good.
Good Lord, Iona.
What happened to your arm?
You know,
it's a funny story, actually...
A cooking accident.
Her knife slipped.
Uh, up to your forearm?
I've told her that the sherry is
for cooking not consuming.
Years of etiquette class,
all for naught.
Well...
If only I had your grace, Dina.
I'll see you guys later.
Oh, look, I wanna introduce you.
- Excuse us.
- Yes, of course.
Sure.
So, Leslie...
how long have you been
Dina's estate attorney?
Oh, let's see.
I think about three years now.
Oh, wow.
That's a long time for Dina.
You must be really good.
I am really good.
- Anybody want a drink?
- Yes, please.
Great.
Mother.
Yes?
Oh, no. I'm fine, thank you.
Trust me.
In a bit...
you're gonna need this.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Excuse me. Uh, if I could
have everyone's attention, please.
I'd like to thank you all
for coming and...
Well, my mother
isn't one for public spectacle,
so I'm gonna keep this brief.
To Dina Cotton,
the strongest person
that I know.
If the rest of us had even
half of your conviction
this would be a more principled,
better run,
and far more tastefully
appointed world.
- Happy birthday.
- Happy birthday.
Happy birthday!
She barely took a sip. I was watching her.
It should still have an effect.
We need to give her more.
No.
I don't wanna do anything rash.
It's too late, Harold.
Are you even listening to me?
Of course.
This is unbelievable.
- What?
- Your mother's lawyer?
Yeah, you had to pick someone
that we knew.
You couldn't just pick
some dumb, young girl
like every other time before?
I don't have time
for this right now, okay?
Oh.
Do you know what
your problem is, Gill?
What?
You think that you're just
the smartest person in any room
you walk into and worse,
you think everyone else
is a fool.
Well, you're not
even remotely close.
You're an incompetent idiot.
Is everything alright?
Does it look like
everything is alright?
Why isn't it working?
Because she didn't drink any.
Give me these.
Mother.
Listen, I, um...
I wanted to say that I've,
I've given a lot of thought...
to your donation
to the Philharmonic
and... wait, wait, wait.
I think it's great.
You do?
I'm so sorry.
You were absolutely right.
Come on. It's your birthday.
Legacy matters, mother.
Long after we're gone...
our name is gonna
live on forever,
and there is one reason.
You.
You, my mother,
are an inspiration.
Mother?
- Are you alright?
- Mother.
- Mother?
- Dina!
- Dina!
- Oh!
- Whoa!
- Mother.
Mother!
- What's happening?
- Shh.
Am I going crazy?
No. No, you're not going crazy.
You don't understand.
This is all our fault.
- W-we di...
- Harold.
Harold... let her rest.
It's alright, mother. We're just
gonna be in the next room.
No! Don't, don't leave me.
- Come on, Harold.
- No.
Don't leave me.
- Come on.
- No.
Come on, Harold.
- Let's go.
- No. Please!
We can't do this to her, Gill.
What exactly did you think
we were doing here?
What did you think
this was gonna look like?
It is all going exactly
as planned.
It is now just the four of us.
Five of us.
Please stop doing...
It is too late to turn back now.
If you cannot be here
right now, Harold,
if you need to go home,
that is fine.
Do you need to go home?
Do you need to go home?
Then leave.
Come back in the morning.
Get out of here. Go.
Okay, lie down. Lie down. Shh.
- Lie down.
- Where's the ambulance?
- They're on their way.
- Shh.
You keep saying that.
- No. No, I don't.
- It's okay.
- Where is Harold?
- I already told you, mother.
He wasn't feeling well.
- He went home.
- I want Harold!
Okay, okay.
What's that music?
What music?
The music
that's playing right now.
There's no music
playing right now.
Yes, there is! Listen!
- Listen!
- I am listening.
- No.
- I don't hear anything.
But that's...
- It can't be.
- What?
That's not possible.
What's not?
Oh, it's the "Nocturne."
Oh.
It's Paderewski, but it...
It can't...
- Tony.
- What are you talking about?
- Who's Tony?
- Tony!
Is that you?
- Is that you?
- Who's Tony?
Mother, who are you talking to?
- Tony!
- Who are you talking to?
Tony!
Oh!
H-he's right there.
He's right there.
He's right there.
Oh, Tony.
I'm so sorry, I...
I didn't wait for you,
and I should've,
but I didn't, and I...
Oh, my God, I let them do it.
I let them take you.
I let them take you.
I let them.
I...
And I lost it all.
Okay, mother. Come on, lie down.
- Lie down, mother. Shh.
- Wha...
- You can see him.
- It's alright.
You're gonna be fine.
- Come on, lie down. Lie down.
- Shh, shh.
You can see him.
He's right there!
I'm gonna get you
some water, okay?
- Okay? It's alright.
- Just breathe.
- I'm not crazy.
- No, no. No.
No. No. Not you, mother.
Tony! Say something!
- Shh.
- Please.
Say something, please!
Tony?
Tony!
Tony, wait for me.
Wait!
W-wait, Tony!
Tony!
Tony, I missed you.
Oh.
Why did we...
Oh!
Oh.
Tony...
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
No, Tony...
No.
Why are you calling me?
Hang on a second.
Go. Take care of this.
What?
What do you want, Mitch?
Not hiring your unstable ex-con?
I could care less about Maggie.
This is about the money.
If you don't pay me more,
I'm gonna tell her.
Well, after tonight, it's not gonna matter.
Don't call me again.
Huh.
Hey, you've reached Mitchell Manning
of Fletcher and Manning.
I'm not able to take your
call right now.
If you leave your name
and number at the beep,
I'll get back to you
as soon as I can.
No.
No.
Dina?
Dina?
Dina!
Dina!
Dina!
Dina!
M-Margaret.
- How do you know my name?
- I'm sorry.
Uh, I'm so sorry.
Mar...
I'm so sorry.
Margaret.
Dina! Dina, no! Dina!
Dina.
Dina! Dina!
911, what's your emergency?
Help! She attacked my mom.
There's an intruder.
I think she poisoned my mom.
- She's right here.
- I need your address.
- No, please! Help me!
- Ma'am, give me...
- What did you just do?
- That's the question, isn't it?
What did you do? Answer me.
Mommy was so upset
I thought she could use
a little extra Valium.
You did this?
You did this?
And if you're gonna do something
you better act fast.
In this neighborhood,
they come quick.
And when they do,
they're gonna find
your fingerprints
all over that tainted bottle...
This is not the end!
It's not the end.
No?
Sounds like it is to me.
Help! Help! She's right here!
No! Help me, please!
She killed my mother!
Hello?
- Hi.
- Hey, baby girl.
- I need you to listen to me.
- What's wrong?
You're about to hear
that I did something terrible.
- I didn't do it.
- Honey, what-what...
- Please, listen.
- Wait, Margaret, what...
What are you talking about?
I know that you did
everything you could
to set a really
good example for me
and I wish I could have been
more like you, but...
Margaret, you do not need...
You're the only person who ever
stood by me and I will never...
I will never forget that.
Margaret, don't do anything
that you're gonna regre...
We should just have an estate sale.
Clear out as much of this shit
as possible.
When are we burning her?
Harold set the cremation
for Saturday.
Private ceremony, just us.
What'd you do with
what's-her-name's stuff
in the attic?
Destroyed it.
I appreciate it.
Let me know if you
find anything.
Yes, thank you.
Who was that?
The police.
We gave our statements already.
Why are you bothering them?
It's been a week, Gill.
That lunatic is still out there.
This doesn't concern you?
Did you ever think that maybe
we don't want them
to find her, you idiot?
Think about what
we hired her to do.
She's probably long gone
by now, okay?
Which is the best thing
for all of us.
Help her pack.
Jorge, is that you?
You make sure to vacuum
under my desk, okay?
It's filthy.
Are you listening?
Hello?
Hola.
You comprende?
Jorge!
Hola.
Ah!
You're never gonna
get away with this.
I mean, the cops are
looking for you.
They're gonna find you.
Not until after I get
what I've come for.
Which is?
Answers.
These are pictures of me.
These are my records.
- Why did Dina have them?
- I don't know.
- Why did Dina have them?
- I don't know!
I don't know!
Ow, ow, ow. Ow, ow, ow. Stop.
Let me tell you how
this is gonna work.
- I...
- I'm gonna hurt you.
No, no, no!
And you're gonna answer
my questions.
- Do you understand?
- Okay, okay.
But don't hurt me. Okay.
Okay, let's try it again.
Why?
My ear!
Why?
She was your mother!
And Tony?
The soldier's my father?
She got pregnant
right before he shipped out.
After Dina gave birth,
her... her family
made her give you up.
So why did they do this?
My siblings.
Dina came to me
a couple of months ago.
She wanted to change her will.
She wanted to give half
to charity
and half to
some ex-con named Margaret.
But she knew about your past.
So, as usual,
she included a morals clause.
And if you got
your third strike,
you were... you were cut out
and the remaining portion
of your... portion of the will,
it went to her children.
And you told Gill.
- Yes.
- And he found out who I was.
So, all this is
just to lock me up?
- Why not kill me?
- Gill wanted to.
- I bet he did.
- He did.
But... Dina suspected that
if her children found out
about all of this
that they would do something,
so there's a stipulation
in the will.
I-it says that if you die
under questionable circumstances
that your portion
goes straight to charity.
Then they wouldn't see anything.
And Gill paid Mitch
to kill my paralegal job.
That's everything.
Oh, no. No, no!
You're gonna kill me! No!
I'm not gonna kill you.
No! No!
- Shh.
- No!
I need you to deliver
a message for me.
I will! I will!
No.
She wants to make a deal.
Give her back
all of her equipment
and anything else
that might be incriminating.
And in exchange?
She won't kill you!
- What does she mean?
- How much does she know?
Everything! Everything!
- What are you talking about?
- How?
Dina had a box with photos
and her records...
You stop ignoring me!
What is she talking about?
Maggie stood to inherit
millions of dollars
of our money.
- Mother left it to her.
- Why would she do that?
Maggie was her daughter.
What?
Wait, she's our sister?
W-what was this, just all
some kind of big setup?
Oh, God, was her killing mother
part of the plan, too?
Harold, I don't have time
for this right now.
Just answer one question.
Was having her kill mother
part of the plan?
Gill, was it?
Yes.
Oh, Gill.
What have you done, Gill?
What have you done?
All of you are insane!
You-you always hated her
because she could always
see through your crap.
She could see the real you
and you just couldn't take that,
could you?
So, what'd you do?
Are you done now?
Can we, can we go on?
Yeah, I'm done.
You can all go to hell.
Harold, Harold, wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
What? What?
If you talk to anybody
about this
or you go to the police
then we all go to jail
for a really long time.
Even the guy who had to be
talked into it.
Alright, gimme a minute,
gimme a minute, gimme a minute.
- What about Maggie's offer?
- What about it?
God, you have no idea
what you're dealing with here.
- Of course I do.
- No, you don't!
Look what she did to me!
Do you have any idea
how hard it is to get
a dishonorable discharge?
A private contractor
dropped her.
Okay, she's gonna, she's gonna
kill each and every
one of us until we give her what she wants.
It's her.
Hello, Gill.
- What do you want?
- What I've always wanted.
A family.
Speaking of which,
is my sister there?
- Why?
- Is she feeling okay?
Oh, shit.
- What the hell?
- Did you drink that?
- What?
- Did you drink that?
Yes, I drank it, why?
Gill, say something.
- Gill!
- Oh, God.
Oh, no.
Oh, God.
Oh, no!
Oh.
- I'm gonna kill you.
- No, no, no.
It's the other way around.
We both know that.
And I can't wait to do it.
I made it quick for Iona.
But for you, brother...
I'm gonna take my time.
- I'm pretty sure we got...
- That's not jamming.
Hello, Maggie.
Hello, brother.
Yeah, I'm not gonna
call you sister.
We... might share blood,
but you are most definitely
not my family.
But we're so similar.
I wish I could say I was
like Harold, he's got a soul,
but... I only see
myself in you.
You have nothing in common
with any of us.
Nobody in my family
would ever be so stupid.
I mean, you left your fingerprints
on a bottle of Valium
that you spiked.
You didn't think that maybe
you should wear gloves?
Geez.
That father of yours, Tony,
he must have been a real moron.
I mean... look at you now.
I knew you were gonna follow me,
that's why I led you here.
You did and I followed.
Almost like I planned it
that way.
No. No.
We both know this wasn't
part of your plan.
You screwed up.
Even at her drunkest,
Iona wouldn't be this pathetic.
How is she, anyway?
Iona.
Oh, there it is. That venom.
That's us, brother.
That is you and me
and we are the same.
Only difference between us...
I knew from the beginning
that mom didn't want me.
But you...
you spent your whole life
trying to get her approval.
You became
a successful businessman,
but that wasn't enough
for her, was it?
You married the daughter
of a congressman
but that wasn't enough either.
And then to make
matters worse...
little Gill...
can't even sow
his own seed, can he?
Do you want to know why
she never came for you?
Why she never reached out
to you, Maggie?
Because she was ashamed of you.
She watched you screw up
over and over and over again.
You were nothing
but an embarrassment to her.
That's probably why
she left me all that money.
Because she's so proud of you.
I know what you did, Maggie!
And it's not gonna work.
It won't work!
It's not real.
No, that's not real.
That's not real!
It's not real.
It's not-it's not real.
Gill?
Why did you do this?
Why did you do this?
No. T-that's not real.
I know that's not her.
I know that's...
I know that's you, Maggie.
I know that's you, Maggie,
and this isn't gonna work.
Why?
I'm disappointed in you.
It's not real.
No.
No, no, no.
I'm disappointed in you.
I'm disappointed in you.
Mom.
Forgive me.
All I ever wanted was
for you to love me.
I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
I love you.
No.
No. No!
No.
This is just like him.
But I can't believe
he's doing this today.
Where the hell is he?
This is absurd.
Did you reach Iona?
- Straight to voicemail.
- Yeah, same with him.
When was the last time
you spoke with either of them?
Last night.
Well, he didn't come home.
How did he sound?
Hard to say.
I don't mean to rush you,
but we probably need
to get started.
Is that Gill?
I have to go.
- Hello?
- Hello, Harold.
What have you done?
I didn't kill your mother.
Your siblings did.
And now they've gotten
what they deserved.
I didn't know any of that.
Listen, I didn't wanna do
any of this.
I asked Gill to stop.
You know that, you saw it.
I did.
That's why you're still alive.
And now I'm gonna need you
to do something for me.
It involves your inheritance.
- Ruth Atterly?
- Yes.
Can I help you?
- What is this?
- From Maggie.
- Who are you?
- I'm an acquaintance of hers.
Do you, wha...
Do you know where she is?
Everything you need to know
is in there.
There are so many things I wanna say to you.
And I don't really know
where to begin.
I guess the first is that
despite all the things
I've done,
this money is clean.
And I want you to do
great things with it.
Build a bigger house
or many houses
and continue to do the work
that you've always done.
The other thing is that
I want you to know
how glad I am
that you are my mom.
I know I dishonored you,
but I don't want you
to live with that stain
which is why you will
never see me again.
Goodbye, my mom.
I love you.
Don't forget.
Hello?
It's me.
...heavily damaging 30 homes
triggering an exchange of fire
that killed two Palestinians
and wounded more than a dozen.
About a dozen
downtown businesses
were boarded up Wednesday.
I miss you.
Hello?
You promised me.
You promised me.
Is anybody there?
Don't leave me.
Who are you?
Answer me!
Tony?
Oh, my God! You cut me!
What is wrong with you?
I... I heard something.
You heard something?
What did you hear?
I... I...
It's gone.
What's gone?
I don't know.
I'm so...
I'm sorry.
Mother?
Mother?
What happened last night?
I understood that
you heard something.
I didn't know what
I was talking about, I...
I had a nightmare.
I was sleepwalking.
You did a lot more
than just walk.
If I haven't said
I'm sorry, I am.
It was just an accident.
Are you feeling alright?
- I'm fine.
- Are you sure?
What's that supposed to mean?
You stabbed your daughter
last night.
We should cancel the party.
Don't be absurd!
And I think that
you need to talk
to somebody about all of this.
I don't.
I'm not.
The only thing I need to do...
is get ready for my guests.
It's a surprise. She's making us wait.
Do you have somewhere you have to be?
Believe it or not,
I occasionally have places to go
that you're unaware of.
Oh, I definitely believe that.
Please, can you not start
with me right now?
Oh, right, because God forbid
your mother hears us fighting.
- No, it's not that.
- Oh, my God.
Would you guys please shut up?
I'm sorry, Iona,
did we wake you?
Yeah, you did.
I can't believe she's
making us meet this early.
It's 1:15.
I'll get it.
- Leslie!
- Hey, Harold.
Your mother asked me to be here.
- Good afternoon, Leslie.
- Dina.
You remember my attorney,
Leslie Morgan.
Hi.
Oh, this is Patricia.
Gill's wife.
I don't believe you've met.
- Pleasure to meet you.
- Hi.
I asked Leslie to join
us because of a decision
concerning the disposition
of my estate.
I've decided to increase
my charitable efforts
beginning with
a sizable donation
to the Philharmonic.
Thank you.
- How much?
- Five million dollars.
- Is this a joke?
- No.
Well, that's quite a donation.
That's a tremendous gesture, Dina.
This is merely the first step.
In the coming years, I will make similar
annual contributions to other
deserving institutions.
You can't do that.
That's our money.
It's mymoney.
And if you hope to see any of it,
you will liftyour jaw
off the floor
and say, "Well done, mother."
- Or learn to play the oboe.
- Excuse me?
Well done, mother.
Thank you, Harold.
Not only will this strengthen
the cultural fabric of our city,
but it will insure
our family name...
come what may.
Ms. Rayfield, Mr. Manning will see you now.
There she is.
Hey there. Hey.
Hey.
How are you?
- I'm good. I'm nervous.
- What?
You'll do great. You look great!
Come on, sit down. Sit down.
You know you can come
to me for help
if you have questions
or whatever.
Thank you.
I'll probably just go
to whoever I'm reporting to.
Yeah, I know, of course.
I'm-I'm just saying that...
I know.
I know, it's just...
It's weird. We dated.
It's your dad's firm.
If people find out,
they'll probably assume
that's why I got the job.
Which I realize
I know is why I got the job.
Whoa! Listen. Listen.
You got this job
because you were brilliant
and they will see that
as soon as they meet you.
So... how does this work?
Do I sign the papers here?
Do I have to...
Oh, it's gonna have
to wait till tomorrow.
Some problem with HR,
but you can go
through orientation today.
Okay. Great.
Thank you, Mitch.
- I owe you.
- What are friends for?
- Hello?
- Hey, Mags.
We're in the living room.
It's gonna be good, sweetie.
- Hi, Maggie.
- Hey, what's goin' on?
You wanna tell her?
They are moving in
with a lovely couple,
Tim and Anne.
This means we get
to go on the wall.
That's right.
Who cares?
I care, young lady.
I plan to catalog all the great
things that you do.
And just because you're not
living in this house
doesn't mean you won't
be living here
and right in here.
Aw, come here,
give me a hug.
Now, I want you to go
finish packing, okay?
- Okay. I love you, Ruth.
- Okay, bye, guys.
I love you, Maggie.
Last one there is a rotten egg.
Hey, babe.
Hi.
Race you there.
How are you feelin'
about all this?
The adoption?
Oh, fine.
I'm-I'm thrilled for them.
Can I ask you something?
Why did you take me in?
And after everything
I did to you,
why did you let me stay?
Honey, I didn't, uh...
I didn't take you in.
I didn't let you stay.
I adopted you.
Because I loved you.
I still do.
I've always loved you.
You're my daughter.
And... for better and worse, Margaret,
you have... you have
no quit in you.
And that's a rare quality.
I love your...
your warrior spirit, your...
Oh! Which reminds me...
Surprise.
What did you do?
- This is too much.
- No, it's just right.
Honey...
every warrior needs her armor.
- Hi, Mitch.
- Hey.
Hey, I was just about
to head in.
Uh, I-I don't know how to say this,
I'm just gonna
come out with it.
The job isn't gonna happen.
What do you mean?
I thought it was a done deal.
I know, and I can't tell you how bad I feel.
There was just one last person
who had to sign off
and... well,
in the end,
this is still a law office.
I'm so sorry.
I made your lunch, I know
it's totally silly, but I...
- Anyhow, I-I should...
- I'm gonna go. Okay.
- What's wrong?
- Nothing.
- Did something happen?
- I didn't get the job.
- Why? What's going on?
- And I know about the house.
I found all the foreclosure
papers in your desk.
I knew there was
something wrong.
Why didn't you tell me?
Because it's not yours
to deal with.
It's mine, and I blew it, okay?
I just...
I got talked
into refinancing the house
and I thought I had read
all the fine print, but...
Oh, I don't wanna
lose this house. I just...
Ah, it's okay.
You're not gonna lose the house.
Honey...
Let me take care
of you for once.
No, it's my job
to take care of you.
Not the other way around.
It's gonna be okay.
Hello?
Over here.
No. No, I-I can't do this.
So, w-what's the problem?
When we talked on the phone,
you told me
that this was a meeting
about a job opportunity.
It is. And it's one
that you should seize.
The pay is $30,000.
The problem is...
The problem is
you have the wrong person.
"Margaret Rayfield,
born April 16, 1971.
Moved among a series
of foster homes
until 1982 when you came
to permanently reside with
Ruth Atterly of Lawndale.
1985, convicted
of simple assault,
expunged on your
18th birthday.
1990, convicted
of aggravated assault
served two years.
'99, cyber fraud,
served one year."
There's another
aggravated assault charge in 2012.
You were required to undergo
court ordered therapy,
but otherwise acquitted
when the jury
could not reach a verdict.
You were one sympathetic juror
away from your third strike,
so, I'm pretty sure
we got the right person.
"Two tours in Iraq
from 2002 to 2010.
Including most crucially,
PSYOPs work in Abu Ghraib."
You manipulated, warped,
and eventually broke
hardened militants.
Where the hell did you get that?
A lawyer friend of mine
knows a lawyer friend of yours,
so they recommended you.
"Dishonorably discharged, 2010."
We want our mother institutionalized
but she's of sound mind,
so we were hoping
that you could change that.
We want you to drive
our mother crazy.
That's not me anymore.
Yeah, well, people don't change.
Maybe your people don't change.
Fifty thousand dollars.
Seems fair.
No?
Alright, sixty.
I already gave you my answer.
Seventy.
- Eighty!
- Gill.
Shut up, Harold.
Ninety thousand.
Do you have the cash?
Half now, half when you're done.
Take that.
We all have one.
Our numbers are on that.
Memorize it, burn it.
So, how does this all work?
I have to put together
a profile of your mother.
Her background, her history,
her personality, everything.
Okay, she grew up
in one of Pasadena's
most prominent families.
After high school,
she went to Scripps College
like her mother and grandmother
before her
and just like them,
she was set to marry a young man
from a suitable family,
but then she fell in love
with somebody else.
- What do you know about him?
- Not much.
His name was Tony.
He was an army private
from Brooklyn.
He was stationed somewhere
nearby and somehow
our grandfather found out
they were planning to elope,
so next thing you know,
he's shipped off to Vietnam.
Few months later, declared MIA.
Presumably dead.
About a year after that,
she married the young man
from the suitable family.
Your father.
We think that she never
got over losing Tony.
That's probably how she
grew to become... so closed off.
That's one way of putting it.
So, you're her, huh?
I'm Maggie.
Charmed.
Um, Margaret,
this is our sister, Iona.
So, where were we?
Right. The thought
of what she could have had
all these years with her
one true love,
instead of our father.
That's probably
what turned her into such
a miserable controlling bitch.
- Where's your father now?
- Six feet under the ground.
- Thank God.
- Jesus, Iona.
I'm sorry, what,
am I embarrassing you?
- Oh, no, not me.
- Well, then good.
Stop it!
Well, look at that,
looks like dad
isn't so dead after all.
Tell me how your mother
is controlling.
She has very specific views.
Rules. Call them what they are.
Rules.
Regarding our conduct.
And she's tied our obedience
to her money.
There's even
stipulations in her will that trim
or erase our inheritance
if we were to slip up.
- How do you know that?
- I gained access to the will.
However, if she's declared
mentally incompetent,
we can have
the will invalidated,
we can all move on
with our lives.
Amen.
The key here is the boy, Tony.
You have to somehow convince her
that he is still alive.
No. You have to start smaller.
You have to plant the seeds
of doubt first.
I would like to get started,
if I could.
- How long do I have the house?
- Four hours at least.
Harold's gonna show you around.
Okay. And which of you
is gonna see her next?
That'll be me.
We're hitting the spa
this afternoon.
Are you driving?
No, that won't be legal
for another
couple of months,
I'll cab it there
and she'll drive me back.
Is there a spare key to her car?
- Yes.
- Yeah.
Well, that's the grand tour of the grounds.
These pathways
were designed so that
the servants could move
around the property
without disrupting
the residents.
They all lead up to the house.
- You have help or housekeepers?
- Oh, yes.
Yes. A whole family
works for us.
Once a year,
they go back to Guatemala.
They're gone for two weeks.
Uh... Just up here,
there's a staircase that leads
directly to the attic.
Father had it built so the help
wouldn't disrupt us decorating
during the holidays.
Yeah. This will do.
Uh, that's where
Gill found the diary.
And there's a lot more in there.
This place mean something
to you?
I used to come up here
as a teenager and hide out.
By yourself?
Did your mother ever catch you?
She didn't catch me.
A friend of a friend
of hers saw me
in Palm Springs
with a couple of guys.
Didn't take long
for it to get back to her.
What'd she do?
What she always does.
Apply pressure.
If I wanted to see
any part of my inheritance,
I was to stop
embarrassing the family.
Immediately and permanently.
She told me to pick up
a hobby instead.
But you didn't stop.
No. I'm just a hell of
a lot more careful.
What about your siblings?
What about 'em?
What were their rules?
Iona, as you might imagine,
has to keep
the partying under control.
Frankly, on that score, I think
that mother might have a point.
And Gill?
He was supposed to stop
cheating on his wife.
Was?
Why doesn't he
just get a divorce?
According to mother,
divorce just means
that you didn't try hard enough.
- They never had children?
- No.
No, no, no, they...
they really wanted them,
they just...
weren't able to.
- His wife?
- No.
No. God, no, not her.
That one was all on Gill.
Needless to say,
mother was very disappointed.
Hmm.
Must have been hellish.
Growing up under her rules.
Mother has her reasons
for being the way she is.
If you saw how she grew up,
you would know.
Oh, I understand.
Excuse me.
I'm gonna get to work.
Of course.
I really don't see what the big deal is.
Fifteen percent
is reasonable and fair.
Anything beyond that
is excessive.
You know, if you'd ever worked
for tips in your entire life...
You have had one such job
which you held on to
for three weeks
until you tired of it,
as you do of all things,
so spare me
your working-class wisdom.
Sorry, I don't think
I broke the bank.
- How much?
- What?
How much did you give him
in relative or absolute terms?
- I have no idea.
- Exactly.
You just grabbed a wad of bills
and you shoved them
into his hand!
Frivolity with gesture.
Frivolity with the money.
My car has been stolen.
Excuse me?
My car was here,
and now it's gone.
I don't think
the car has been stolen.
You need a ticket to get out.
Are you sure you remember
where you parked it?
Of course I'm sure.
Well, why don't we look
on another floor?
Don't take that patronizing
tone with me.
I know exactly where I left it.
This SUV was parked to my right,
taking up two spaces.
It was a tight squeeze,
so I had to wedge myself out.
And I took the elevator down
one floor to the spa.
On the off-off-chance
that's not the case,
who would you rather
have discover it,
us or the police?
Make it quick, I can only
imagine how long it takes
to fill out a report.
- Satisfied?
- There's one more floor.
Oh.
This is an exercise in futility.
It's okay, you just forgot.
No.
Don't worry,
it happens to everybody.
Not to me.
- Are you feeling okay?
- I'm fine.
Mommy?
Do you want me to drive?
Get in the car!
Oh, I forgot to ask.
How was the spa?
Fine.
Someone had a senior moment
in the parking lot.
I had no such thing.
- What happened?
- Nothing. Drop it.
- No, seriously, what happened?
- It was nothing.
She just forgot where she parked.
You forgot something?
No.
So, then the car moved itself?
This conversation is over.
Your inquisition has succeeded
in ruining my appetite.
I'm going to bed.
You sure you remember
how to get there?
What are you doing?
Having a little bit of fun. Would you relax?
Okay, this is only gonna work
if you don't make it
too obvious.
Where do you keep
your mouthwash?
Middle cabinet, behind you there.
What kind of perfume
do you wear?
Chanel.
Why?
- She'll notice.
- Oh, please.
- You're being paranoid.
- No, I'm not.
Don't wear it next time.
Or you'll do what?
Not that.
- Hello?
- Check your text.
- See what I did to the photo?
- Yes, I do.
I've done it to all of them.
- Well done.
- One more thing.
Keep an eye on your brother tonight.
Why?
He doesn't hate your mother
the way you do.
If he sees her suffering,
he might break.
Okay.
I gotta go.
Dina, you do realize that nobody
reads these things.
Writing this card
is a pointless ritual.
It's bragging,
disguised as holiday cheer.
Where is your brother?
I did say 7:00 on the dot.
I'm sure he's just
working late.
On what?
Hello, everyone.
Sorry I'm late.
Good evening, mother.
Patricia wears Chanel?
She's trying it out.
How unlike her,
she's such a creature of habit.
People can surprise you, mother.
Not usually.
Did you all start without me?
Dream on.
Would you like to begin, Harold?
Alright.
For my...
fall class, they had an opening
that received
very positive reviews.
I had my own opening
at the Wilhelm Gallery.
Mixed reviews, but, um...
a very positive experience.
Very good, Harold.
Any women in your life?
Only you, mother.
Harold remains one of Pasadena's
most eligible bachelors.
Iona, what about you?
- What about me what?
- What did you do this year?
Molly, blow, and Jamaal.
Not necessarily in that order.
Iona continues
her volunteer work
with some of our
neediest citizens,
and last but not least...
Actually, I'm working
on a new venture
that I, I can't say
too much about
but it is going
reallywell so far.
I haven't heard
anything about this.
You will, mother.
And how's Patricia?
Depressed and overspending,
per usual.
Gill and Patricia
remain as in love as ever
and continue working on
bringing us the next
generation of Cottons.
How about a song, mother?
Come on. I'll play you in.
Why not?
Why did you do this?
Who did this?
Who did what?
Someone decided to redecorate
to see if I noticed.
Well, congratulations.
I'm disappointed in you.
I have no idea
what you're talking about.
You moved my vases.
I did no such thing.
Did you move the vases, Harold?
- Of course not.
- Gill?
N-no one moved the vases.
They've been in that
same position for years.
That's preposterous.
- What are you doing?
- I am ending this charade.
But... I... I don't...
That picture was taken
at least five years ago.
That's not possible.
- Someone changed them.
- No!
Yes, they did.
I know you won't lie to me, Harold.
What's going on?
I don't know, mother,
they've always been this way.
You sure?
I think I'll go lie down.
Mother.
That's a good idea there.
Goodnight, mother.
I miss you, D.
The weather sucks out here.
It's hot every day.
Uh, it rained for about...
three weeks straight.
Um, I met this guy from Texas.
Taught me how to pack a dip.
So, that's been fun. Hah!
I promise my teeth will be good
when I get back, alright?
I hope everything's
good back home.
Just... just promise me
something, alright?
Promise me you won't
forget me, alright?
I'm gonna come back for you.
I love you.
I'm coming home.
Just wait for me, D.
Please promise me that, alright?
Alright, I-I wrote
this letter...
Maggie.
You shouldn't be up here.
She's not getting up
any time soon.
Don't worry about it.
Still.
For you.
- What you got in here?
- Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
- Don't!
- What is it?
It's a hallucinogen.
Not that kind of hallucinogen.
The kind that will kill you
if you're not careful.
Put it back.
- Now.
- Okay, okay.
- What do you want, Iona?
- I'm just bored.
I figured while I have you here,
I might as well learn
a little about you.
You already know
too much about me.
I'm not talking
about your record, Maggie.
I'm talking about you.
- What do you wanna know?
- You grew up in foster care.
- What was that like?
- Unpredictable.
Anything else?
Yeah.
A lot.
You've got one more question
before I kick you out
and get back to work.
So you better make it good.
Okay.
Why were you discharged?
Gill said the only gap
in your bio
is just the specifics of
your discharge from the army.
So, what happened, Maggie?
Were you a bad girl?
You think this is a joke?
Is this a game to you?
'Cause it isn't to me.
I know what your mother
is going to look like
when this is over,
and it's not pretty.
So you were a bad girl.
I can read someone's weaknesses
in an instant.
Their pressure points.
I got too good at pressing them.
Like I can tell
when they've been drinking
since breakfast.
And when they sleep around
to make up for the love
they never got
from their father.
He didn't want a daughter.
He wanted a third son
to make up for the first two
who reminded him
too much of his wife.
Looks like we hired
the right person for the job.
See you later, Maggie.
Hi, honey, how goes the remodel?
You know...
It's fine, I guess.
Oh. What's the matter?
Did you get the check?
I did. Thank you so much.
But please, don't, honey,
don't send any more.
Don't worry about it.
I made a good deal with them.
There'll be more.
Well, I appreciate that.
I love you so much.
I would do anything to help you.
Anything.
Hello?
It's me.
Don't leave me.
- Wait for me.
- Who's there?
Answer me!
Oh, my God! You cut me!
What is wrong with you?
What'd you get your mom?
This isn't for her.
Open it.
Who is she?
Who's who?
You're covering for something,
and that takes balls.
But I guess you've
always had those.
It is not what you think.
Oh, come on.
We haven't given each other
any kind of present in years.
Who is she?
I made you a promise
last time it happened
that it would never
happen again
and I am sticking
to that promise.
I learned my lesson.
I don't want to lose you.
Hello?
She did what?
- We should cancel the party.
- Don't be absurd.
And I think that you
need to talk with somebody
about all of this.
I don't.
I'm not.
The only thing I need to do...
is get ready for my guests.
I need to get that stuff
for her drink.
Uh... Two drops.
That's enough.
And one Valium tonight.
Nothing more.
- Understood?
- Yes.
I have a couple of things
I have to do in the house.
How long will it be empty?
Dina's going to the salon,
so you have an hour.
Make it quick.
It doesn't bother you?
What we're doing to her?
No.
Not a bit.
Make sure the bottom
of that is dry.
Put it here, please.
"Dear Dina, I miss you
more and more every day."
- No.
- "I'm coming home to you.
I promise you
with all my heart."
"Just wait for me, D.
Knowing you're out there
helps me get through this.
I love you.
Tony."
Just a minute.
Is everything okay, mother?
I'm fine.
Your guests are starting to arrive.
I'm ready.
- Oh, sweet. Oh, thank you.
- You have a great house.
- It's so good to see you.
- Happy birthday.
- Thank you. Thank you.
- Nice meeting you.
Hello, mother.
I haven't seen you this evening
and you look lovely.
Wh... Thank you.
Birthday girl.
- Ha ha ha.
- Leslie.
Good to see you.
- Harold.
- Hello, Leslie.
- Nice to see you again.
- Likewise.
Good evening, everybody.
- How are you?
- Good, good.
Good Lord, Iona.
What happened to your arm?
You know,
it's a funny story, actually...
A cooking accident.
Her knife slipped.
Uh, up to your forearm?
I've told her that the sherry is
for cooking not consuming.
Years of etiquette class,
all for naught.
Well...
If only I had your grace, Dina.
I'll see you guys later.
Oh, look, I wanna introduce you.
- Excuse us.
- Yes, of course.
Sure.
So, Leslie...
how long have you been
Dina's estate attorney?
Oh, let's see.
I think about three years now.
Oh, wow.
That's a long time for Dina.
You must be really good.
I am really good.
- Anybody want a drink?
- Yes, please.
Great.
Mother.
Yes?
Oh, no. I'm fine, thank you.
Trust me.
In a bit...
you're gonna need this.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Excuse me. Uh, if I could
have everyone's attention, please.
I'd like to thank you all
for coming and...
Well, my mother
isn't one for public spectacle,
so I'm gonna keep this brief.
To Dina Cotton,
the strongest person
that I know.
If the rest of us had even
half of your conviction
this would be a more principled,
better run,
and far more tastefully
appointed world.
- Happy birthday.
- Happy birthday.
Happy birthday!
She barely took a sip. I was watching her.
It should still have an effect.
We need to give her more.
No.
I don't wanna do anything rash.
It's too late, Harold.
Are you even listening to me?
Of course.
This is unbelievable.
- What?
- Your mother's lawyer?
Yeah, you had to pick someone
that we knew.
You couldn't just pick
some dumb, young girl
like every other time before?
I don't have time
for this right now, okay?
Oh.
Do you know what
your problem is, Gill?
What?
You think that you're just
the smartest person in any room
you walk into and worse,
you think everyone else
is a fool.
Well, you're not
even remotely close.
You're an incompetent idiot.
Is everything alright?
Does it look like
everything is alright?
Why isn't it working?
Because she didn't drink any.
Give me these.
Mother.
Listen, I, um...
I wanted to say that I've,
I've given a lot of thought...
to your donation
to the Philharmonic
and... wait, wait, wait.
I think it's great.
You do?
I'm so sorry.
You were absolutely right.
Come on. It's your birthday.
Legacy matters, mother.
Long after we're gone...
our name is gonna
live on forever,
and there is one reason.
You.
You, my mother,
are an inspiration.
Mother?
- Are you alright?
- Mother.
- Mother?
- Dina!
- Dina!
- Oh!
- Whoa!
- Mother.
Mother!
- What's happening?
- Shh.
Am I going crazy?
No. No, you're not going crazy.
You don't understand.
This is all our fault.
- W-we di...
- Harold.
Harold... let her rest.
It's alright, mother. We're just
gonna be in the next room.
No! Don't, don't leave me.
- Come on, Harold.
- No.
Don't leave me.
- Come on.
- No.
Come on, Harold.
- Let's go.
- No. Please!
We can't do this to her, Gill.
What exactly did you think
we were doing here?
What did you think
this was gonna look like?
It is all going exactly
as planned.
It is now just the four of us.
Five of us.
Please stop doing...
It is too late to turn back now.
If you cannot be here
right now, Harold,
if you need to go home,
that is fine.
Do you need to go home?
Do you need to go home?
Then leave.
Come back in the morning.
Get out of here. Go.
Okay, lie down. Lie down. Shh.
- Lie down.
- Where's the ambulance?
- They're on their way.
- Shh.
You keep saying that.
- No. No, I don't.
- It's okay.
- Where is Harold?
- I already told you, mother.
He wasn't feeling well.
- He went home.
- I want Harold!
Okay, okay.
What's that music?
What music?
The music
that's playing right now.
There's no music
playing right now.
Yes, there is! Listen!
- Listen!
- I am listening.
- No.
- I don't hear anything.
But that's...
- It can't be.
- What?
That's not possible.
What's not?
Oh, it's the "Nocturne."
Oh.
It's Paderewski, but it...
It can't...
- Tony.
- What are you talking about?
- Who's Tony?
- Tony!
Is that you?
- Is that you?
- Who's Tony?
Mother, who are you talking to?
- Tony!
- Who are you talking to?
Tony!
Oh!
H-he's right there.
He's right there.
He's right there.
Oh, Tony.
I'm so sorry, I...
I didn't wait for you,
and I should've,
but I didn't, and I...
Oh, my God, I let them do it.
I let them take you.
I let them take you.
I let them.
I...
And I lost it all.
Okay, mother. Come on, lie down.
- Lie down, mother. Shh.
- Wha...
- You can see him.
- It's alright.
You're gonna be fine.
- Come on, lie down. Lie down.
- Shh, shh.
You can see him.
He's right there!
I'm gonna get you
some water, okay?
- Okay? It's alright.
- Just breathe.
- I'm not crazy.
- No, no. No.
No. No. Not you, mother.
Tony! Say something!
- Shh.
- Please.
Say something, please!
Tony?
Tony!
Tony, wait for me.
Wait!
W-wait, Tony!
Tony!
Tony, I missed you.
Oh.
Why did we...
Oh!
Oh.
Tony...
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
No, Tony...
No.
Why are you calling me?
Hang on a second.
Go. Take care of this.
What?
What do you want, Mitch?
Not hiring your unstable ex-con?
I could care less about Maggie.
This is about the money.
If you don't pay me more,
I'm gonna tell her.
Well, after tonight, it's not gonna matter.
Don't call me again.
Huh.
Hey, you've reached Mitchell Manning
of Fletcher and Manning.
I'm not able to take your
call right now.
If you leave your name
and number at the beep,
I'll get back to you
as soon as I can.
No.
No.
Dina?
Dina?
Dina!
Dina!
Dina!
Dina!
M-Margaret.
- How do you know my name?
- I'm sorry.
Uh, I'm so sorry.
Mar...
I'm so sorry.
Margaret.
Dina! Dina, no! Dina!
Dina.
Dina! Dina!
911, what's your emergency?
Help! She attacked my mom.
There's an intruder.
I think she poisoned my mom.
- She's right here.
- I need your address.
- No, please! Help me!
- Ma'am, give me...
- What did you just do?
- That's the question, isn't it?
What did you do? Answer me.
Mommy was so upset
I thought she could use
a little extra Valium.
You did this?
You did this?
And if you're gonna do something
you better act fast.
In this neighborhood,
they come quick.
And when they do,
they're gonna find
your fingerprints
all over that tainted bottle...
This is not the end!
It's not the end.
No?
Sounds like it is to me.
Help! Help! She's right here!
No! Help me, please!
She killed my mother!
Hello?
- Hi.
- Hey, baby girl.
- I need you to listen to me.
- What's wrong?
You're about to hear
that I did something terrible.
- I didn't do it.
- Honey, what-what...
- Please, listen.
- Wait, Margaret, what...
What are you talking about?
I know that you did
everything you could
to set a really
good example for me
and I wish I could have been
more like you, but...
Margaret, you do not need...
You're the only person who ever
stood by me and I will never...
I will never forget that.
Margaret, don't do anything
that you're gonna regre...
We should just have an estate sale.
Clear out as much of this shit
as possible.
When are we burning her?
Harold set the cremation
for Saturday.
Private ceremony, just us.
What'd you do with
what's-her-name's stuff
in the attic?
Destroyed it.
I appreciate it.
Let me know if you
find anything.
Yes, thank you.
Who was that?
The police.
We gave our statements already.
Why are you bothering them?
It's been a week, Gill.
That lunatic is still out there.
This doesn't concern you?
Did you ever think that maybe
we don't want them
to find her, you idiot?
Think about what
we hired her to do.
She's probably long gone
by now, okay?
Which is the best thing
for all of us.
Help her pack.
Jorge, is that you?
You make sure to vacuum
under my desk, okay?
It's filthy.
Are you listening?
Hello?
Hola.
You comprende?
Jorge!
Hola.
Ah!
You're never gonna
get away with this.
I mean, the cops are
looking for you.
They're gonna find you.
Not until after I get
what I've come for.
Which is?
Answers.
These are pictures of me.
These are my records.
- Why did Dina have them?
- I don't know.
- Why did Dina have them?
- I don't know!
I don't know!
Ow, ow, ow. Ow, ow, ow. Stop.
Let me tell you how
this is gonna work.
- I...
- I'm gonna hurt you.
No, no, no!
And you're gonna answer
my questions.
- Do you understand?
- Okay, okay.
But don't hurt me. Okay.
Okay, let's try it again.
Why?
My ear!
Why?
She was your mother!
And Tony?
The soldier's my father?
She got pregnant
right before he shipped out.
After Dina gave birth,
her... her family
made her give you up.
So why did they do this?
My siblings.
Dina came to me
a couple of months ago.
She wanted to change her will.
She wanted to give half
to charity
and half to
some ex-con named Margaret.
But she knew about your past.
So, as usual,
she included a morals clause.
And if you got
your third strike,
you were... you were cut out
and the remaining portion
of your... portion of the will,
it went to her children.
And you told Gill.
- Yes.
- And he found out who I was.
So, all this is
just to lock me up?
- Why not kill me?
- Gill wanted to.
- I bet he did.
- He did.
But... Dina suspected that
if her children found out
about all of this
that they would do something,
so there's a stipulation
in the will.
I-it says that if you die
under questionable circumstances
that your portion
goes straight to charity.
Then they wouldn't see anything.
And Gill paid Mitch
to kill my paralegal job.
That's everything.
Oh, no. No, no!
You're gonna kill me! No!
I'm not gonna kill you.
No! No!
- Shh.
- No!
I need you to deliver
a message for me.
I will! I will!
No.
She wants to make a deal.
Give her back
all of her equipment
and anything else
that might be incriminating.
And in exchange?
She won't kill you!
- What does she mean?
- How much does she know?
Everything! Everything!
- What are you talking about?
- How?
Dina had a box with photos
and her records...
You stop ignoring me!
What is she talking about?
Maggie stood to inherit
millions of dollars
of our money.
- Mother left it to her.
- Why would she do that?
Maggie was her daughter.
What?
Wait, she's our sister?
W-what was this, just all
some kind of big setup?
Oh, God, was her killing mother
part of the plan, too?
Harold, I don't have time
for this right now.
Just answer one question.
Was having her kill mother
part of the plan?
Gill, was it?
Yes.
Oh, Gill.
What have you done, Gill?
What have you done?
All of you are insane!
You-you always hated her
because she could always
see through your crap.
She could see the real you
and you just couldn't take that,
could you?
So, what'd you do?
Are you done now?
Can we, can we go on?
Yeah, I'm done.
You can all go to hell.
Harold, Harold, wait.
Wait, wait, wait.
What? What?
If you talk to anybody
about this
or you go to the police
then we all go to jail
for a really long time.
Even the guy who had to be
talked into it.
Alright, gimme a minute,
gimme a minute, gimme a minute.
- What about Maggie's offer?
- What about it?
God, you have no idea
what you're dealing with here.
- Of course I do.
- No, you don't!
Look what she did to me!
Do you have any idea
how hard it is to get
a dishonorable discharge?
A private contractor
dropped her.
Okay, she's gonna, she's gonna
kill each and every
one of us until we give her what she wants.
It's her.
Hello, Gill.
- What do you want?
- What I've always wanted.
A family.
Speaking of which,
is my sister there?
- Why?
- Is she feeling okay?
Oh, shit.
- What the hell?
- Did you drink that?
- What?
- Did you drink that?
Yes, I drank it, why?
Gill, say something.
- Gill!
- Oh, God.
Oh, no.
Oh, God.
Oh, no!
Oh.
- I'm gonna kill you.
- No, no, no.
It's the other way around.
We both know that.
And I can't wait to do it.
I made it quick for Iona.
But for you, brother...
I'm gonna take my time.
- I'm pretty sure we got...
- That's not jamming.
Hello, Maggie.
Hello, brother.
Yeah, I'm not gonna
call you sister.
We... might share blood,
but you are most definitely
not my family.
But we're so similar.
I wish I could say I was
like Harold, he's got a soul,
but... I only see
myself in you.
You have nothing in common
with any of us.
Nobody in my family
would ever be so stupid.
I mean, you left your fingerprints
on a bottle of Valium
that you spiked.
You didn't think that maybe
you should wear gloves?
Geez.
That father of yours, Tony,
he must have been a real moron.
I mean... look at you now.
I knew you were gonna follow me,
that's why I led you here.
You did and I followed.
Almost like I planned it
that way.
No. No.
We both know this wasn't
part of your plan.
You screwed up.
Even at her drunkest,
Iona wouldn't be this pathetic.
How is she, anyway?
Iona.
Oh, there it is. That venom.
That's us, brother.
That is you and me
and we are the same.
Only difference between us...
I knew from the beginning
that mom didn't want me.
But you...
you spent your whole life
trying to get her approval.
You became
a successful businessman,
but that wasn't enough
for her, was it?
You married the daughter
of a congressman
but that wasn't enough either.
And then to make
matters worse...
little Gill...
can't even sow
his own seed, can he?
Do you want to know why
she never came for you?
Why she never reached out
to you, Maggie?
Because she was ashamed of you.
She watched you screw up
over and over and over again.
You were nothing
but an embarrassment to her.
That's probably why
she left me all that money.
Because she's so proud of you.
I know what you did, Maggie!
And it's not gonna work.
It won't work!
It's not real.
No, that's not real.
That's not real!
It's not real.
It's not-it's not real.
Gill?
Why did you do this?
Why did you do this?
No. T-that's not real.
I know that's not her.
I know that's...
I know that's you, Maggie.
I know that's you, Maggie,
and this isn't gonna work.
Why?
I'm disappointed in you.
It's not real.
No.
No, no, no.
I'm disappointed in you.
I'm disappointed in you.
Mom.
Forgive me.
All I ever wanted was
for you to love me.
I'm so sorry.
I'm so sorry.
I love you.
No.
No. No!
No.
This is just like him.
But I can't believe
he's doing this today.
Where the hell is he?
This is absurd.
Did you reach Iona?
- Straight to voicemail.
- Yeah, same with him.
When was the last time
you spoke with either of them?
Last night.
Well, he didn't come home.
How did he sound?
Hard to say.
I don't mean to rush you,
but we probably need
to get started.
Is that Gill?
I have to go.
- Hello?
- Hello, Harold.
What have you done?
I didn't kill your mother.
Your siblings did.
And now they've gotten
what they deserved.
I didn't know any of that.
Listen, I didn't wanna do
any of this.
I asked Gill to stop.
You know that, you saw it.
I did.
That's why you're still alive.
And now I'm gonna need you
to do something for me.
It involves your inheritance.
- Ruth Atterly?
- Yes.
Can I help you?
- What is this?
- From Maggie.
- Who are you?
- I'm an acquaintance of hers.
Do you, wha...
Do you know where she is?
Everything you need to know
is in there.
There are so many things I wanna say to you.
And I don't really know
where to begin.
I guess the first is that
despite all the things
I've done,
this money is clean.
And I want you to do
great things with it.
Build a bigger house
or many houses
and continue to do the work
that you've always done.
The other thing is that
I want you to know
how glad I am
that you are my mom.
I know I dishonored you,
but I don't want you
to live with that stain
which is why you will
never see me again.
Goodbye, my mom.
I love you.