3 Women 2002

In the arid California desert town, Pinky Rose (played by…) embarks on a new chapter in her life by taking up employment at a health spa catering to elderly individuals. As she settles into her routine, she finds herself increasingly enamored with Millie Lammoreaux (played by…), a whirlwind of a co-worker whose constant chatter is both mesmerizing and infuriating. Despite their vastly different personalities, the two women become roommates at the Purple Sage Apartments, owned by Edgar Hart (played by…) - a former Hollywood stunt double struggling with his fading fame - and his enigmatic wife Willie (played by…), who is pregnant and prone to creating eerie murals.

Millie’s unstoppable monologues often drive her colleagues, neighbors, and acquaintances away, but Pinky remains the sole individual enthralled by Millie’s opinions on everything from dating and fashion to cuisine and interior design, gleaned from women’s magazines. As the days go by, their living situation becomes increasingly strained. A heated argument prompts Millie to leave the apartment, only to return with Edgar in tow. Pinky implores Millie to consider Willie’s condition and not indulge in a tryst with her husband. Enraged by what she perceives as Pinky’s meddling, Millie orders Pinky to vacate the premises. In a desperate act of defiance, Pinky leaps off the balcony into the apartment complex pool.

Pinky survives the suicide attempt but falls into a deep coma. As she lies motionless in the hospital bed, Millie visits her daily, filled with remorse for her role in Pinky’s downfall. When Pinky finally awakens, she fails to recognize her parents (played by…), who have arrived at the hospital hoping their presence will help her regain consciousness. In a fit of rage and confusion, Pinky demands that they depart. Upon returning to the apartment with Millie, Pinky begins mimicking her roommate’s mannerisms - drinking, smoking, and even shooting guns at Dodge City - and insists on being addressed as Mildred, both women’s given name.

As Millie’s tolerance wears thin with Pinky’s sudden transformation into a timid and submissive persona, she finds herself adopting similar characteristics. One fateful night, after Pinky has been shaken by a disturbing dream, the two share a bed in a platonic display of comfort and solidarity. However, their tender moment is disrupted by Edgar’s unwelcome arrival, reeking of intoxication as he makes uninvited advances before casually revealing that Willie is on the brink of giving birth. The trio hastens to Edgar and Willie’s residence, where they find her alone and in excruciating labor. Despite Millie’s explicit instructions for Pinky to summon medical aid, the latter fails to act, resulting in a stillborn delivery.

In the aftermath of this traumatic event, Pinky and Millie return to their duties at Dodge City, only to have reversed roles once again: Pinky has regressed to her childlike timidity, now addressing Millie as “Mother,” while Millie has taken on Willie’s responsibilities, mimicking her mannerisms, makeup, and attire with uncanny precision. Amidst the tavern’s bustle, a delivery vendor inadvertently mentions Edgar’s demise, which Millie addresses with a patently insincere response that hints at a collective complicity in his untimely passing.