Bound 1996

As Corky (Gina Gershon) steps into her new life as a painter and plumber, she’s met with an unassuming neighborly encounter with Violet (Jennifer Tilly) and Caesar (Joe Pantoliano). But beneath the surface of small talk and cordiality, Violet’s flirtatious advances and suggestive glances signal a deeper intention. As Corky retrieves Violet’s earring from the sink, Violet’s candor is revealed - she’d deliberately dropped it to catch Corky’s attention, sparking a sensual connection that culminates in a passionate night. The following morning, Violet spills the beans about Caesar’s seedy underworld dealings, painting him as a money launderer for the Mafia and their five-year union built on deceit.

As Violet grapples with the harsh realities of her toxic relationship, she finds solace in Corky’s empathetic ear. Horrified by the violence and cruelty witnessed when Caesar and his cohorts brutalize Shelly (Barry Kivel), a man who’d been pilfering from their illicit enterprise, Violet turns to Corky for guidance. With Caesar poised to discover the nearly $2 million Shelly had swindled and count it in their apartment, the two women concoct a plan to pilfer the loot. Corky’s wariness of Violet’s true intentions is palpable as she navigates this precarious alliance.

Meanwhile, chaos erupts when Johnnie (Christopher Meloni), the son of notorious Mafia boss Gino Marzzone (Richard C. Sarafian), brutally murders Shelly in a fit of rage, leaving a trail of blood throughout the apartment. Caesar’s return with a bag of bloody cash only adds to the tension, his anger and frustration fueled by Johnnie’s senseless killing and the need to meticulously clean and launder the incriminating evidence.

As Violet confides in Corky, she reveals the deep-seated animosity between Caesar and Johnnie, while also divulging the impending arrival of Gino and Johnnie to collect the money from Caesar. The meticulously crafted plan unfolds as follows: once Caesar has completed his count, Violet will procure a drink for him, hoping to calm his nerves before he takes a shower. Meanwhile, Corky will be waiting patiently next door, poised to strike when he hears the sound of the shower turning on. As Violet departs the apartment, she’ll quietly let Corky in, who will then slip into the room unnoticed and make off with the money from its briefcase resting place. With the deed done, Violet will return bearing a bottle of Scotch, feigning nonchalance as she tells Caesar that Johnnie has just left, but Gino was nowhere to be found. This calculated ruse would likely prompt Caesar to investigate further, only to discover the pilfered funds and assume Johnnie is responsible for the theft. Corky and Violet anticipate that this turn of events will coerce Caesar into fleeing town, as Gino would inevitably suspect his father of being robbed, rather than his own son.

However, things take an unexpected turn when Caesar discovers the money missing and realizes that if he were to abandon the scene, Gino would likely deduce that he himself has been swindled by Johnnie. Panic sets in as Caesar decides he must reclaim the stolen funds from Johnnie’s clutches. Violet, sensing her partner’s distress, threatens to leave, only to be forcibly detained by Caesar, who now suspects a possible collaboration between Violet and Johnnie to frame him.

Meanwhile, Corky remains patiently waiting next door with the pilfered money as Gino and Johnnie arrive on the scene. As Johnnie engages in flirtatious banter with Violet, taunting her with his very presence, Caesar seizes the opportunity to brandish his firearm and accuse Johnnie of stealing the funds. In a fit of rage and panic, Caesar takes the lives of both Gino and Johnnie, as well as their bodyguard Roy. Turning to Violet, he demands that they find the missing money, dispose of the corpses, and maintain a façade that Gino and Johnnie never arrived on the scene, lest their Mafia associates become aware of the disappearance of the men and funds.

In his desperation, Caesar makes a hasty phone call to Mickey (John P. Ryan), a trusted Mafia ally, informing him that Gino has yet to arrive at the appointed location, oblivious to the chaos and carnage that has unfolded in reality.

As the truth about the pilfered funds begins to unravel, an enraged Caesar seizes control of the situation, binding and silencing both Corky and Violet. His menacing tone drips with menace as he threatens to inflict unimaginable suffering upon them, demanding to know the whereabouts of the stolen cash. The air is thick with tension as Mickey enters the scene, prompting a panicked Caesar to forge an uneasy alliance with Violet in order to stall for time.

As they concoct their plan, Caesar prepares to eliminate Mickey, but Violet’s quick thinking and cunning intervention allows her to turn the tables. With a clever ruse, she convinces Caesar that he is receiving a phone call from Gino, detailing a harrowing car accident involving himself and Johnnie. Mickey, duped by the ploy, departs for the hospital, leaving Caesar momentarily stunned.

Meanwhile, Violet exploits the distraction to make a crucial phone call to Mickey, spinning a narrative that Caesar has seized control of the situation, forcing her to remain silent. Unbeknownst to Violet, Corky attempts to thwart Caesar’s plans to claim the stolen money, only to be brutally subdued by his relentless assault.

Just as all hope appears lost for Corky, Violet arrives on the scene, brandishing a gun and warning Caesar that Mickey is en route, urging him to flee while he still can. Caesar, ever confident in his own cunning, taunts Violet, claiming she will never muster the courage to pull the trigger. However, her resolve proves unwavering as she delivers a devastating retort: “Caesar, you don’t know shit.” With that, she exacts justice by ending Caesar’s reign of terror.

In the aftermath, Mickey, still reeling from Violet’s deception, vows to track down his former ally. He offers Violet a chance at a romantic reconciliation, but she rejects the overture, insisting on a clean break. As she drives off into the sunset, hand-in-hand with Corky, it becomes clear that Violet has finally broken free from Caesar’s toxic influence and forged a new path forward.