The Valet 2007

The story begins in the sun-kissed city of California, where Antonio Flores (Eugenio Derbez), a humble valet, pedals his bike through the vibrant streets as the sounds of a rally fill the air. The gathering is centered around Vincent Royce (Max Greenfield), a billionaire developer with grand plans to gentrify the neighborhood and reshape its small businesses. Meanwhile, Antonio’s personal life is a delicate balance of shared custody of his teenage son Marco (Joshua Vasquez) with ex-wife Isabel (Marisol Nichols), whom he still shares a home with his mother Cecilia (Carmen Salinas). The family dynamic becomes even more complicated when Isabel announces her new relationship with their neighbor, Mr. Kim (Ji Yong Lee), leaving Antonio uneasy. In the midst of this domestic turmoil, Natalie (Diany Rodriguez), the owner of a local bike shop, offers Antonio a friendly ear and a sense of community.

As night falls, Isabel arrives to collect Marco, sharing news that she’s started seeing someone new, Ronnie, and is struggling with debt totaling $12,850 in payments. The evening takes a dramatic turn when Olivia Allan (Samara Weaving), Hollywood’s brightest star, slips away from the paparazzi’s prying eyes, helped by her assistant Amanda (Tiana Okoye). She makes her way to Vincent’s opulent home, where she and the married developer are embroiled in a clandestine affair. However, Olivia begins to feel the weight of her guilt and decides to end things with Vincent, despite his insistence that he truly loves her and will leave his wife Kathryn (Betsy Brandt) for her.

As Olivia makes her escape, Antonio unwittingly becomes entangled in the drama when he rides his bike into her getaway car. As they help him up, a nearby photographer captures an incriminating image of Olivia, setting off a media firestorm just days before the premiere of her latest film, “Earhart,” where she portrays the legendary Amelia Earhart. Kathryn stumbles upon the compromising photo and becomes increasingly suspicious, but Vincent is able to placate her concerns.

Fearing the loss of his vast fortune, Vincent dispatches his assistant Daniel (Alex Fernandez) to track down Antonio and persuade him to pretend to be Olivia’s boyfriend, effectively diverting negative press away from both their reputations. Olivia, too, agrees to the arrangement, eager to avoid any controversy overshadowing her highly anticipated film premiere.

As Olivia boldly seizes the opportunity to lock lips with Antonio in the midst of his workplace, the collective jaw-dropping reaction from his coworkers serves as a testament to the undeniable chemistry between them. This brazen display is further amplified by their subsequent lunch date, which becomes a veritable spectacle for the paparazzi and curious onlookers, skillfully crafting an illusion that they are an item. Meanwhile, private investigator Stegman (John Pirruccello), hired by Kathryn, arrives to snap incriminating photos, while Kapoor (Ravi Patel), Vincent’s operative, is dispatched to keep tabs on Olivia.

As the power couple dines at the upscale eatery, snobbish patrons mistake Antonio for a server, prompting Olivia to promptly rectify the situation. Later, Isabel discovers Antonio’s supposed relationship and becomes consumed by jealousy. The stage is set for Antonio’s subsequent appearance at the “Earhart” premiere, where he struggles to navigate the sea of reporters with ease.

Following the film, Kathryn approaches Antonio, flaunting her condescending attitude, only to be met with a defiant response from him, as he proudly asserts his own identity and refuses to be intimidated by her. As Olivia finds herself in an inebriated state, Antonio steps in to escort her home, accompanied by his brother-in-law Benny (Amaury Nolasco), whose kitchen staff erupts into cheers for the hero of the hour.

The scene shifts to a tender moment between Cecilia and Mr. Kim as they bond over their shared romantic feelings, despite the language barrier between them. As morning breaks, Antonio’s family converges to welcome Olivia with open arms, eager to hear her stories and nurse her hangover. Isabel reappears, questioning the sudden rise in Olivia’s fortunes thanks to Antonio. Following a warm breakfast and a family photo shoot, Olivia appears poised to part ways with Antonio, bringing an end to their charade. However, Vincent receives word that Olivia has indeed shared a night with Antonio, prompting him to instruct her continued surveillance.

As Olivia’s cinematic masterpiece garners widespread acclaim, she finds herself surrounded by empty applause, her solitary triumph bittersweet without someone to share in her joy. A sudden recollection of Marco’s school play leads her to surprise the gathering with a visit, where she reunites with Antonio and his family at a bustling eatery. The evening unfolds as Olivia discovers that Natalie’s beloved shop is poised to become a casualty of Vincent’s development plans, sparking Isabel’s attempts to rekindle things with Antonio - only for him to reveal their relationship was nothing more than a fabrication. As the truth sinks in, Olivia and Antonio form an unlikely bond, strolling home under the stars as genuine friends.

Meanwhile, Kapoor and Stegman converge on Antonio’s residence, drawn by whispers of each other’s activities. As they stake out across the street, Olivia confides in Antonio, asking him to stage a ruse - pretending to indulge in intimate moments with her, all for the sake of capturing incriminating footage to expose the Royces’ schemes. The charade concludes, and the two friends engage in a heart-to-heart conversation, with Olivia opening up about her own isolation from family and genuine connections. As they part ways, their bond deepens, and they drift off to sleep, their friendship now a reality.

The following morning, Antonio encounters Isabel at the coffee shop, assuming she wants to rekindle their non-existent romance. Instead, she reveals that she’s chosen to stay with Ronnie, citing Antonio’s propensity for self-doubt as the reason. Crushed, Antonio returns home, only to have Olivia reveal her true intentions - using him for publicity purposes. The revelation sparks a heated argument, and in the aftermath, Antonio “breaks up” with Olivia, knowing that paparazzi are watching.

Just then, Vincent arrives on the scene, fuelled by photos of Olivia’s supposed tryst with Antonio. His anger boils over as he delivers a violent punch to Antonio’s face, declaring he won’t be paid for his troubles. As the dust settles, Daniel appears at Antonio’s workplace, presenting him with a surprise check for $25,000 - a sum far exceeding Antonio’s original request. Though Antonio tries to decline the payment, Daniel speaks to him in Spanish, emphasizing that Antonio deserves this windfall. Remembering Isabel’s words of wisdom, Antonio decides to accept the gift.

As the days go by, Stegman and Kapoor continue to surveil Antonio’s apartment, their attention fixed on the unfolding drama between Cecilia and Mr. Kim. Tragedy strikes when Cecilia suddenly collapses, her health ravaged by a heart attack. At the hospital, Antonio is met with devastating news: his mother has passed away. The family gathers to pay their respects, and Antonio delivers a poignant eulogy in English, trusting that Mr. Kim’s daughter will translate for him and convey the joy he brought Cecilia in her final days.

Meanwhile, at work, Antonio is taken aback by Vincent’s sudden appearance, his face a mask of ignorance as if they’d never met before. Realizing Olivia was wasting her time on a cad, Antonio takes matters into his own hands and drives to her film set, where they reconcile and she extends her condolences for Cecilia’s passing. As a token of her apology, Olivia vows to end things with Vincent once and for all.

Kathryn, however, is not so quick to forgive and forget. She seizes the opportunity to expose Vincent’s deceitful nature, using his phone to uncover his web of lies and reveal his embezzlement schemes. With Antonio’s assistance, the ladies join forces to bring Vincent down, their combined efforts culminating in his arrest and the preservation of the small businesses he sought to gentrify.

In the aftermath of these events, Kathryn finds a newfound appreciation for Antonio and Olivia, her animosity towards them dissipating as she honors Antonio’s request to thwart Vincent’s plans. As the dust settles, Stegman and Kapoor form an unlikely bond, their friendship blossoming into something more as they decide to share a home together.

Antonio, too, begins to find love again, starting a romantic relationship with Natalie while maintaining his close friendship with Olivia. The paparazzi and fans take notice of their budding connections, capturing every moment for the world to see.