3 Women 2002

In the barren expanse of a California desert town, Pinky Rose embarks on a notable new adventure as she secures a job at a health spa designed for the elderly. As she immerses herself in her new role, she becomes increasingly captivated by her co-worker, Millie Lammoreaux, whose relentless chatter is both enchanting and exasperating. Despite their contrasting personalities, a strong bond forms, leading them to become roommates at the Purple Sage Apartments, managed by Edgar Hart (a character portrayed by an unmentioned actor) - a former Hollywood stunt double grappling with the shadows of past stardom - and his mysterious wife Willie (again, another character played by an unmentioned actor), who is pregnant and obsessed with creating unsettling murals.

Millie’s incessant monologues tend to alienate those around her, including co-workers, neighbors, and even friends, yet Pinky remains deeply intrigued by Millie’s thoughts on everything from romance and fashion to food and home decor, all derived from various women’s magazines. As their cohabitation progresses, tensions rise, leading to a dramatic confrontation that drives Millie away from their shared home, only to return accompanied by Edgar. Pinky pleads with Millie to consider Willie’s delicate condition and avoid a potential affair with her husband. However, Millie, feeling invaded by Pinky’s concerns, demands that Pinky leave the apartment. In an act of sheer rebellion, Pinky jumps off the balcony into the pool below.

Though Pinky survives this drastic act, she falls into a profound coma. While she lies unconscious in the hospital, Millie, overcome with guilt, visits her every day. When Pinky finally awakens, she fails to recognize her own parents (who are played by unmentioned actors), angrily insisting they leave her side. After returning to the apartment with Millie, Pinky starts to emulate her roommate’s behaviors—drinking, smoking, and even shooting guns at Dodge City—while declaring herself as Mildred, both women’s shared name.

As Millie grows frustrated with Pinky’s transformation into a meek and compliant version of herself, she inadvertently begins to take on similar traits. One particularly haunting night, following a troubling dream that leaves Pinky shaken, they share a bed for comfort and solidarity. Their tender moment is abruptly interrupted when Edgar, in a drunken state, stumbles in and makes inappropriate advances before casually mentioning that Willie is in labor. They rush to Edgar and Willie’s home to find her alone in agonizing pain. Despite Millie’s clear instructions for Pinky to call for medical help, Pinky fails to act, leading to a heart-wrenching stillbirth.

In the aftermath of this devastating experience, both women return to their responsibilities at Dodge City, yet their roles have dramatically switched: Pinky has reverted to her childlike submissiveness, now addressing Millie as “Mother,” while Millie has begun to take on Willie’s duties, copying her demeanor, makeup, and clothing with eerie accuracy. Amid the hustle and bustle of the tavern, a delivery vendor inadvertently discloses Edgar’s demise, prompting Millie to respond in a strikingly insincere manner, revealing a subtle yet overwhelming sense of collective complicity surrounding his untimely end.