Lady of the House - Where's Otto?
Genre :
Dark Comedy / Erotic / Thriller
Director :
François Ozon
Writer :
Chad Taylor
Cast: Linda
Cardellini, Ezra Miller, Alfred Molina, Maia Mitchell and Christopher McDonald
At a ritzy party, Frank and Polly Reisinger wine and dine with their rich acquaintances. As she does, Polly makes small talk but disapproves of most of these people. Frank, meanwhile, is all over the place, talking with everyone. Seeing that the bathroom is occupied, he goes outside to relieve himself. Out there, he finds Horace Anthony (Christopher McDonald) already doing the same thing. Drunk Frank saddles up mere feet away from Horace and they both take a piss in the yard. Frank raves about Horace’s recent returns at his steel mill and tells him he is a bit jealous of his numbers, to which Horace says that Frank will get there eventually. They make small talk about each other’s lives and whatnot before finishing up, zipping their trousers, shaking hands and going their separate ways. At home that night, Frank falls sound asleep in his bed as subtle footsteps are heard from up above.
Days Later
Horace sits patiently in his office, going over paperwork. As he does this, he hums a catchy tune and bobs his head to his own beat. Suddenly, he is jolted by an office chair come flying through his window. In storms Frank Reisinger, with near steam coming out of his ears. Horace calmly says that Frank will have to pay for that, which Frank blows off. He tears Horace a new one, accusing him of stealing one of his best workers. Horace laughs this off, commenting on how inessential each factory worker is as a person so is there really such thing as a “best worker”. Frank takes Horace by the neck and says that he won’t forget this.
Back in his own office, Frank’s seething anger causes him to nearly fall over in exhaustion. Mary (Maia Mitchell) comes in to check on him and reminds him to take his heart medicine. He asks if there are any updates on Otto, who has not be at work for four days now. Mary tells him there is not. He says that he does not need this stress right now and will be leaving work early to rest. Meanwhile, at home, Polly eats breakfast in bed as Otto is between her legs, under the covers. She takes a big bite out of her peach, smiling, while laying her back comfortably in the pillow.
As she walks around the house in her silk robe, Polly asks Otto how his writing is coming along. He says that he has come up with a golden idea but now he has got to get around to writing it - thankfully Mary’s assistance will help him in that area. They suddenly hear a key turning in the door and scramble into panic mode. They then begin a waltz around the house, trying to avoid Otto from being seen by Frank. Despite some tense close calls, they successfully pull it off. This appears to invigorate Polly even more, feeling like she has pulled something off right under her husband’s nose.
Weeks pass and Otto makes a home in the attic. At first, it is a difficult adjustment to make but he soon finds his comfort zone - including creating fake backstories for the all of the neighbors that he is peering down upon. Frank does hear noises from the attic but tells Polly that he assumes it is a bat. At work, Frank has moved on to other problems and puts Otto’s exit from the factory in the back of his mind. However, Mary is growing anxious and is not ready to put the case to bed. She tells Frank she is not feeling well and he just so happens to be feeling lenient that day, so he lets her go home early.
After leaving, she first goes to the local synagogue to ask if Otto has been regularly attending - they say he has never attended at all. She then visits his apartment building, where the landlord says he paid his last bit of rent and moved out. Defeated, she decides to bike home. On her ride, she passes the Reisinger house and sees a glimpse of Otto in the window. She keeps on riding not thinking anything of it but then realizes what she saw.
She turns back and nervously knocks on the door. Polly answers and is delighted to see Mary again so she invites her in. Polly puts on some music and they sit down for a cup of tea. Mary makes small talk - seemingly avoiding the topic really on her mind. She then finally asks Polly if she has seen Otto Struber around - the worker from the factory who has seemingly disappeared from Milwaukee.
After a momentary silence, Polly continues the conversation as if she is not bothered by the question at all. She maintains a polite smile and happy demeanor as she talks: “I not only do not know where that man but I do not even know who you are speaking of. But I do know a lot about you, my sweet Mary. I know the angelic figure that you embody in the eyes of your family and of your church. I know they are proud of you for landing the coveted job of doing...whatever it is my husband makes you do. And, what I also know, is that if you ever cross me again, my sweet Mary, that I will systematically dismantle that precious façade that you have spent so much of your time on this Earth cultivating. Now. You will get back on your bicycle. You will ride back to your home. You will mourn the love you will never have. And you won’t so much as to think the name Otto Struber, ever again. You may leave now.” Still smiling.
Days Later
Horace sits patiently in his office, going over paperwork. As he does this, he hums a catchy tune and bobs his head to his own beat. Suddenly, he is jolted by an office chair come flying through his window. In storms Frank Reisinger, with near steam coming out of his ears. Horace calmly says that Frank will have to pay for that, which Frank blows off. He tears Horace a new one, accusing him of stealing one of his best workers. Horace laughs this off, commenting on how inessential each factory worker is as a person so is there really such thing as a “best worker”. Frank takes Horace by the neck and says that he won’t forget this.
Back in his own office, Frank’s seething anger causes him to nearly fall over in exhaustion. Mary (Maia Mitchell) comes in to check on him and reminds him to take his heart medicine. He asks if there are any updates on Otto, who has not be at work for four days now. Mary tells him there is not. He says that he does not need this stress right now and will be leaving work early to rest. Meanwhile, at home, Polly eats breakfast in bed as Otto is between her legs, under the covers. She takes a big bite out of her peach, smiling, while laying her back comfortably in the pillow.
As she walks around the house in her silk robe, Polly asks Otto how his writing is coming along. He says that he has come up with a golden idea but now he has got to get around to writing it - thankfully Mary’s assistance will help him in that area. They suddenly hear a key turning in the door and scramble into panic mode. They then begin a waltz around the house, trying to avoid Otto from being seen by Frank. Despite some tense close calls, they successfully pull it off. This appears to invigorate Polly even more, feeling like she has pulled something off right under her husband’s nose.
Weeks pass and Otto makes a home in the attic. At first, it is a difficult adjustment to make but he soon finds his comfort zone - including creating fake backstories for the all of the neighbors that he is peering down upon. Frank does hear noises from the attic but tells Polly that he assumes it is a bat. At work, Frank has moved on to other problems and puts Otto’s exit from the factory in the back of his mind. However, Mary is growing anxious and is not ready to put the case to bed. She tells Frank she is not feeling well and he just so happens to be feeling lenient that day, so he lets her go home early.
After leaving, she first goes to the local synagogue to ask if Otto has been regularly attending - they say he has never attended at all. She then visits his apartment building, where the landlord says he paid his last bit of rent and moved out. Defeated, she decides to bike home. On her ride, she passes the Reisinger house and sees a glimpse of Otto in the window. She keeps on riding not thinking anything of it but then realizes what she saw.
She turns back and nervously knocks on the door. Polly answers and is delighted to see Mary again so she invites her in. Polly puts on some music and they sit down for a cup of tea. Mary makes small talk - seemingly avoiding the topic really on her mind. She then finally asks Polly if she has seen Otto Struber around - the worker from the factory who has seemingly disappeared from Milwaukee.
After a momentary silence, Polly continues the conversation as if she is not bothered by the question at all. She maintains a polite smile and happy demeanor as she talks: “I not only do not know where that man but I do not even know who you are speaking of. But I do know a lot about you, my sweet Mary. I know the angelic figure that you embody in the eyes of your family and of your church. I know they are proud of you for landing the coveted job of doing...whatever it is my husband makes you do. And, what I also know, is that if you ever cross me again, my sweet Mary, that I will systematically dismantle that precious façade that you have spent so much of your time on this Earth cultivating. Now. You will get back on your bicycle. You will ride back to your home. You will mourn the love you will never have. And you won’t so much as to think the name Otto Struber, ever again. You may leave now.” Still smiling.
