(2019)

Submitted by Evan B

Pooper:
The divorce is eventually settled, with Nicole gaining slightly more custody time and getting to keep their son in LA. Charlie moves to LA and he and Nicole appear to rebuild a respectful relationship after the divorce.

Long Ending:
Charlie (Adam Driver) and Nicole (Scarlett Johansson) are a married couple on the precipice of divorce. The film begins with their narrating the things they love about each other as written in respective letters that they prepared for mediation to end their marriage. Nicole refuses to read her letter at the mediation.

Charlie is a playwright and Nicole is his lead actor and muse. They live in New York City with their son, Henry (Azhy Robinson). Charlie is about to take his play to Broadway while Nicole has been cast in a TV show shooting in LA. Nicole grew up in LA and her family lives there (Charlie is estranged from his family and has a very close relationship with Nicole’s relatives, particularly her mother (Julie Hagerty)). They agree to have Henry live with Nicole in LA as they resolve their split. Charlie also wins a MacArthur Genius Grant, and plans to use the money to continue financing his theater company.

Nicole is convinced to consult attorneys and retains Nora Fanshaw (Laura Dern) to file officially for divorce. Because she files in LA, Henry is presumed to be a California resident (despite Charlie swearing that the LA residency was meant to be temporary). Charlie reluctantly visits a lawyer named Jay Marotta (Ray Liotta) but refuses to hire him when Jay is far too aggressive and expensive for Charlie’s tastes. Charlie appears to be in denial of what is happening until Nora informs Charlie that if he does not engage in the legal proceedings, Nicole will be granted sole custody of Henry.

Charlie hires an elderly but seemingly nice attorney named Bert Spitz (Alan Alda) who is well-intentioned but keeps giving Charlie contradictory advice. Bert presses Charlie to settle and let Henry stay in California. Wanting his son to know he fought for him, Charlie fires Bert and hires Jay at great expense (and both parents acknowledge throughout the film that the divorce proceedings are bankrupting them). Jay and Nora get into a heated argument at court, with both attorneys deeply embarrassing the client of the other. The judge orders that a court appointed expert issue a report concerning the fitness of the parents. Charlie and Nicole meet privately to try and negotiate a settlement, but the discussion devolves into a full scale argument addressing Charlie’s infidelity and Nicole’s neglect.

Charlie’s meeting with the court appointed guardian is disastrous due to his awkwardness and his accidentally cutting himself and bleeding on the expert. He eventually decides to settle, agreeing to Henry remaining in LA (and though Nicole wants to split custody 50/50, Nora forces Charlie to agree to give Nicole 55% custody so that she can “win”).

After the divorce is finalized, Charlie has one more night with his friends in New York before deciding to move to LA. As the months pass, he and Nicole manage to build a cordial relationship with each other. The film ends as Henry finds the letter Nicole wrote about Charlie at the beginning of the film. As Henry and Charlie read the letter, Charlie tears up at the sentiments contained therein.