This HBO movie loosely tells the beautiful story of the jet setter Doris Duke, the daughter of a wealthy tobacco tycoon, and her last butler, an alcoholic gay man in desperate need to become relevant to someone in life.
Doris Duke: What do you want from me? From me.
Bernard Lafferty: Miss Duke?
Doris Duke: What do you want? I mean, you don’t fuck me, do you?
Bernard Lafferty: No, I don’t.
Doris Duke: You don’t steal from me. Do you steal from me?
Bernard Lafferty: No, I don’t.
Doris Duke: Well then what do you want from me?
Bernard Lafferty: I just want to take care of you.
The symbiotic relationship between Doris and Bernard was of extreme indulgence. With him, she was free to feel just like everybody else. With her, he got to feel free and out of the closet.
In real life, Doris inherited most of her fortune to Bernard. Something that, of course, was fought back by all the ones with interest in such will. Ulterior sinister motives were attributed to Bernard but that was not quite proven. He died three years after her.
Wikipedia reports that “after much legal challenging of the executors and trustees, Duke’s legacy is now administered by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, dedicated to medical research, prevention of cruelty to children and animals, the performing arts, wildlife and ecology.”
The chemistry and the unexplored sexual tension existing between Doris and Bernard throughout the span of this movie is a delight. I can not think of a better pair, other than Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes on these eccentric roles.