As a seasoned journalist and storyteller, I find myself deeply moved by Maddie’s journey in “Lady in the Lake.” Her relentless pursuit of truth, even when it comes at personal cost, is a testament to her unwavering commitment to justice. Her life experiences have shaped her into a resilient woman who refuses to be silenced or deterred.
*Warning: This article contains full spoilers for Lady in the Lake episode 7.*
What a wild ride we’ve been on throughout the seven episodes that make up Lady in the Lake, right?
Discussing the last installment wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the sixth-to-last episode that concluded with quite an intriguing twist: Maddie, played by Natalie Portman, received an unexpected visit from someone claiming to be a nurse while she was in the hospital.
It seemed that the woman was, in fact, no one but Cleo (played by Moses Ingram). One might wonder if this was another instance of her hallucinations from earlier in the episode or if Cleo has somehow managed to survive.
Indeed, the final episode aims to clarify many intriguing queries, including the fate of Cleo, whose disappearance was initially believed, only to be followed by the discovery of her death.
Read on for a full breakdown of the finale of Apple TV+‘s Lady in the Lake.
Lady in the Lake ending explained: What happened to Cleo?
Instead of immediately resuming in the foggy hospital room where Natalie met Cleo, the finale begins by flashing back to Cleo’s earlier days, when she and her close friend Dora (Jennifer Mogbock) frequented nightclubs together.
In spite of being quite elderly, the two still found their way into Pharaoh’s club and had a great time there for most of the evening. However, their fun came to an end when security confronted them, leading them to a private room where they encountered Shell (Wood Harris).
Frustrated by the number of individuals who seem to have sneaked into his club without paying an entrance fee, Cleo swiftly calculates the approximate number of females that her coworkers might be allowing entry for free.
Enchanted by her abilities, Shell extends the offer of her father’s former position to Cleo, adding that she could assist him with his accounts. As a gesture, he would include both Cleo and Dora in performances on stage.
True to my promise, I granted Dora the opportunity to take the stage that very evening, and it was during this emotional sequence of her captivating performance that our story takes an unexpected turn. We find ourselves abruptly thrust forward in time, where we discover Dora’s lifeless body resting on her bed.
Reggie (Josiah Cross) tells Cleo that “she’s left”, and hints that if Cleo is alive the following morning, he will also be gone. Essentially, he wants Cleo to kill him, but she refuses. Moreover, Cleo expresses her reluctance to abandon Shell like her father did, as she doesn’t want to flee from it.
Instead, I hatch a scheme with Cleo where we switch places, pretending that she’s passed away, while Reggie and I take on her identity, as movie buffs love twists like this in their favorite films.
In a coordinated effort, Cleo and Reggie adorn Dora with her outfits and accessories as part of their strategy to ensure Cleo can live without the threat of Shell pursuing her. Later on, at the hospital, Cleo confides in Maddie that she needs to halt her attempts to document her experiences because it’s causing complications in her life.
I was informed by Cleo that Dora intended to relocate to another town, tragically passing away on Christmas Eve due to a drug overdose. It was Reggie who discovered Dora’s lifeless body, as he had been dispatched by Shell with the intention of eliminating me. However, instead, he assisted Cleo in executing their later-realized plan.
Cleo knows that Maddie doesn’t want to give up the story about her, but Cleo says if she does, Maddie can instead expose Shell for being the man who ordered the assassination of Myrtle Summer. They agree to meet by the lake that Friday night and Cleo leaves Maddie in her hospital room.
In the subterranean sanctuary shared with Reggie, I undergo a significant transformation as I don an impeccable men’s suit. With a heavy heart, I inform Reggie of my intention to surrender myself, sparing Slappy from the repercussions of my murder. Tears welling in my eyes, I meticulously prepare for this daunting endeavor.
Meanwhile, it’s apparent that Teddy, Cleo’s son, was seen at the Gordian Hotel searching for Shell. However, in the very same hotel, Cleo and Reggie appear accompanied by Reggie, informing the hotel staff that the enigmatic man beside him is actually their new accountant.
In a turn of events, after Reggie assaulted the hotel employee, it paved the way for Cleo to gain access to the room where cash was being counted. There, she unexpectedly encountered Vernon (played by Teren Carter), and in a surprising move, she exposed herself as the true identity behind the scenes.
In the office, I allow someone in, and that person, identified as Cleo, begins to set fire to the books. As a surprising gesture, she then presents me with a substantial sum of money for my retirement.
After triggering the fire alarm, Cleo makes everyone exit the building. On their departure, however, Reggie instructs Cleo to grab his vehicle while he remains behind to create the impression that Cleo might have perished in the “fire” scenario.
At the bar, Reggie encounters Shell while holding a gun. Shell expresses to Reggie that he believes he’s seen a spirit, alluding to the fact that they think Cleo is still alive.
Reggie informs him that Dora traveled to Paris, and that Cleo was the woman found in the lake. He afterwards directs Shell to dial the phone and contact the police so she can admit to planning Myrtle Summer’s murder, allowing Reggie to confess to killing Cleo.
As a devoted cinephile, I find myself in the passenger seat of Cleo’s car, watching the hotel we just left behind erupt into flames. In the midst of this chaos, I spot Teddy and hail him, eager to join me. With a shared determination etched on our faces, we pledge to lay bare all our secrets from now on.
What happened to Maddie?
Following her release from the hospital, Maddie pays a visit to Ferdie (Y’lan Noel) at the diner and shares with him her intentions of discussing her plans with Slappy (Byron Bowers), who is currently in prison.
Ferdie confides in Maddie that he had to quit due to their relationship being exposed by his superior, and Maddie proposes a solution. However, Ferdie cautions Maddie because if she tries to help, she could face jail time for living with him.
Ferdie continues to express his desire to be with Maddie, proposing a relocation to Virginia, as this historical decision in the Loving vs. Virginia case has established legal recognition for interracial relationships.
As Maddie confides, she’s immersed in a substantial case against Shell, putting it on hold for now. Yet, ever hopeful, Ferdie shares his contact details, should she wish to catch up in the future.
At the workplace, Maddie tells Bob that she’s keen on pursuing further investigation into Cleo’s case, and plans to engage Slappy in a conversation while he’s imprisoned.
Upon arrival, Maddie informs Slappy that Cleo is still alive. Despite believing Slappy should receive justice since he’s imprisoned for Cleo’s supposed murder, Maddie understands why. Slappy recognizes that Cleo is in hiding to protect their children, and accepts this situation.
Following the hotel fire and the detainment of Reggie and Shell, Maddie receives a reprimand from her supervisor for not being among the first to publish the story. However, she observes her son Seth (Noah Jupe) crumpling up her drafts in the restroom. He confesses that he understands she believes every tale is hers, implying that he doesn’t want Milton (Brett Gelman) to discover that he isn’t truly his biological father.
Despite Maddie’s confession that she’s never shared this with anyone else before, Seth suspects she might relish the chance to disrupt his life for the sake of a compelling narrative.
As the sun begins to set, it’s time for my rendezvous with Cleo by the tranquil lake. In her hands, she carries a substantial stack of documents that paint a damning picture: evidence of Shell’s tax fraud, bribes to politicians and law enforcement officials, and her role in the attempted assassination of Myrtle Summer. As a film enthusiast, this revelation promises to be as gripping and suspenseful as any thriller I’ve seen on the silver screen.
Maddie points out that revealing everything will support Reggie’s confession, and while Cleo is currently healthy, she acknowledges that Reggie intentionally allowed this event to take place as a form of penance for his past wrongdoings.
Following our meeting, I realized Maddie was leaving Baltimore and decided to pay one final visit to Ferdie. However, his perception of my visit being an indication of wanting to be together was misguided. In truth, I confessed that I didn’t wish to marry anyone again in the future, but proposed that he could join me for a night someday, which didn’t sit well with him at all.
In other locations, it’s clear that Cleo has relocated not just from Baltimore, but much farther away. Following a series of authentic footage depicting the Ku Klux Klan becoming increasingly active across America and the tragic news of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, we discover that Cleo, now going by the name Dora Carter, has made Paris her new home and is a singer at an exclusive nightclub. With his release from prison, Slappy decides to witness Dora’s performance live.
Subsequently, we leap to the year 1976, where Maddie stands delivering a speech about her recently published book titled Lady in the Lake, now having earned several accolades as an accomplished author. The scene concludes with Maddie reminiscing about her childhood Christmas parade, but this time Cleo takes center stage, crooning a rendition of Nina Simone’s classic “Feeling Good.”
Lady in the Lake is available to stream on Apple TV+. Sign up to Apple TV+ now.
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2024-08-23 11:35