Bernard and Doris

Doris Duke hires Bernard Lafferty as her majordomo, bringing him into her vast world of households. He explains a six-month gap in his employment was due to rehab for alcohol addiction, a truth Doris suspects. She decides to take a chance on him to manage her affairs.

Bernard moves into the estate and proclaims himself 'Miss Duke's eyes and ears,' demanding staff obedience. He places portraits of his former employers in his bedroom as a show of power. Doris remains wary as the new dynamic reshapes the household.

Doris returns from a plastic surgery center late one night, drunk and on painkillers, and Bernard stays with her through the night. An emotional closeness blooms, even if it remains non-physical. This night marks a turning point in their relationship.

Doris teaches him about horticulture, especially orchids, and he takes charge of operating her households during her frequent absences. He takes pride in tending the estate and keeping everything in order. The routine becomes a quiet source of power and purpose for him.

In the greenhouse, Doris flirts with him and even belly dances to seduce him. Bernard tentatively informs her that he 'swings in the other direction,' clarifying his sexuality. The moment underscores the complex power dynamics at play between them.

Doris begins to take Bernard with her on world tours and convinces him to pierce his ear. As they travel, they grow closer, and Doris begins to favor him above everyone else. Bernard's sense of belonging deepens with his rising status.

Doris attempts to seduce him; when he backs away, she asks what he wants from her. He replies, 'I want to take care of you, Miss Duke,' revealing his priority to serve over romance. The exchange cements a devotion that overrides romantic boundaries.

As Bernard settles into his role, he begins drinking again, initially discreetly but then more openly. Doris has him committed to rehab at her expense to manage his drinking. The move shows her continued control and his dependence on her favor.

Doris suffers a stroke, and Bernard returns to take full control of her life. He adopts her look, wearing makeup and haute couture, and even develops a more feminine bearing. He vows to fulfill her wishes after death, solidifying his hold on her legacy.

One night, Doris asks what he intends to do after she dies; he tearfully promises to fulfill her requests. Her final smile fades when she says she must be crazy to believe a 'fucker like you.' The moment exposes the riskiness of their entwined fates.

Doris's attorney Waldo Taft tries to keep Bernard away, even offering money to leave. Taft calls the police to the estate, but Doris defends Bernard as 'peacefully devoted' and the officer leaves. The confrontation foreshadows the ongoing power struggle over Doris's fortune.

Taft suggests hiring a live-in nurse, but Doris agrees with Bernard's plan to rely on his care instead, with occasional doctor visits. Bernard resents the nurse arrangement and works to maintain exclusive oversight of her daily life. The dynamic tightens his grip on her health and routine.

Bernard administers medicine and an injection to a sick Doris, and she dies that night. She appoints him executor of her vast estate, cementing his legal power over her fortune. In the immediate aftermath, rumors float of murder, but no evidence is found.

In the first board meeting after Doris's cremation, Bernard appears overtly in control, dressed in a manner reminiscent of Doris's, signaling his takeover of her persona. Rumors that he murdered Doris circulate but remain unproven. The episode underscores the precariousness of his authority and the eerie continuity of his façade.

Three years after Doris's death, Bernard dies from complications related to his alcoholism. His life, inseparable from Doris's, ends with the same thread of dependency and control that defined their relationship. The film closes on a note of unresolved speculation about the nature of his power.