Braid

Petula and Tilda, two young artists, arrive in New York City to pursue their dreams. However, they quickly find themselves entangled in a dangerous lifestyle, earning their living as drug dealers.

After a tense encounter with the police, Petula and Tilda lose both their stash and their money. Barely managing to escape, they find themselves in dire circumstances, needing to repay their dangerous supplier within two days.

In desperation, Petula and Tilda reconnect with Daphne, a wealthy childhood friend who lives in a remote mansion. They hope to find a safe in her home that may hold a fortune that could solve their problems.

The trio rekindles a childhood fantasy game, where the roles are distinctly defined: Tilda as a young girl, Daphne as her mother, and Petula as a visiting doctor. They establish strict rules for this immersive game, ensuring that their reality and fantasy blur.

As the game progresses, Daphne's demands grow increasingly bizarre, putting both Petula and Tilda in uncomfortable positions. Petula finds herself pushed to perform strange acts, reflecting the darkness creeping into their escapism.

Tilda suffers from a traumatic drug experience, spiraling into memories of a past fight amongst the three girls. This flashback reveals the root of Daphne's unstable mental state, stemming from a childhood incident where she was injured.

As the game takes a darker turn, Daphne's delusion escalates, leading her to bind Petula and Tilda. She now fully believes she is their mother, completely losing her grip on reality and controlling the situation with disturbing authority.

Detective Siegel arrives at the mansion after receiving reports of screams from the neighbors. He recognizes the girls from their childhood, suspicious of Daphne’s behavior, but she cleverly misleads him and he ultimately leaves without a search.

Daphne gives Petula cryptic clues about the location and code of the safe in her mansion. Under this pressure, Petula manages to find the safe, which seems to hold their hope for freedom.

With the safe opened, Petula and Tilda manage to escape from Daphne's grip, but their freedom is short-lived. In a terrifying twist, Daphne runs Petula over with her car, forcing both girls back to the mansion.

Daphne resorts to horrific acts of violence, cuffing Petula and locking Tilda in a cage. She then inflicts extreme pain on Petula, creating a grotesque mockery of the game they once played.

The next day, Daphne announces the conclusion of the game, believing she is pregnant. Petula seizes the opportunity, convincing Daphne that she requires a surgical procedure, which forces Daphne to relive a disturbing version of motherhood.

Just when Petula and Tilda attempt to enact their plan, Detective Siegel unexpectedly enters. A violent confrontation ensues, resulting in Daphne and Tilda brutally attacking him, as Petula watches in horror before joining in.

The three women bury Detective Siegel's body in the yard, further deepening their entanglement in lies and violence. They return to their twisted game, seemingly without consequences for their actions.

In a shocking conclusion, it is revealed that all of the events were part of an ongoing game within the mansion. The three women have been trapped in this cycle for years, as they stage their own suicides, only to start the game anew.