Gambit

Harry Deane decides to get back at his abusive boss, Lord Lionel Shabandar, who conned him into buying a fake Monet. He resolves to expose the art-world manipulation by staging a con that could make Shabandar look foolish. To pull it off, he partners with a master forger known as the Major.

Harry and the Major join forces and sketch a route to confront Shabandar’s schemes. They plan to travel to Alpine, Texas to involve PJ Puznowski, a rodeo queen whose participation would lend credibility to their claim. The plan hinges on mixing authenticity with high-stakes drama to pressure Shabandar.

The trio travels to Alpine, Texas to locate PJ Puznowski, the rodeo queen who is the granddaughter of the sergeant responsible for Hermann Göring's capture in 1945. They believe PJ’s involvement could validate the Monet’s history and enhance their ruse. Their pursuit sets the stage for a decisive collaboration.

They reach PJ's grandmother's mobile home out in the Texas desert and recruit PJ to the scheme. They hang the fake Monet on the wall and photograph it with PJ in the background to accompany a magazine article. The staged image is meant to feed Shabandar’s jealousy and set up the fake's exposure.

Back in London, Harry confronts Shabandar with photos of PJ and her grandmother, pushing the question of the painting’s authenticity. Shabandar reluctantly agrees to check the painting’s status, since it is rare for such works to move through private channels. Harry begins a tense game of information and doubt.

PJ pitches the painting to Shabandar for £12 million, insisting on a rendezvous at the Savoy Hotel. Harry can barely afford the spectacle, and the fragile alliance teeters on whether PJ truly believes in the con. The Savoy meeting marks a fulcrum of trust and risk.

Shabandar seduces PJ with promises while hinting that Martin Zaidenweber will replace Harry. PJ meets Zaidenweber, who defends Harry as a good man with a flawed eye for art. The dynamic shifts as loyalties and incentives become tangled.

Back at the hotel, PJ tells Harry she no longer wants any part in the plan, signaling a serious setback. Harry remains determined and considers alternative routes to keep the collaboration alive. The trust between the principals is deeply strained.

The following night, PJ dines with Shabandar but is interrupted by Akira Takagawa, Shabandar’s rival who has sought revenge since losing a 1992 auction. By the time PJ leaves, Harry has convinced Zaidenweber to abandon his partnership with Shabandar.

Harry meets PJ in the courtyard and she agrees to take part in the plan again. The renewed arrangement sets the stage for the masquerade ball and the decisive confrontation. Trust is fragile, but the collaboration persists.

At Shabandar’s masquerade ball, Harry expects PJ to distract Shabandar while he completes final preparations. Zaidenweber arrives and proclaims the painting real, but Harry challenges the claim. He then reveals a hidden likeness of Queen Elizabeth II beneath the surface, exposing the ruse to everyone.

Harry and the Major confront Takagawa and his men. It is revealed that the Major painted copies for both Dusk and Dawn, while Harry had swapped the real Dawn with its copy. Takagawa confirms that the payment for the real Haystacks at Dawn—£10 million—has been transferred to Harry’s Swiss bank account, completing the bigger con.

PJ receives a painting from Harry as a gift while boarding a plane, suggesting a civil end to the caper. The film closes with Harry and the Major walking through the airport, casually discussing Donald Trump’s fascination with Picasso. The victory is personal and ambiguous, with the art world’s games continuing elsewhere.