Genie

Bernard is overworked at a high-end New York auction house, burning through time he should be spending with his daughter. He misses Eve's 8th birthday and disappoints his wife, Julie, who ultimately leaves him. The next day his demanding boss, Mr. Flaxman, fires him from the job.

A dejected Bernard discovers a dusty box, and out swirls Flora, a 2,000-year-old genie. She declares that she can grant him unlimited wishes, but only after he designs a plan for using them. The encounter opens the door to a magical, risky path of changing his life.

Flora explains how her wish-granting works and urges Bernard to think before he acts. Bernard is slow to commit to a plan, and the genie pushes him to find a purposeful, workable strategy. The setup foreshadows the moral questions about using power to fix a life.

Bernard's first attempts at wielding power go awry, producing chaotic consequences that disrupt his family. One wish briefly sends a member of his family to a fiery hell, while another redecorates the apartment in a way Julie dislikes, replacing the Mona Lisa with a football jersey. The episode culminates in their arrest and a threat of extradition to France.

Despite the chaos, Bernard begins reconnecting with Eve and uses some wishes to fulfill Christmas dreams for children and to house the homeless. The small acts of generosity deepen his bond with his daughter and demonstrate the positive potential of Flora's gifts. Flora begins to see a different side of him.

Seeing Flora's loneliness, Bernard uses one wish to free her from the box's confinement. Flora tells him that he will still have three wishes left afterward. The act deepens their bond and shifts their dynamic from exploitative to mutual respect.

Flora develops romantic interest in Lenny, Bernard's doorman, adding a surprising twist to the genie story. The unusual romance adds humor and tenderness to the evolving relationship between the genie and the human helper. Bernard watches the odd romance unfold while he focuses on his family.

Flora reminds Bernard that three wishes remain and he uses the first to travel back in time to before Eve's birthday. He resolves to set things right by giving Eve a proper celebration. The choice to alter the past weighs on him as he considers what really matters.

With the next move, Bernard quits the auction house and takes his wife and daughter out for Eve's revived birthday. He gifts Eve a dollhouse, fulfilling a wish she had. The family reconnects in a meaningful, tangible way.

Bernard uses the last two wishes to ensure a wonderful dinner at an exclusive restaurant. The dinner marks a fresh start and a celebration of his renewed priorities and family. Flora remains supportive, illustrating a healthier balance of magic and morality.

Three months after the events, Lenny now runs Bernard's favorite pizza joint, and Flora is seen making pies. The unlikely trio has formed a new, hopeful balance in Bernard's life. The genie remains nearby, but the relationship is grounded in friendship and family.