Small Apartments

Franklin lives in a nearly empty apartment in a rundown Southern California complex, obsessing over Switzerland and a bizarre hoard. His daily routine revolves around his odd fixation, a diet of Moxie, pickles, and mustard, and interactions with the locals who drift through his space. The tone remains dry and deadpan as his world stays stubbornly small.

Mr. Olivetti dies after a strange accident that seems to fuse mustard, sneezing, and an intimate moment into a fatal outcome. In a reckless bid to dodge blame, Franklin drags Olivetti's body to his own apartment and improvises a staged suicide. He strings together a sequence of improbable methods to mislead investigators.

Franklin's attempt to dump Olivetti's pickup outside the city is thwarted by two inept muggers who rob him and complicate his already fragile situation. The robbery injects new danger into his life and tests his improvisational skills. The incident broadens the circle of risk around Franklin's cover story.

Fire investigators and detectives begin to tease out that Olivetti's death was staged and issue an APB for the missing pickup truck. The case shifts toward Franklin as investigators watch his every move and connect him to the tangled events in the building. The investigation also brushes against the other tenants' hidden histories.

Franklin eagerly awaits a weekly audiotape from his beloved but distant brother Bernard, clinging to a link to a life he cannot quite reach. The tapes create a fragile thread between brothers and hint at a larger mystery behind Bernard's life. The absence of Bernard's regular messages becomes the first sign that something is seriously wrong.

Franklin learns, via a message and Bernard's belongings, that Bernard has died from a brain tumor. Within Bernard's things lies a locker key and evidence of a Swiss bank account, along with a passport bearing a new identity for Franklin. This discovery reframes Franklin's sense of belonging and raises questions about his past and future.

The revelation reshapes Franklin's worldview as he contemplates the savings and passport left by Bernard. He fantasizes about a different life in Switzerland, even as legal danger and personal delusions press in. The newfound wealth and identity become both a lifeline and a trap.

Fire investigator Burt Walnut and a team of detectives connect Olivetti's death to a staged crime and close in, issuing an APB for the missing truck. Their work highlights the delusions at play and places further pressure on Franklin. The investigation begins to intersect with the residents' pasts in unexpected ways.

As the investigation narrows, Franklin and the other tenants confront their own histories, including Allspice's late wife and the tense dynamics within the building. The ensemble cast becomes a chorus that sharpens the film's themes of loyalty, delusion, and self-preservation. The building itself becomes a pressure cooker for truth.

Franklin decides to board a flight to Switzerland, seated beside Dr. Sage Mennox, a self-help author whose past tied to Bernard adds tension. The cramped journey forces them into an uneasy alliance as Franklin spills the truth about his brother's death. Old resentments flavor their interaction and push Franklin toward decisive action.

The encounter between Franklin and Mennox crystallizes a fragile truth about Bernard and the misconceptions surrounding his life. Franklin's honesty unsettles Mennox and reshapes his own view of the cases they've shared. The dialogue on the plane becomes a hinge moment for Franklin's future.

The journey culminates in Switzerland as Franklin stands before the Matterhorn, surrounded by three women in traditional Swiss dress. The image hints at transformation, possibility, and perhaps reconciliation with a life that never quite fit the mold. The ending leaves Franklin at a crossroads between illusion and a new, if uncertain, reality.