The Client List

The Client List

Year: 2010

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Eric Laneuville

Drama

Driven by love for her family, a mother will go to great lengths when she and her husband both lose their jobs. A former Texas homecoming queen, desperate for work, unwittingly takes a job at a massage parlor, only to discover she has been drawn into a prostitution ring that threatens everything she holds dear.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – The Client List (2010)

Trace every key event in The Client List (2010) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Samantha takes a job at a massage parlor

Facing foreclosure and mounting debt, Samantha accepts a job at a massage parlor. She soon discovers the establishment operates as a house of prostitution. To protect her family, she hides the true nature of the work and keeps her new earnings secret from friends and relatives.

Early in the film Massage parlor
2

Earnings fund a glamorous lifestyle

As her earnings climb, Samantha lavishes her family with expensive gifts and broader amenities. She maintains a cheerful cover story to conceal the parlor’s activities. The money strengthens their precarious lifestyle but also deepens the lie on which the family rests.

Weeks after starting Parlor
3

Rex returns to work; marriage strains

Rex finds steady employment, easing the financial pressure. Sam’s demanding routine and rising popularity at work leave her exhausted and increasingly distant from Rex and the kids. The couple’s relationship begins to crack under the strain.

Mid-film Home
4

A client introduces cocaine to Sam

To manage long hours and keep going, a client introduces Sam to cocaine. She begins using the drug, which sharpens her stamina but deepens her dependence. The escalating substance use accelerates her personal and professional risk.

Mid-film Parlor
5

Young masseuse exposes the business to a church group

A young masseuse leaks information about the parlor to a church group, triggering public scrutiny. Media attention mounts and sparks political pressure in a town with the mayor up for re-election. The scandal threatens the parlor’s reputation and the workers’ livelihoods.

Mid to late film Parlor
6

Police raid; Sam is arrested and publicly broadcast

Police raid the operation, and Sam’s arrest is broadcast live from Rex’s bar, shocking friends and neighbors. Evidence of her drug use and involvement with the customers is found, increasing the severity of the charges. The moment becomes a public spectacle that shatters her family’s privacy.

During the raid Rex's bar
7

Dee posts bail and counsels confrontation

Sam is bailed out by her close friend Dee, who becomes her confidante. Dee urges Sam to confront the consequences of her choices instead of running from them. The support helps set up the later decisions about her life.

Immediately after arrest Dee's place
8

Sam and Rex separate

The mounting strain leads to the separation of Sam and Rex. Each begins to pursue a path toward independence while trying to safeguard the children. The divorce-like split marks a turning point in their family’s dynamics.

After arrest and bail Home
9

Laura helps form a 'client list' of Johns

Laura, a lawyer friend, assists Sam in compiling a list of prominent clients. The strategy is to leverage these connections to face the legal repercussions and possibly reclaim some control over her life. The partnership signals a shift toward accountability and legal remedy.

Post-arrest Laura's law office
10

Light sentences through collaboration

The effort with Laura yields relatively light jail sentences for Sam and her coworkers. The leniency provides a chance for rehabilitation rather than a ruinous punishment. It allows the women to begin rebuilding their lives with less permanent damage.

After legal proceedings Courtroom
11

Wives hold Sam to account

After her release, several wives of her clients confront Sam, seeking guidance on mending their marriages. They view her as someone who has firsthand knowledge of what goes on behind closed doors. The encounter forces Sam to confront the impact of her work on others.

Post-release Public setting / Bar
12

New life: waitress job and college

Trying to move forward, Sam takes a job as a waitress and enrolls back in college. She hopes to repair her relationship with Rex and build a more stable future for her family. The shift marks a conscious rebirth and a commitment to change.

Post-sentencing / after release Restaurant and college

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 16:56

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a stable family life being shattered by the revelation of a hidden truth, often leading to a public scandal like an arrest. The story explores the fallout: marital strife, potential separation, and the public judgment the family endures. The emotional journey is one of navigating shame and working toward an uncertain, often bittersweet, resolution.

Why These Movies?

These films are connected by their shared focus on the dissolution and potential redemption of a family. They create a similar somber and exhausting mood, driven by high-stakes emotional conflict, public consequences, and a pacing that balances tense revelation with character-driven drama.

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The Client List Summary

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The Client List Summary

Characters, Settings & Themes in The Client List

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Characters, Settings & Themes in The Client List

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More About The Client List

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