Don't Let Her Stay

Three weeks earlier, Joanne is alone in the large house with her labrador, Oscar, and Evie. Her husband, Richard Atkinson, is protective of them, though Joanne thinks their large countryside home in a sleepy English village is perfectly safe. Evie doesn’t sleep well, however, so Joanne is always tired and unkempt.

A handwritten letter addressed to Richard arrives in the mail. Joanne suspects it’s from his ex-fiancée and is tempted to open the letter, but the arrival of Roxanne, the housekeeper interrupts her. Roxanne addresses her as Mrs. A, despite Joanne’s insistence that Roxanne can use her first name. Joanne made attempts at socializing with Roxanne, but Roxanne began bringing earbuds to work. Joanne knows she’s lucky to live in such a large, beautiful home, but her loneliness and post-partum exhaustion make her doubt whether they should have moved there.

Joanne and Richard bought their house when Joanne was pregnant with Evie. Joanne worried about the price, but Richard said the house was a gift to her. She was excited about the house’s potential but now laments having to make difficult remodeling decisions.

Joanne met Richard while he was still with his ex-fiancée Isabella. Joanne was their real estate agent. One day, when Isabella was running late to a showing, Joanne and Richard got locked in the cellar. Richard comforted Joanne before climbing through a gap in the bricks to free them. Joanne recalls he was a perfect gentleman. A week later, Isabella revealed her infidelity and the couple broke up. Months passed, and Richard called Joanne to ask her on a date. They married eight months later.

Joanne worries that Isabella is trying to get back together with Richard since her relationship didn’t work out, but Richard assures her he’s not interested. Joanne worries because she feels unkempt and boring since becoming a mother. She decides to do something special for Richard for dinner, but he calls to tell her he’s working late. Joanne understands but feels defeated.

Joanne feeds Evie. She doesn’t produce enough milk, so Evie is on formula. Being around Evie puts Joanne at ease. An old real estate colleague, Shelly, calls with a question about a home Joanne worked with. Joanne proposes working from home a few days a week, and Shelly agrees. Joanne coos to Evie about her excitement to start working again but suddenly feels watched. When she turns around, a shadow disappears from the doorway. She wonders if Roxanne was watching her.

Joanne wakes in the nursery when Richard comes home early because he misses Joanne and Evie. Over dinner, Joanne tells Richard that she’s going back to work, lying that Shelley proposed the idea so Richard won’t think she isn’t happy with the big house and idyllic lifestyle. She also assures Richard that she won’t be working with Anthony, an old colleague who had feelings for her. Joanne once told Richard about Anthony, and Richard became overly angry and jealous. Joanne and Richard agree to get a nanny for the days Joanne works. They continue to chat about their days, but Joanne feels very boring.

Richard opens the mysterious letter and reveals it’s from his estranged 20-year-old daughter, Chloe, who wants to visit. He reads part of the letter to Joanne, in which Chloe addresses Richard as “Daddy,” apologizes for everything, and expresses interest in meeting Evie. Chloe and Richard fell out when Richard and Joanne married: Chloe refused to attend the wedding and cut contact. Richard was hesitant to tell Chloe about Evie’s birth, and Joanne asks when he told her, but he dodges the question. Chloe wants to come into town this Friday and stay for a few weeks. Richard calls Chloe to confirm the plans. Joanne is excited.

When Chloe was 11 years old, her mother, Diane, died while Richard was on a business trip. Chloe was alone with her mother all night until the grocer found them the next morning. The traumatic event changed Chloe, despite Richard’s efforts to find her professional help. She grew an unhealthy attachment to Richard, so he sent her to boarding school to help her adjust. Though he feels guilty for sending her away, he maintains it was for the best.

Chloe lives in a flat Richard bought her in London and attends college for fashion photography. Joanne has never met her but is glad Chloe wants to meet the family. She plans to make Chloe feel as welcome as possible and looks forward to having company around the house. A future version of Joanne narrates how wrong her expectations about Chloe were.

Richard returns from the train station with Chloe. Joanne rushes to greet Chloe. Chloe is beautiful, and Joanne is excited and flustered but optimistic. A work meeting earlier in the day went well, and she hired a new nanny, with whom she hopes to become friends.

Joanne notices that Chloe’s high-pitched, girlish voice becomes low and natural when Richard leaves the room and she’s alone with Joanne. Chloe criticizes Joanne for repeating herself and drinking when she should be breastfeeding. Joanne tries to be polite while defending herself. When Richard returns, Chloe’s voice and demeanor return to upbeat and sweet.

Joanne shows Chloe around the house, feeling self-conscious about her post-partum body. Joanne shows Chloe to her room and tries to make small talk, but Chloe criticizes her again for being forgetful and repeating things. Chloe asks to see Evie. When they go to the nursery, Chloe picks up sleeping Evie from the crib, despite Joanne’s attempt to stop her. When Evie wakes and starts crying, Chloe bounces Evie to calm her but is too aggressive. Joanne tries to take Evie from Chloe, but Chloe insists she’s not doing anything wrong. Richard enters, and Chloe acts as though Joanne is criticizing her for no reason. Unable to convince them otherwise, Joanne concedes that Chloe did nothing wrong. Richard asks if Joanne is feeling okay. Joanne worries her relationship with Chloe will be difficult.

At dinner, Joanne forgets the salad and Richard jokes that she’d “lose your head if it wasn’t screwed on” (44), which makes Chloe laugh. Chloe criticizes Joanne’s age, comparing her to Diane, who was 24 when Chloe was born. Richard defends Joanne, and they change the subject. Joanne reiterates that she is happy that Chloe is there. Joanne and Richard discuss the new nanny, and Chloe interjects that she quit college and could be their nanny. Richard agrees that it’s a great idea, but Joanne worries about Chloe’s behavior. However, she struggles to communicate this without offending Chloe or Richard and agrees to cancel the nanny she hired.

In bed that evening, Richard thanks Joanne for being kind to Chloe. When pressed, he admits that Chloe hasn’t always been well. Over the weekend, Chloe settles in and spends time with Richard. Her 21st birthday is coming up the following weekend, and Joanne and Richard begin to plan for it. Joanne and Chloe take Oscar and Evie into town so Joanne can give Chloe a tour. On the drive, Joanne tries to get to know Chloe, but Chloe is standoffish. Joanne asks when Chloe’s birthday is so she can order a cake, and Chloe says it’s Saturday. As soon as Joanne parks, Chloe tries to take off, but Joanne calls her back to help with the stroller. They discuss the guest count for Chloe’s party, and Joanne considers getting it catered.

They run into Roxanne, and Joanne introduces her to Chloe. Joanne asks Chloe to stay outside with Oscar while she runs into the grocery store with Evie. When she emerges, Oscar is tied to a post, and Chloe is gone. Joanne waits for her until it starts raining. She spots Chloe and Roxanne eating ice cream together near the car. Chloe insists that Joanne told her to meet at the car, but Joanne knows she asked Chloe to wait outside the store.

Evie is fussy from the long day out. Chloe remarks that she must not like Joanne very much. Joanne can’t believe Chloe said such a thing but tells herself it was a joke. She shows Chloe how to feed Evie and leaves them alone for a moment to fetch some paracetamol, a pain reliever and fever reducer, from the bathroom. Chloe has a sudden panicked reaction to Evie and begs Joanne to take her back before running out of the room. Joanne calms Evie down and finishes feeding her.

Joanne finds Chloe on the patio watching Simon, the gardener. Chloe asks Joanne about him, throwing Joanne off guard. Joanne tries to talk about Chloe’s behavior, but Chloe continues to ask about Simon. Chloe finally admits that she’s not used to babies and will need practice. When Joanne suggests bringing the nanny back on, Chloe lashes out and asks Joanne not to tell Richard. Joanne isn’t sure, but she wants to bond with Chloe, so she agrees. Chloe’s demeanor becomes upbeat when Richard arrives home.

Richard surprises Joanne with a bicycle. Since Chloe is around, she can watch Evie while Joanne rides her bike. Privately, Joanne tells Richard her doubts about Chloe liking her and working as Evie’s nanny. Richard gets defensive. He snaps that Joanne is not trying hard enough to get to know Chloe. Joanne notices Chloe watching in the doorway and wonders if Richard knew she was there. She shakes the thought from her head, not wanting to be paranoid like her mother.