Mildred Pierce

Once Veda exits Mildred’s life, Mildred becomes obsessed with winning her back.

Bert tells Mildred that Veda is going to be singing one evening on a popular radio program. He invites Mildred to go with him to the studio and see Veda in person—Veda asked him to come. Mildred offers Bert a steak to instead listen to Veda sing on the radio in her Laguna Beach restaurant. During the broadcast, Veda turns out to have the most magnificent voice people in the restaurant have ever heard.

To reestablish her relationship with Veda, Mildred devises a plan: She will take over payment for Veda’s voice lessons with Mr. Treviso, the musician who earlier rejected Veda but who has now become her teacher. Mr. Treviso, however, will not talk to Mildred about Veda, explaining that Veda warned him Mildred would try this stunt. He tells Mildred bluntly that Veda is both a complete narcissist and a musical genius—a rare coloratura soprano, a voice that seems always to be found in self-centered singers. He advises Mildred to stay out of Veda’s life—she will never be a caring, trustworthy person—but Mildred cannot let go. She devises a plan to get to Veda through Monty.