On the verge of losing his highly manipulative girlfriend, forever, a dispirited man becomes a live-in bodyguard for a wealthy widow; but when he is pushed to commit a heinous murder, he must decide whether the love of money is important.

SYNOPSIS:

Jonathan Logan lies dying on the Terrazzo-tiled floor of a Bel-Air mansion. The once hopeless man has led a life of social manipulation; however, his charisma was appealing enough to his girlfriend, Melinda Collins. Jonathan was captivated by her ambition and “drop-dead” beauty. Surrounded by affluence, as a Beverly Hills beautician, she always believed wealth was her destiny. Jonathan receives an ultimatum to improve his social status or the relationship will end. Driving unknown people to inconsequential destinations has proven to be his best option. But he cannot afford to detour whatever life he has with Melinda to placate his own well-being.

Jonathan is hired as a live-in bodyguard for Grace Whitney Vanderberg, a troubled, former socialite. Ever since her husband was presumed missing, she’s received distressing phone calls. She shares her palatial estate with Faith Moore, her loyal maid. Jonathan endears himself to the distraught widow by convincing her to reacquaint herself with society: Rodeo Drive, country clubs and the opera. His obstacle is the amorous maid, who poses a daunting challenge. But he won’t allow clandestine lust to be exchanged for confidentiality. In time, Melinda demands that Jonathan marry Vanderberg so that a fatal “accident” will entitle them to her grand inheritance. Jonathan is mortified, until Melinda explains that she is the abandoned daughter of the widow. In this scenario, Jonathan would murder his wife (Vanderberg) so that he could re-marry his step-daughter (Melinda). How incestuous! When he’s caught in an uncompromising position with Faith, she’s immediately fired. Jonathan then decides to go forward with the scheme.

Weeks after their marriage, Vanderberg meets her attorneys regarding her husband. Melinda and Jonathan believe it concerns her first husband. Jonathan is thrust into proceeding with the “fatal” accident. Vanderberg will reveal to Jonathan that many years ago she became pregnant by an old “flame,” while her husband was on an expedition. DNA results, ascertained by Vanderberg’s attorneys, prove that Jonathan is her biological son. As she quivers with her last gasps of life, Jonathan terrifyingly remembers spiking her medication with a potent poison. The undisputable truth is that Jonathan has just murdered his mother.

Melinda arrives to celebrate, and confess she was the guiding force behind every deceptive move to better his pathetic life. From the initial job interview she coaxed her former customer into having, through the distressing phone calls and eventual murder of the maid, Vanderberg became Melinda’s vengeful target. Jonathan can only proffer that this lavish, opulent lifestyle was never impressive to him, that he is, “more linguini than Lamborghini.” It was never about Melinda’s superficial love or wealth that he wanted, only the love his mother could provide. Jonathan despondently chokes Melinda, by rationalizing