Ms Kathleen's
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Nigel’s wife, Fiona, is a sophisticated woman, yet a cold, distant, and somewhat dry woman who on the surface would seem to offer little competition for the dangerously seductive Mimi.
In classic Polanski style, the film is full of twists and turns, keeping the audience guessing wrong about what will occur next. Nigel finally gives into his temptations and surrenders to the advances of Mimi, only to be rejected. In total shock and disbelief, he watches as his wife dances with Mimi at the ship’s New Year’s Eve party.
The two ladies take to the dance floor and are encouraged by the crowd to dance passionately. Together the ladies leave and Nigel looks devastated. Oscar's attempts to philosophize only serve to enrage Nigel. He goes outside and screams his frustration into the wind and waves.
Later, we see Nigel awake from a drunken stupor and he goes looking for Fiona. He finds her in Mimi's cabin, both women naked in bed. Oscar is sitting there in his wheelchair. He has clearly watched the ladies exhaust themselves sexually. In a moment of rage, Nigel grabs Oscar's throat only to have a gun pointed at him.
In one final Polanski twist, Oscar becomes highly distressed and shoots the sleeping Mimi several times as Fiona cowers beside her. Oscar then turns the gun on himself and blows off the back of his head.
Finally, we see the bodies being stretchered off the ship and Fiona and Nigel are left embracing one another.