I realize he got killed for it, but he dragged this woman around the damned city doing his bidding, nearly getting her killed, and obviously had zero way to compensate her for the time. That would have been the perfect way to say thanks. Even worse, they give it to the Catholic church who doesn't need the money and probably just spent it on relocating pedo priest.
She should have told his ghost ass to fuck off and got her money.
Agree. She was going to spruce up the block where she lived, which would have benefited minority small business owners and poor families. This definitely would not be the way a 2021 version of this film would have played this out. Instead there’d be a closing scene of Molly and Otta Mae cutting the ribbon on a new community center in the Bronx or Hell’s Kitchen.
shareI don't believe he wanted her to use "dirty money" to benefit herself. I think them tracking the money down was mostly an excuse. I think he got the idea immediately when he saw the homeless shelter and wanted to use it for something like that than let her use it for herself.
shareAgree. Also, as a psychic, why would she want to support the Catholic church? Her job is antithetical to their belief system. But it's kinda funny how it's almost a spoiler for her future work on Sister Act.
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It seems Sam gave her more than she had before their interaction.
Oda Mae was a charlatan who seemed to receive real power to communicate with the dead after and possibly because of her interaction with Sam. That power is marketable with the right plan.
She also became aware that there is more to humanity after the body dies. I doubt there is one single person of faith (including the pope) who doesn't wonder if perhaps there is absolutely nothing after the body dies. I'm sure her knowing there is for sure would give her comfort the rest of her human life.
Finally, she is a better person who will have a new outlook on life, one that will make her happier than if she never met Sam.
No reason not to have all that, plus 4 million dollars.
But I gotta disagree on the ghost talking power being good. We saw in the film what her life was gonna be like now that ghost know she can hear them. It's gonna be a never ending slew of people not shutting the fuck up for Oda Mae. Though with a helpful ghost, she could make a killing at poker.
LOL, love the poker ghost helper, but what's in it for the ghost??
I did qualify the talking being good deal by saying it would be good with the right plan. What she did in the movie was use her same studio in that run down neighborhood. Managed correctly, she could be on tour except that instead of like the snake oil salesmen working the business she would be legitimate. Imagine where she could go if she used the power correctly.