Patricia was better off without Joe

Narcissist Joe Fox ditched the gorgeous, feisty Patricia (Parker Posey) because he realised she was too strong to be manipulated.

So he moved onto his less streetwise victim, Kathleen (doe-eyed Meg Ryan), who he could carry on gaslighting for the next few years.

Just look at his panicked reaction when Patricia suggested giving Kathleen a job - he knew he couldn't play both of them if they worked together and he was desperate to keep Kathleen needy and vulnerable.