If Harlan really cared about Marta, why didn't he use his resources to help her mother while he was still alive? - Knives Out (2019) Discussion

[–] bobbydallas (8139) 4 years ago

he was still a wealthy prick though.. that kind of charity would be unheard of in "his" world and Marta was still just a servant.

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[–] aavfreak (2910) 4 years ago

"just a servant" that he left his entire fortune to. He felt close enough to her to disinherit his actual family, his flesh and blood, to leave her millions, but she's "just a servant" that can't be helped?

C'mon.

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[–] bobbydallas (8139) 4 years ago

he was still a wealthy prick though..

; )

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[–] Drooch (5333) 4 years ago

He was wealthy and not remotely a ‘prick’, in fact he was a perfectly decent man. Assuming he even knew about Marta’s mother’s predicament, why the hell should he aid an illegal immigrant?

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[–] aavfreak (2910) 4 years ago

Assuming he even knew about Marta’s mother’s predicament, why the hell should he aid an illegal immigrant?

Because he cared enough for her to leave her millions? The level of trust and concern was clearly shown in the movie. Why wouldn't he help the mother of the girl he cared so much about?

This is not a random illegal immigrant we're talking about here. It's the mother of the girl he disinherited his own kids for. How does that not warrant some help?

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[–] Drooch (5333) 4 years ago

Because she’s a criminal and must be punished under the law for her crime. Harlan is not in the habit of aiding and abetting criminals, like most people.

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[–] aavfreak (2910) 4 years ago

Runaway slaves were also criminals under the law. People still helped them.

Just because something is criminal under the "law" doesn't mean that those with means won't help. Especially in the context already described - a man who cared so deeply for someone that he disinherited his own kids to leave her millions.

The question wasn't "what would Drooch do" The question was why wouldn't Harlan help when he had both the motivation and the means.

Harlan is not in the habit of aiding and abetting criminals, like most people.

Do you have anything from the movie to support this claim?

Here, I'll start. Harlan left his millions to the daughter of an illegal immigrant. This supports my claim that he is not concerned that Marta's mother is "punished under the law for her crime."

Okay, you next.

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[–] Drooch (5333) 4 years ago

Harlan has business with Marta, not her criminal mother.

It’s absurd to suggest that a decent man like Harlan would aid and abet a criminal.

In addition, he only recently decided to give Marta his wealth, once she has it she can do what she wants with it.

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[–] DeeAbees (20) 4 years ago

Where does he ever display being a prick?

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[–] aavfreak (2910) 4 years ago

Don't you get it DeeAbees? He rich, therefore he must be a prick. You can't be rich without being a prick, obviously.

/sarc

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[–] VoiceofReason (503) 3 years ago

IN their own way each family member was more unworthy though than Marta. Maybe it was a decision decades years in the making that he only finally decided on recently

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[–] Anotherday (7591) 4 years ago

Because the movie had to happen.

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[–] aavfreak (2910) 4 years ago

I pretty sure the movie still could have happened without the illegal immigrant angle. It still could have happened with a backstory of Harlan actually helping Marta's mother. Hell, I think it would have even been better that way.

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[–] kwestmo (4173) 4 years ago

The plot required it.

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[–] aavfreak (2910) 4 years ago

Please explain how the plot required it. The movie would still be the exact same had there been a backstory of Harlan helping Marta out with the problem as part of their relationship.

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[–] dmcdknf (16) 4 years ago

There would have been no pressure angle for the family to use to blackmail her into giving them the money. Besides, we don't know that he hadn't already offered and she refused. It's one thing to accept money willed to you and another to accept charity.

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[–] VoiceofReason (503) 3 years ago

because logically if you had put anything else in then that would have been required by the plot too. This isnt a real life event you know that right? The director and writer has to choose to put something in. they went with that.

as dmc pointed out to you they needed to have an excuse to blackmail her

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[–] Filmtenk2 (3403) 4 years ago

It's not for a nurse to burden her/his client with personal family legal issues. It strains the therapeutic relationship. Most rich people are very sensitive to people asking fur handouts even it it's for a good cause.

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[–] aavfreak (2910) 4 years ago

Marta never asked for a handout. Marta wouldn't be burdening Harlan with anything.

Why is it so hard for everyone to understand the concept of context? This is not an action suggested in a vacuum.

I'm not suggesting that Marta should have asked for help. I'm asking why Harlan wouldn't have offered help given what we know from the events of the movie.

This is a question posed by what we know from the film and what we see transpire on screen. Harlan disinherited his entire family, all of his children, to leave a multi-million dollar fortune to Marta.

Within this context how is helping the mother of the person you are leaving your entire fortune to a "burden" of "personal family legal issues?"

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[–] Filmtenk2 (3403) 4 years ago

It was only possible in death for Harlan to help Marta in that way. If he had done it while living it would have been present in their relationship going forward and therefore tainted the purity of what they shared. Perhaps he respected her too much to put her in that position. It would have cheapened things. What if he had helped Marta's mother and it didn't sit well with her and she decided she needed to leave his service because a professional line had been crossed. She was hired to do a job, no more no less. A friendship developed on top of that naturally.

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[–] aavfreak (2910) 4 years ago

What if he had helped Marta's mother and it didn't sit well with her and she decided she needed to leave his service because a professional line had been crossed.

You're kidding, right?

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[–] Filmtenk2 (3403) 4 years ago

No I'm not. Nursing isn't like hiring a baby sitter it's a real proffesion. It's a career. People go to school for years to become a nurse.

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[–] StinkyPoopyPants (2740) 4 years ago

First off, I absolutely LOVED this movie.

I don't remember if they ever mentioned it but maybe he just didn't know? Maybe she did not share that part of her life with him and he just never knew. The message I took from it was he left her the millions because his family was such a disappointment in his eyes that he just left his millions to the "help" as an act of revenge. She was a good person that he cared about but it really seemed payback was the motivation to me.

Edit: I'll have to watch it again to make sure :)

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[–] aavfreak (2910) 4 years ago

I thought this movie was great, too.

After she injects him and he stops her from calling 911 and she's protesting:

He actually puts his hand over her mouth.
HARLAN (cont'd)
Listen. If what you said is true I
am gone, there's no saving me, we
have six minutes. There is one last
thing I need to do in this world, and
only you can help me do it. But you
need to trust me and do everything I
say.
39.
MARTA
What do you want to do?
HARLAN
Get you out of this. Think of your
mom - please trust me, we have to
make this look ironclad like it can't
have been your fault. You. Can't.
Have done this.
MARTA
My mom...?

...

HARLAN (cont'd)
Pay attention now, your mom is still
undocumented, if this is your fault
she'll be found out and at best
deported, your family will be broken.

A new kind of fear in Marta's eyes.

MARTA
Oh god
HARLAN
But we're not going to let
that happen. I have a plan,
it's not going to be easy
but you have to do exactly
what I tell you. Will you
do this Marta? This last
thing. For me, and for your
family.

* edit: this is a copy/paste from scriptslug dot com

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[–] StinkyPoopyPants (2740) 4 years ago

Ah ok, thank you for posting that! I couldn't remember for sure. Well, then I can only assume that he did not help out of professional courtesy as the above poster stated. Private nurses, helpers, CNA's, etc have very strict rules for that sort of thing. However, it's very rare we would actually see that much included in a plot point.

Can only speculate I suppose... :-/

Take care! :)

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[–] ExTechOp (2770) 3 years ago

Her mother may have been illegal, but there was nothing to suggest she was in any immediate danger of being deported.

Had immigration started poking around, it’s very possible that Harlan would help out at that point

Lacking any need for immediate intervention, Harlan probably figured he'd protect Marta’s mom by giving Marta all his resources in his Last Will and Testament

He figured he’d have more time, until his hand was forced ... or so he thought

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