The Father Trivia Quiz

Answer: His watch

Anne arrives at the third-floor flat of her father, Anthony, in a fluster. She had gotten a call from Angela, the third in a series of caregivers she had hired for her father. Angela was in tears and claimed that Anthony had verbally abused her and threatened her physically, so she quit. Anthony denies Angela's account and accuses her of stealing his watch, but Anne doesn't believe it. "Isn't it more likely you just lost it?" she asks. "No. I already had my suspicions, so I set a trap for her. I left my watch somewhere in the open, to see if she'd pinch it," Anthony says. When Anne asks where he left the watch, Anthony can't remember. Anne sits down with a sigh and says that she doesn't know what to do. "I'm telling you I don't need her or anyone else. I can manage very well on my own," he says. "That girl stole my watch. I'm not going to live with a thief. Do you understand?"

Anne looks up at her father. "Have you looked under the bath?" she asks. "By the pipes where you hide your valuables?" Anthony is taken aback. "How do you know that?" he asks. "Have you been looking in my hiding place?" Anne says that she found it by accident, but Anthony is already hurrying off to his bathroom to check, re-appearing a minute later with his watch. He puts it on and goes into his office to watch TV. "You found it, then?" Anne asks, standing in the doorway. Anthony looks down at the watch on his wrist. "Oh, yes." he says, pleased with himself. "So you realize Angela had nothing to do with it," Anne points out. Anthony is confused for a moment, but quickly recovers. "Only because I hid it, luckily, just in time. Otherwise, I'd be sitting here talking to you with no means of knowing what time it was," he declares.

Answer: Paris

"I'm going to have to move, Dad. I'm going to have to leave London," Anne says. Anthony reacts like it's the first time he's heard about this. "We talked about this. Do you remember?" Anne asks tenderly. "Is that why you're so keen on this nurse living with me? Obviously it is. The rats are leaving the ship," he says bitterly. Anne pulls up a chair and sits in front of her father. "I won't be here. I won't be able to come here every day. You need to understand that, Dad," Anne explains. She tells him that she has met someone and that she is going to go live with him in Paris. "You? In Paris? You're not gonna do that, are you? I mean, wake up. They don't even speak English," Anthony remarks. He accuses his daughter of abandoning him.

"Obviously, this is very important to me. Otherwise, I wouldn't be going," she explains. "I can come back and see you often. At the weekends. But I can't leave you here on your own. It's not possible. That's why, if you refuse to have a carer, I'm going to have to..." She trails off. "To what?" Anthony asks. "You have to understand, Dad," she replies, without answering the question. "Anne? You're going to have to what?" he asks. Anne stares at her father without answering.

Answer: That this isn't Anthony's flat.

Anthony is making tea when he is startled by the sound of a door closing somewhere in the flat. He goes to investigate and finds The Man sitting in the living room, reading some papers. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" Anthony asks. The Man introduces himself as Paul, Anne's husband, and tells Anthony that he lives here. Anthony is confused - he was sure that Anne was separated from her husband and was moving to Paris, but The Man doesn't know anything about that. The Man uses his mobile phone to call Anne, who had popped down to do some shopping. He tells her not to be too long. Anthony brings up the caregiver that Anne insists on hiring for him, and tries to get The Man to agree that he is perfectly capable of managing on his own. "I don't know what she's cooking up against me. But she's cooking something up, that I do know," Anthony says, referring to Anne. "Yes, I've seen the signs. But let me be absolutely clear: I am not leaving my flat!"

The Man puts down the newspaper he was reading. "This isn't your flat, Anthony," he says. "If you remember, you moved here, I mean you moved to our place while you were waiting for a new carer. Because you quarrelled with the last one. With Angela." Anthony can't believe his ears. "So you're telling me this is your place?" he asks. The Man replies in the affirmative. "Now I've heard everything," Anthony says. Just then, the front door opens and a woman's voice calls out. "It's me," she says.

Answer: That she isn't married.

Anthony is still reeling from the revelation that this isn't in his flat, and is hoping that his daughter will be able to straighten things out. He goes to the front door but is surprised to come face to face with someone he doesn't recognise. "What's happening?" asks The Woman. "Nothing much. Your father seemed a bit confused," replies The Man. "What is this nonsense?" Anthony asks. "Where's Anne?" The Woman holds her hand up to her chest. "I'm here. I just went down to do some shopping, and I'm back now," she says. Anthony doesn't understand what is happening, but has likely conditioned himself to play along in such situations. "Oh, I see," he says, before putting on a smile and asking The Woman what she bought. "Chicken. Does that sound good? Are you hungry?" she replies. The Man takes the shopping from her and heads to the kitchen to prepare dinner, as Anthony goes into the living room to sit down. The Woman appears in the doorway, concerned.

"Paul said you weren't feeling very well," she remarks. "I'm fine. Thank you," he replies, but it is clear that he is troubled. The Woman kneels in front of Anthony and tries to get him to open up to her. "I was making a cup of tea in the kitchen. I was alone in the flat, and suddenly I heard a noise. Then I came in here and there was your husband," he begins. "Who?" she asks. "Your husband," he repeats. "I'm not married, Dad," she says matter-of-factly. "I'm sorry?" Anthony asks. "I got divorced more than five years ago. You remember," The Woman replies. "Well, then, who's he?" Anthony asks, pointing towards the kitchen. "Well, who?" The Woman asks, bewildered. "Did you not hand over a chicken to someone a minute ago?" Anthony asks impatiently. The Woman has no idea what he is talking about. Anthony heads to the kitchen, but finds no one there. "He's vanished," he says to The Woman, who has followed him. "Who? The man with the chicken?" she asks sarcastically. "Your husband!" Anthony replies. "All this nonsense is driving me crazy." He goes to his bedroom and shuts the door.

Answer: His other daughter

Anthony is in his room when he hears the doorbell. He goes to the living room to find Anne with a visitor - a young woman named Laura. "Haven't we met before?" he asks when he meets her. "I have a distinct impression that I've seen you before." He insists that it is time for an aperitif, and sets Anne to preparing two whiskeys for him and Laura. "It's okay, Anne. I'm not going to offer you a drink," he says, before turning back to Laura. "She never touches alcohol. Not a drop." He goes on to compare Anne to her mother - "the soberest woman I've ever met", as he describes her. "Whereas her little sister, that was quite a different story," he says fondly. "You have two daughters?" Laura asks. "Yes. Even though I hardly ever hear from the other one. All the same, she was always my favorite," he says, not caring that Anne is within earshot. They talk about what Anthony did for a living, and he tries to convince Laura that he was a tap dancer, which makes Laura burst out laughing. "I know who she reminds me of," he says to Anne. "It's Lucy. Lucy, when she was younger." He explains to Laura that Lucy is his other daughter. Anne agrees that there is a resemblance. "Yes. Her unbearable habit of laughing inanely," Anthony says, which puts a stop to Laura's laughter.

Anne had warned Laura that her father has been through several caregivers and that he "has his ways", which can take some getting used to, but she wasn't prepared for this awkward moment. "I had you there, didn't I?" he says with a laugh. "You see, the situation is very simple. I have lived in this flat for some time now. I'm extremely attached to it," he explains. "Anyway, my daughter is very interested in it." An embarrassed Anne asks Anthony what he's talking about. "You see, my daughter is of the opinion that I cannot manage on my own, so she's moved in with me, ostensibly to help me, with this man she met not long ago just after her divorce, who has a very bad influence on her, I have to tell you," he explains. "So now she would like to convince me that I really cannot manage on my own. And the next stage will be to send me away. I don't know where. Obviously, it'll be a much more efficient way of getting hold of my flat." He goes on to say that he plans to outlive Anne, and will tell everyone at her funeral about how "heartless and manipulative" she was. "I'm so sorry about this," a mortified Anne says to Laura, after Anthony leaves.

Answer: A doctor's office

The space Anthony finds himself in has the same layout as his flat, but the interior is quite different. The entrance hall has completely new furniture, including a row of brightly coloured chairs that make up a waiting area. Anne walks up to the reception desk and informs the receptionist that her father has an appointment with Dr. Sarai. Anthony looks around the doctor's office in confusion, before joining his daughter to complete his registration. Later, the doctor takes down Anthony's particulars. "You're living with your daughter at the moment, is that right?" she asks. "Yes, until she goes to live in Paris," Anthony replies. "No, Dad, why do you keep going on about Paris?" Anne says with a frown. "I'm staying in London." Anthony covers up his embarrassment. "You keep changing your mind. How do you expect people to keep up?" he remarks. "But there's never been any question of me living in Paris," Anne insists. "Yes, there was. You told me," Anthony replies. "Have you forgotten?" He turns to the doctor and smiles. "She's forgotten. You're starting to suffer from memory loss. I should have a word with the doctor, if I were you," he says. The doctor has been observing this exchange with interest, and starts scribbling notes in Anthony's file.

The filmmakers used the set design to deliberately confuse the audience, and to mirror Anthony's descent into dementia. All the interior scenes in the film are situated in the same apartment set, but the set decoration, furnishings and lighting change constantly over the course of the movie, in sometimes subtle and not so subtle ways. The film starts off in Anthony's flat, where the fittings and furnishings are more eclectic to reflect a lived-in look over a long period of time. Gradually, the set décor changes in favour of a more contemporary look, to signify that we could now be in Anne's flat. The first dramatic transformation occurs when the space is reimagined as the doctor's office, and even when the set transforms back into Anne's flat, certain elements remain, like the colourful waiting room chairs, which appear stacked up in Anne's entrance hallway. The film set is like another character in the story.

Answer: That Anthony should be placed in a care home.

Anthony emerges from his room and heads down the hallway toward the dining room. He overhears Anne and Paul talking. "We have to find another arrangement," Paul says. "Such as?" Anne replies. "Putting him in an institution," Paul says. "A nursing home." Anthony listens to the conversation with increasing alarm. "Why are you saying this to me now, when tomorrow we've got this girl starting?" Anne says in frustration. "You're right," Paul says, softening. "We'll see. Maybe it'll work out very well with this girl. You seem to think she's good. But, believe me, the doctor is right. The moment will come when - however good she is - he's ill, Anne. He's ill." Just then, Anne and Paul notice Anthony standing in the doorway, and they change the subject in embarrassment. Anne gets her father to sit down for dinner.

During dinner, Paul makes a sarcastic comment about Anthony being lucky to have a daughter like Anne to look after him, which prompts Anne to clear the food from the table in a huff. When Anthony wonders what could be the matter with Anne, Paul remarks that she's tired. "You need to take care of her, old sport," Anthony says, suggesting that they go away somewhere, a remark which triggers Paul. "Sometimes I wonder if you're doing it deliberately," he says, as he pours himself another glass of wine. Paul reminds Anthony that they had planned on going away to Italy, but had to cancel their trip at the last minute because of Anthony's argument with Angela, his previous caregiver. Anthony has no recollection of any of this. He leaves to get some more chicken from the kitchen, and returns to Anne and Paul having the same conversation he overheard before dinner. This time, Anthony remains standing in the doorway, confused, before retreating to his room.

Answer: He slaps Anthony.

Laura emerges from the kitchen with Anthony's cup of tea. He asks her if she's noticed that the flat has changed. "Those chairs, for instance," he says, motioning to the colourful chairs from the doctor's waiting room. "Who put them there?" Laura tries to get Anthony to change out of his pyjamas so that they can go to the park, but Anthony resists. The Man suddenly appears. "Everything all right?" he asks. When he indicates that he wants to have a word with Anthony, Laura leaves to ready Anthony's things. "Can I ask you a question?" The Man asks, once they are alone. He wants to know how much longer Anthony plans on staying here, getting on everyone's nerves. "I mean, do you intend to go on ruining your daughter's life? Or is it too much to hope you might behave reasonably in the foreseeable future?" The Man asks. "What are you talking about?" Anthony asks. "About you, Anthony. Your attitude," The Man replies, and he reaches out and gives Anthony a tight slap across the face. "Stop that. I won't allow this," Anthony cries, but this only seems to encourage The Man. "Suppose I do it again. Then what will you do?" The Man asks. "You'll have to take me on physically," Anthony replies. "Are you saying that to tempt me?" The Man asks with a laugh. He slaps Anthony again. Anthony protests, but is helpless in the situation.

From the kitchen, Anne hears a commotion in the living room. She rushes in to find a confused Paul standing next to Anthony, who is cowering in fear next to him with his arms raised in the air. She ends up consoling a crying Anthony on the couch.

Answer: The Woman

Anthony sits down to breakfast when Anne reminds him that he has a visitor today - Laura, his new caregiver. "I dreamt about her last night," he says. "You know, she really reminded me of your sister." Anne is hopeful that things will work out with Laura. "She seems really nice. I mean, sweet and efficient. I think she'll look after you well," Anne says. "I like her," Anthony says. The doorbell goes off, and Anne goes off to answer it, despite Anthony's protests about still being in his pyjamas. Anne returns a few moments later, but to Anthony's surprise she is accompanied by The Woman rather than Laura.

"Anne, who's this?" he asks. "Hello, Anthony," The Woman says warmly. "But, Anne. It's not her," Anthony protests. "I don't want her. Where's the one I like?" He begins backing out of the kitchen nervously. "Dad, what are you talking about? Say hello to Laura," Anne says. "There's something doesn't make sense about this. It doesn't make sense," Anthony says. "Remember me?" The Woman says. "We met yesterday. We were just starting to get to know one another, and I said I'd come back, just to see how you do things here and see if I can help you? Do you remember?" Anthony just stares blankly at The Woman, as Anne looks on in concern. He leaves abruptly, goes to his room and shuts the door.

Answer: A care home

Anthony gets out of bed and draws the curtains. He opens the door to his room and looks out into the hallway of what is obviously some kind of nursing home. The Woman is there in a white coat, talking to another resident. He closes the door and retreats into his room. Before long, there is a knock on the door and The Woman enters with his medication. He asks her what she's doing here, and learns that she is a nurse who has been talking care of him for several weeks now. "I thought we were getting a new one," he says. "The one who looks a bit like Lucy, my other daughter." The Woman patiently explains that he is mixing things up again. She gets him to take his pills, as he asks her where Anne is. "Your daughter isn't here, Anthony," she says. "If you remember, she lives in Paris." When Anthony remarks that Anne had changed her mind about leaving, he is told that she moved to France several months ago. The Woman shows him a postcard from Anne, explaining that they had read it yesterday.

The Man enters the room dressed as an orderly, gets The Woman to sign some papers and leaves. When Anthony asks who he is, he is informed that he is Bill. "Sorry to ask this, but... Who are you exactly?" he finally asks. "I'm Catherine," The Woman replies. "What about me? Who exactly am I?" he asks. "You? You're Anthony," Catherine says with a smile. "It's a nice name, Anthony. Don't you think?" he says. "My mother gave it to me, I imagine." Anthony breaks down and asks for his mommy. "I feel as if I'm losing all my leaves," he says in tears. "I don't know what's happening anymore." Catherine takes his hand and leads him to the bed, where she comforts him like a small child until he calms down. The film ends with the camera panning slowly to the window to show the trees outside, the leaves rustling in the wind.