Leaving Las Vegas
He lost his family and screenwriting job in Hollywood, because of his non-stop consumption of alcohol. Ben Sanderson became more and more depressed. He finally decided to just sell off everything he has got; leave Los Angeles and transfer to Las Vegas. His intention: to die drinking alcohol.
As he was driving drunk into Las Vegas he decided to check into a motel that he thought reads: “The Hole You’re In” [which actually says The Whole Year Inn]. Ben think wryly and cynically how apt the situation is. Then he almost runs over a prostitute: Sera. They got to know each other because Ben invited Sera to his motel room in exchange for $500. But Ben did not make love to Sera. He just wanted to talk. They became friendly. They eventually felt enamoured. However, they decided to create a compact not to change each other’s way and just live happily day by day with no plan for the future. They both agree. Ben continues drinking all day long, Sera keeps on being a prostitute.
However, as days go by, Sera starts feeling differently about Ben and becomes really concerned. So she tries to make him eat. To which Ben refuses and plays unaffected and just berates Sera to remember their agreement. To top such frustration of Sera, Ben hires another prostitute and brings her to the house of Sera. This made Sera more than furious and throws Ben out of her house.
Days on, Sera receives a call from Ben already dying. She visits Ben. And they made love for the first time. They fall asleep and for a minute Ben awakens seeing Sera on top of him. Eventually, he breathes his last with Sera still on top of him.
Patient Evaluation:
Ben Sanderson is prone to depression because the more he indulged in alcoholism because of his life’s failures. From the onset of the story, he is already experiencing a meltdown, a bridge of no return. What aggravated his high alcohol consumption was his broken marriage and his family disentanglement and his losing his job. As a professional in Hollywood, Ben Sanderson is seemingly sociable, well connected and enjoyed a fruitful career at an early stage.
In one scene with Sera, Ben Sanderson says: n one You haven’t seen the worst of it. I knock things over… throw up all the time. These past few days I’ve been very controlled. You’re like some sort of antidote that mixes with the liquor and keeps me in balance. But, that won’t last forever.”
The mere fact that he openly accepts the termination of his boss from his job, he was even thankful for the gracious severance pay. This is an illustration of being uncaring for one’s future. But sine he cannot cope with his failure, so Ben Sanderson openly shows he is suicidal. His purpose of moving to Las Vegas was to die.
