What Happens at the End of Laura Smiles?

"Laura Smiles" is an alarmingly effective portrait of a woman's mental breakdown. We are introduced to "Laura" at her happiest time, in a warm, loving relationship with her fiancé (a very appealing Kip Pardue) in the city, literally the love of her life. In flashbacks, we then see the sweet development of this relationship out of order as these moments become brightly lit and colored memories that desperately intrude on her later in life, as she becomes consumed with guilt and remorse over his fate. These feelings start to overwhelm her current life as a wife and mother. As something inconsequential in what she calls her "suburban drudgery" triggers the past -- in the supermarket, cooking, cleaning, at a school play-- she acts out increasingly aberrantly to counteract the feelings they generate, especially when she can no longer distinguish past from present from dreams, recalling Blanche Du Bois.

Jason Ruscio's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Petra Wright (Laura)'s journey. We are introduced to "Laura" at her happiest time, in a warm, loving relationship with her fiancé (a very appealing Kip Pardue) in the city, literally the love of her life.

How Does Petra Wright (Laura)'s Story End?

• Petra Wright : Petra Wright 's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Mark Derwin (Mark): Mark Derwin's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Kip Pardue (Chris): Kip Pardue's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of Laura Smiles Mean?

Laura Smiles's ending attempts to resolve the major plot threads, though some narrative elements involving Petra Wright may feel rushed. Jason Ruscio's final act has been both praised for its ambition and criticized for its execution.