Movie Money & The Family Hustle

My investment in that indie film blew up – I'm talking five hundred million dollars. A total cash cow. But my younger brother, Mark, had just lost his job, and his wife, Sarah, was pregnant and out of work. To keep them from feeling like total failures, I pretended I was going broke. I get home, and it's like I'm public enemy number one. They wouldn’t let me eat at the table and stuck me out in the living room. My nephew, Timmy, was using a water gun on me, calling me a freeloader. Not long after, they’re all sucking up, making me a huge spread of food. I played along, faking being drunk, and overheard them planning to set me up with some local widow.

1

I’ve been overseas for over a decade, so I know how to handle my liquor. But I pretended to pass out on the couch, drifting off to a light doze. My brother, Mark, was shaking my shoulder, calling my name. I stayed still.

"Dad, Mom, he's out. Let's take him over there now!"

Sarah chimed in, "Yeah, we gotta get him to Betty’s bed before he sobers up and we lose the chance."

My mom sounded hesitant, "I don’t know about this, is it really right?"

I felt a glimmer of hope. She's my mom after all; maybe she wouldn’t go through with it.

Then she added, "What if he's just pulling our leg? What if he isn't really broke?”

"Mom! You’re overthinking it. He'd never joke about something like this. Plus, he only ever comes back for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and he showed up at the wrong time, so he’s definitely just down on his luck!”

My dad, as usual, was decisive. “Let’s load him into the wagon, and take him over right now.”

2

I'd decided to move back and focus on projects here, partly to be with my family. Luck was on my side because my first movie venture became a smash. I called my folks to share the news. But before I could, I heard my mom sighing. After asking around, I learned that Mark was unemployed. Not wanting them to feel bad, I kept quiet about my own success for the moment. I just booked a ticket home, planning on helping my brother find a new gig. When I got back, the whole neighborhood was asking if I’d hit another jackpot. I downplayed everything to protect Mark’s ego, saying I was likely going to be bankrupt. Everyone offered the usual words of comfort, saying that good streaks don't last forever. I replied that it's fine, as long as I had my family, everything would be fine. My family, though, didn't seem to be on the same page, looking at me with weird expressions.

Back at home, Mark asked point-blank if I was truly broke. I could tell they were all stressed, and I was about to tell them the truth when my dad said in a low voice, “Everything in this house belongs to your brother, don’t even think about trying to take it.”

I was stunned, completely speechless. Never in a million years did I expect to hear those words from my own father. Before, when I came home, I was always greeted with smiles, I felt that I lived surrounded by love. Now, that I was broke, was the love over? W...