Three of Hearts

In New York City, male escort Joe Casella (William Baldwin) learns from his employer, Mickey (Joe Pantoliano), that a man named Harvey has gotten out of jail and is looking for him, convinced that Joe had him arrested. Meanwhile, Ellen (Sherilyn Fenn) breaks up with her girlfriend, Connie (Kelly Lynch), in a public park, which does not stop Connie from causing a scene. Connie begs Ellen not to leave, but her effort is in vain. Sometime later, Ellen moves into her own apartment, and her sister, Allison (Cec Verrell), broaches the subject of Ellen's bisexuality. Ellen defends her relationship with Connie, claiming it was not a "phase" and that she loved Connie deeply. At the hospital where she works as a nurse, Connie tells her co-worker, Ralph (Timothy D. Strickney), that she needs a date for her sister's upcoming wedding. She had planned to bring Ellen and announce to her conservative Polish-American parents that she is a lesbian, but now that she is single, she has lost her nerve. Overhearing their conversation, a patient suggests that Connie hire a male escort to pose as her boyfriend. In time, Joe Casella arrives to take Connie to the wedding. He impresses Connie's family, and she has a great time as his date. Only after they have spent the day together does Connie tell Joe she hired him because Ellen broke up with her. Realizing Joe has her keys in his pocket, Connie follows him and they arrive at his front door to find that his apartment has been vandalized. Connie invites Joe to stay at her place for the night, and shows him her photo album. Seeing pictures of Ellen, Connie cries, and Joe comforts her, convincing her that once Ellen gets her heart broken by someone else, she will return to Connie. In desperation, Connie begs Joe to break Ellen's heart, and instructs him to stage a meeting with Ellen by sitting in on her New York University English course where she is a teaching assistant. Joe is hesitant, but agrees to attend the class. After meeting Ellen, Joe has an instant interest in her, and tells Connie he will have no problem seducing Ellen. Joe's first English assignment is to write a love letter, which he does with Connie's help. After reading his letter in class, Ellen accuses Joe of plagiarizing from a Japanese poet. He begs her forgiveness and takes her out for coffee, where he tells her a made-up story about his mother's death from a drug overdose. Ellen is emotionally moved, but when Joe asks her to go on a date with him, she tells him she is involved with someone named "Conrad." Later, Joe tells Connie he is wearing Ellen down. In time, ex-convict Harvey telephones Mickey and threatens Joe. Mickey defends Joe, and asks Harvey not to retaliate. Elsewhere, Joe visits Ellen's apartment unannounced, under the guise of giving her a paper he wrote about his mother. Ellen's sister, Allison, invites him to stay for dinner, then quickly leaves, hoping that sparks will fly between the couple. After an intimate dinner, Ellen invites Joe to a theater performance in a few day's time. When Connie sees the flyer for the play in Joe's pocket, she becomes jealous and tells Joe she wants to call off their plan. However, Joe convinces her to continue. Connie follows Joe to the theater and spies on him and Ellen. Afterward, she waves to Ellen, who tries to avoid her. After an awkward greeting, Ellen confesses to Joe that Connie is her former lover, "Conrad," and admits that she still loves Connie. Joe embraces her, and continues his seduction at Ellen's apartment. When she invites Joe to spend the night with her, he declines, leaving Ellen confused and in tears. Joe returns to Connie's home and finds her watching home videos of her and Ellen. Joe calls her "pathetic" and insults Connie for showing up at the theater. In time, Mickey and Joe meet with Harvey and again deny that Joe had him arrested, but Harvey is unconvinced. Sometime later, Joe apologizes to Ellen, and she begs him not to waste her time. When she asks for honesty, Joe tearfully reveals that he is afraid of the way she makes him feel. As they embrace, Ellen also cries. Joe continues seeing clients, but feels used and is disgusted by his profession. He insults a wealthy client and races to Ellen's home to make love to her. Afterward, he professes his love to Ellen. When Joe quits his job as an escort, he angers Mickey, who tells him he is too dumb to do anything else, and retaliates by sending Harvey after him. Later, Joe admits to Connie that he spent the night with Ellen, and she forces him to leave. However, Harvey's thugs wait for him in the hallway, and force Joe back into Connie's apartment where they beat him. Connie comforts Joe after the attack, and takes him to the hospital. She notifies Ellen, and when she arrives, Connie confesses that she hired Joe to seduce her. Ellen refuses to believe Connie, but when Joe apologizes, Ellen leaves in disgust. Once he is recovered, Connie takes Joe home from the hospital and asks if he has spoken to Ellen. When he tells her Ellen refuses to speak to him, Connie tells Joe to go and see her, convinced that Ellen is in love with him and will forgive him. Sometime later, Joe approaches Ellen on the street and begs her forgiveness. He tells her that he loves her, and chases after her, screaming her name when she flees in a taxicab. Connie appears on the street, and laughs at Joe's failed attempt. She agrees to help him win Ellen back, but teases that she does not want to be invited to their wedding.