The Apartment

At the office Christmas party, Fran lends Baxter her compact to check his new bowler hat. He recognises the cracked mirror he found in his apartment and returned to Sheldrake: Fran is the woman his boss has been bringing there. Her comment about the broken reflection expresses her hurt, while Baxter sees his own face in the same glass. He was admiring the appearance of success; now he sees whom his promotion has involved. Neil Sinyard’s Arrow essay follows this recognition.

Which key does Baxter give back?

Apartment key

He keeps control of his home.

Executive washroom key

He returns the privilege attached to his promotion.

When Sheldrake wants the apartment again to meet Fran, Baxter hands back the executive washroom key and quits. The distinction makes the gesture precise: he gives up his place among the executives so his boss can no longer use his home. The refusal comes before Fran knows about it. Sinyard traces the two keys.

Why does the film end with a card game and “Shut up and deal”?

At the New Year’s Eve party, Sheldrake tells Fran what Baxter has done. She leaves and runs to Baxter’s apartment. The closing game resumes the companionship they shared while she recovered there, as AFI’s synopsis records.

Baxter declares his love; Fran asks him to deal. I hear affection in her invitation to pick up something they have already enjoyed together. She returns, sits beside him, and gets the cards ready. The apartment that other people booked for their affairs becomes a place where these two choose to spend time together, with Fran setting the pace.