In Lady in the Lake, Madeline Schwartz, better known as Maddie, is the protagonist. She takes it upon herself to solve murder cases to become a journalist. Natalie Portman plays Maddie.
When Maddie was young, she dreamed of becoming a writer, but she never got the opportunity to be one, as she ended up marrying Milton Schwartz.
Maddie regrets becoming a homemaker and serving her husband and son, Seth, for twenty years when the two of them remain ungrateful and do not acknowledge her sacrifices.
The beginning of a new life
Maddie dated Allan Durst in high school. He not only violated her consent but also broke up with her after she refused to sleep with him.
Now, when Allan’s daughter goes missing, Maddie wants to help look for her. Unlike Maddie, her family is not affected by the disappearance in the slightest.
Her husband’s lack of concern about her emotions and his control finally upset Maddie enough to leave him, and she moves out of their house.
She rents an apartment for herself and sets out to find Tessie Durst. Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Maddie succeeds in finding Tessie’s body.
Later, Maddie stages a robbery at her apartment to get the insurance money for her expensive ring and meets a Black policeman, Officer Ferdie Platt.
Ferdie immediately catches on that Maddie is lying about the robbery, but he does not report her. Maddie and Ferdie then get into a relationship, even though interracial relationships are illegal.
Maddie now intends to get a job and pursue her dream of becoming a writer. She approaches a journalist named Bob Bauer of The Star, whom she had earlier provided with a scoop.
When Bob refuses to help her get a job, Maddie decides to prove her worth. She writes to Stephan Zawadzkie, the man arrested for Tessie’s murder.
Surprisingly, Stephan writes back, giving Maddie the chance to get a scoop. This leads to Bob agreeing to let Maddie research and write Stephan’s story.
Although the byline will be Bob’s, Maddie will be named as a contributor. He even gives Maddie an advance. Maddie then decides to interview Stephan.
Her meeting with Stephan gives her enough material for a front-page article, leading to Maddie landing a job at the newspaper as an assistant in the Helpline column.
Maddie’s choice of living her life on her own terms disappoints her family, especially her son, Seth, who already does not have a good relationship with Maddie.
A few years ago, Seth read Maddie’s diaries and found out that Milton is not his father. Maddie leaving her house makes Seth feel abandoned, further straining their relationship.
Despite her family’s disapproval and lack of support, Maddie continues investigating Tessie’s murder, hoping to advance her career step by step.
Maddie’s persistence
Maddie’s choice of living her life on her own terms disappoints her family, especially her son, Seth, who already does not have a good relationship with her.
A few years ago, Seth read Maddie’s diaries and found out that Milton is not his father. Maddie cheated on Milton with Allan, Seth’s biological father, which Milton is still unaware of.
Seth knows that whenever his mother looks at him, she is reminded of her past mistakes. Furthermore, Maddie leaving her house makes Seth feel abandoned, and their relationship gets worse.
Despite her family’s disapproval and lack of support, Maddie continues investigating Tessie’s murder and later Cleo’s as well.
Maddie is hopeful of advancing her career by covering these cases and telling the unknown truth, which even leads to Maddie getting stabbed.
Her persistence sometimes makes her blind to the fact that not every story is hers to tell, but it eventually makes her dreams come true.
By telling Cleo’s story the way Cleo wants it to be told in her novel Lady in the Lake, Maddie becomes an award-winning writer.
