In What If, a newlywed couple faces problems in their relationship while they are on their honeymoon on an island. The movie is now streaming on Netflix.
Warning: This article contains heavy spoilers
Plot summary
Musicians Jose ‘Jecs’ Cruz and Isabella ‘Billie’ Neri have been married for two days now. They will be spending their honeymoon on the island of Panglao. The caretaker of Panglao, Francis, picks them up.
Billie hopes that Jecs will forget about the work for a while and be with her on the island. No other guest is visiting the island. Hence, Billie and Jecs are going to have the island to themselves.
Francis and his wife, Gina, live in a hut on the island, and they will be aiding the couple with anything they need. While Jecs and Billie enjoy the time they have together, calls from Jecs’ mother continue to crash their honeymoon.
Jecs’ mother keeps calling him for silly things, but most importantly to remind him that she is looking forward to having a grandchild. Billie’s father, Enrico Neri, a famous musician, also keeps trying to get in touch with his daughter. Billie is not willing to talk to her father because he didn’t attend the wedding.
Flashbacks reveal that Jecs and Billie meet when Jecs and his manager, Will, are in need of a keyboardist for Jecs’ debut album. Billie is honest and critical about the kind of music Jecs is making. Jecs welcomes constructive criticism, and they click.
Jecs and Billie begin recording duets and, in no time, start dating as well, ultimately leading Jecs to ask Billie for her hand in marriage.
Back in the present, on the island, a storm is brewing. It’s raining heavily on the island. At the same time, a storm hits Jecs and Billie’s honeymoon too when Billie hears Jecs and his mother’s conversation over a video call.
Jecs’ mother wants Jecs to tell Billie to use a herbal oil for her condition so that they can have kids. What upsets Billie more is that Jecs didn’t try to stop her mother from giving such advice.
Another flashback reveals that, before their marriage, Billie and Jecs got to know each other. Billie grew up with an abusive father. Jecs plans to be a better father to their kids. It’s then that Billie discloses that they won’t have to face this. Billie has premature ovarian failure, which means she won’t be able to have a baby.
Billie is fine if she doesn’t have kids. She gives Jecs a chance to back out of this marriage and questions if he is marrying her for the right reasons. Jecs assures her that he loves her and that there is no better reason than this for him to marry her.
In the present, on the island, Francis and Gina leave to go into the village to fill the gas in their boat while it’s still safe in this stormy weather.
Billie and Jecs catch up, and the latter assures her that he will talk to his mother. Billie’s father keeps calling them. When Jecs thinks of picking up the call, Billie reminds Jecs how he treated them with utmost disrespect when they told him they are getting married.
Enrico assumed Jecs and Billie would end up just like him and his wife, criticized Billie’s life, and called his marriage a mistake. In turn, Billie was a mistake for him too. He continued to make her feel like a mistake, even when she was getting married.
In the present, Billie playfully teases Jecs with the name Sunshine, who is a huge fan of Jecs. The island has lost electricity due to the storm. Jecs’ mother calls Jecs again, and this time she questions the choice Jecs has made and makes fun of Billie’s body.
Jecs’ little chuckle over his mother’s joke is noticed by Billie. They end up arguing over this. Billie is mad because Jecs would never defend or stand up for her.
The topic of children comes up. While Jecs lets Billie know that he is still hoping for kids because they have options, Billie no longer desires to even have a child. The massive fight tears them apart.
What If? ending explained in detail:
What is Billie really upset about?
Francis and Gina return, and they notice something isn’t right. Once they are gone, Jecs and Billie have a heart-to-heart conversation again. Billie confesses why she is upset.
Jecs keeps posting on social media that Billie is the perfect wife. Billie can’t give Jecs what he wants, and she doesn’t agree that she is perfect. Now, she doesn’t want children because she doesn’t remember being a child.
She only remembers her father calling her useless and telling her that he doesn’t like her, no one will stay with her, and no one will love her. She likes to think her father was right, considering how her life has now turned out.
Does Billie try to leave Jecs?
Billie and Jecs apologize to each other. Things could have gone back to normal, but Billie ends up watching a video of Sunshine on a show where she hints at a famous celebrity she slept with.
Billie suspects that Sunshine is talking about Jecs, even though Jecs assures her that Sunshine is lying. When Jecs gets drunk with Francis, he reminds Billie why she is perfect for him and why she shouldn’t be jealous of Sunshine.
Despite all of this, the next day, Billie packs up her bags and leaves Jecs on his own as she sets off.
Do Billie and Jecs reconcile?
Billie is on the boat to the village when she receives a call informing her that Jecs’ mother has passed away. While Billie was packing up to leave last night, Jecs’ mother had called him. He was asleep, but he woke up to pick up the phone. He just didn’t speak and fell asleep again.
Now, Jecs wakes up to several missed calls and messages. At a time like this, Billie returns for him. Billie comforts Jecs, and the two apologize to each other. When Jecs asks if they can go back to how they were, Billie replies by hugging him tightly.
