A struggling painter negotiates a pact with his cat to create the artist’s next exhibition but when the show is a success the painter reneges on the deal, igniting a chain of betrayals.

SYNOPSIS:

Synopsis for Art of Betrayal

Painter NICK SALT drinks too much and struggles to produce any new artwork. His cat PABLO, a huge Maine Coon, catches a bird which escapes in the house. The bird lands in a tray of paint and then flaps onto art paper. NICK sends a photo of his new “style” to his dealer as a joke and gives the impression he is working well. The dealer offers NICK a large advance if he agrees to an exhibition. NICK accepts because he has debts to pay.

NICK’s wife LISA PEPPER, a conservationist, wants PABLO neutered because he has fathered kittens in their street. NICK strikes a deal with PABLO: If PABLO helps with his next exhibition NICK will fake the operation and lie to LISA. PABLO and NICK communicate like Laurel and Hardy but PABLO refuses to talk to other humans.

Each week LISA visits her therapist GRAYFORD KAREZZA to deal with sexual abuse experienced as a child. LISA’s friend from China, LILY WANG, comes to stay. LILY admits to her hosts that Chinese authorities forced her to leave because she is a White Tigress, a member of a rare Taoist sect of women who attain immortality through oral sex. NICK is intrigued. LILY is the link with a parallel plot from 200 years earlier when NICK, as a British naval officer, betrayed LISA. The parallel plot shows sexual abuse also happened in LISA and Lily’s previous lives when GRAYFORD was their father.

LILY and LISA promote NICK’s exhibition via social media and fake web sites. On opening night NICK and LISA argue when NICK insults her guest, GRAYFORD. LILY and NICK continue drinking after the exhibition and LILY demonstrates her oral techniques to NICK on his kitchen floor. The critics hail NICK’s talent and he receives lucrative commissions.

Next morning a neighbour arrives with kittens that look exactly like PABLO. LISA is enraged with NICK for deceiving her and insists PABLO be neutered. PABLO overhears and attacks LISA, who is forced to go to hospital. When LISA returns from hospital a drunk LILY tells LISA about her dalliance with NICK. LISA demands NICK have PABLO put down.

NICK pleads for his cat’s life. LISA relents and tells NICK the cat will only be neutered. She insists she go with NICK when he takes PABLO to the vet. While NICK is distracted LISA tells the vet PABLO must be put down. PABLO overhears and that night escapes from the vet’s office. He only returns to the house when LISA is absent. PABLO continues to paint for NICK in exchange for food and friendship. But NICK is drinking more and doing less of the painting.

LISA visits her therapist GRAYFORD, contemplating revenge on NICK by having sex. GRAYFORD is not in his office. LISA finds her case file on a desk and gets angry because she believes her therapist has misinterpreted her situation. She confronts GRAYFORD who demands return of the file. LISA and GRAYFORD argue and LISA goads GRAYFORD, hitting him several times. He assaults LISA but she kicks him and escapes. LISA rushes home to take a bath to wash away the memory. Before her bath she takes a sedative and a large gulp of brandy. In the bath she covers her face with a cloth. The bathroom fills with steam.

NICK and PABLO have been working in NICK’s studio but a drunken NICK has fallen asleep. The cat sneaks into the bathroom and tries to drown LISA. NICK wakes needing a pee and goes to the bathroom. He saves LISA and tries to drown PABLO, who scratches him. The bathroom overflows with pink water as NICK cradles LISA like a baby on the floor. As the credits run we see how NICK, LISA and LILY take revenge on GRAYFORD.