Surrender 1987

Sean Stein is a successful novelist, but after two divorces and a palimony suit, he has grown cynical, convinced that women only love him for his money. At a charity ball that turns chaotic when armed thieves force guests to strip, he ends up bound nude beside a talented commercial artist named Daisy Morgan. He is instantly drawn to her, and what begins as attraction soon spirals into a strategic game.

Daisy Morgan is caught in a rocky relationship with Marty, a whiny, unstable lawyer who avoids commitment. Unaware of her real boyfriend’s wealth, Sean decides to test Daisy by pretending to be a poor, failed writer, enlisting the help of his lawyer Jay Bass to stage the ruse. As their bond deepens, Sean resolves to reveal his true identity, but on the very day he does, Marty convinces Daisy that he has changed and they should move in together at his home. Sean’s heart is broken, and the arrangement hangs in the balance.

On moving day, Daisy unexpectedly discovers a newspaper clipping that confirms Sean’s true status. She demands an explanation and, in a tense moment, accepts that he might be who he truly loves. Yet she lies about the sincerity of her feelings. The couple decides to elope to Lake Tahoe to marry, and on the road there, Sean presses for a prenuptial agreement. Daisy, finding the request unromantic, reluctantly signs off, wanting to trust their love.

In Nevada, Daisy gambles alone in a casino and astonishingly wins a jackpot of two million dollars. Sean returns, claiming he has had a change of heart and no longer requires a prenup. Daisy now presses him to be specific about when this decision happened. She confesses a prior lie, and Marty arrives to beg her to come back to him. Sean bluntly declares, “You can have her.” The couple’s dreams collide with harsh reality once again.

Back in Los Angeles, Daisy realizes she has made a mistake. She rejects a marriage proposal and uses part of her casino winnings to pay off Marty. A disturbing turn follows when Sean encounters a prostitute who previously robbed him. He decides to enact a cruel revenge against women by bringing the prostitute to his home and robbing her, only to learn that the person is a transvestite. Daisy storms in, eager to marry him again, and throws all her remaining casino winnings at him. The prostitute, grabbing Sean’s gun and surveying the cash, calmly says, > I’ll only take cab fare.