In the movie Leaving Las Vegas by director, Mike Figgis, Elisabeth Shue plays Sera and Nicolas Cage plays Benjamin Sanderson. Ben Sanderson is an alcoholic Hollywood screenwriter who lost his wife, his son, and his job due to his drinking problem. Ben’s boss fires him, but gives him a large check. Upon being fired, Ben goes to the bank to sign and cash his check, but he is beginning to sober up at that point. Due to his hand being so unsteady, he is not able to even sign his check. So Ben goes out for a drink.
Upon returning to the bank, while in line, Ben has a conversation with the bank clerk to himself, out loud. When at the desk he happily and perfectly signs his check, and even talks with the bank clerk. After being let go from his job, Ben was already feeling alone. One of Ben’s former friends leaves him a note which says, “I think it would be best if you did not contact me again”. The friend also leaves some money for Ben next to the note.
So instead of getting help that day he gets a drink, so that he can access his money. Seeing that he has lost his family due to drinking he moves to Las Vegas. He burned his clothes and everything he owns, because he plans to just purposely blow his all of his money and drink himself to death over the next four weeks. When he reaches Las Vegas he gets a room for twenty-nine dollars a night at Whole Year Inn. That night he goes out to site see and he