The Remains of the Day: A Butlers’ Regretful Love

Imagine being a butler in a grand house, keeping everything perfect and serving your master’s every need. That’s what Stevens, the butler in The Remains of the Day, does his whole life. But while he’s busy working hard and keeping things running smoothly, he misses out on love and happiness with Miss Kenton, the housekeeper. They both secretly care about each other but never say it.

A fan theory suggests that Stevens didn’t just ignore his feelings for Miss Kenton out of duty, but because he was too afraid to break from the “proper” behavior he was trained in. What if he had let go of his stoic mask and told her how he felt? Would they have found happiness together?

One key moment in the film is when Stevens realizes that he’s spent so much of his life in service to a master who wasn’t worthy of his loyalty, and that he has missed his chance at true love. Imagine if Stevens had come to this realization much earlier—would he have chosen to live differently?

In an alternate ending, Stevens might find Miss Kenton again and finally tell her how he feels. A prequel could dive into his youth, showing how he became so dedicated to his role, setting the stage for his regrets later in life.