Susan admits to feeling unhappy with life, even though she has so much and everything is going well (on a superficial level). Susan tells the friend about the manuscript dedicated to her and Alessia replies that she didn’t know she had an ex-husband. A rather ostentatious friend, Alessia, (Andrea Riseborough) greets her and they have empty conversation with the friend wishing she could have been more supportive when Susan was depressed. That night, Susan and her husband throw a party in their home. Susan begins to read the book which is dedicated “to Susan.” The first page is Tony Hastings (played by Jake Gyllenhaal as we see the story play out) packing up his car for a road trip with his daughter. artists so when people come over, they'll think they're ahead of the curve and not financially broke. She tells him she'll just start buying work from new L.A. He tells Susan that he has to go to New York that weekend to solidify a business deal and that it's very important for them to keep up with expenses. She laughs at this, pointing out he was writing when she first met him, back when Edward and her were still together (hinting that she cheated on Edward with her husband). Her husband says he didn't know Edward was a writer. He adds that she hasn't talked to him in almost 20 years and she corrects him with "Nineteen." Susan explains that she called him a few years ago but he hung up on her. He asks about the manuscript and she says it's from Edward, her ex-husband. She cavalierly points out that she wasn't asleep until 4 AM (hinting that he is lying and never came home). He then claims he didn't get home until 1 AM and didn't want to wake her. She said it would have taken all of 15 minutes and meant a lot to her. He makes an excuse that he had to work and it was far away. She tells him it would have meant a lot to her if he had come to see her show.
The next morning, her husband (Armie Hammer) joins her in the kitchen. That night, she can't sleep and takes pills. She tells him she would actually prefer to be alone that weekend, hinting she plans to read the book. Her head of security asks who she would like to work for the weekend shift. Susan looks at the front page of the book which is titled Nocturnal Animals. Attached is a letter that he will be in Los Angeles for the week and would like to meet up. It is from Edward Sheffield, her ex-husband a manuscript of his new book which he says she inspired. She is told a package has arrived at the front door.
She is so wealthy, she has servants and security on staff for her. That night, she drives home, pulling into her multi-million dollar estate overlooking the glimmering lights of Los Angeles. The show is being curated by Susan (Amy Adams). After a long while, we see that this is part of an art show which also features the same naked women on display in the gallery. The movie begins with obese women, dancing naked.