His Three Daughters ending explained: Does the Conversation between the father and the three daughters actually happen?

Netflix's His Three Daughters, starring Carrie Coon, Natasha Lyonne, and Elizabeth Olsen, is a wonderful heartache, taking viewers on an emotional journey of grief, resentment and complex familial bonds. The movie's plot revolves around three estranged sisters, Katie, Rachel, and Christina, who have come together in their father's home as he is dying of cancer.

It is clear from the beginning that the three sisters do not share a strong bond. They each carry resentment, unspoken grievances, and emotions in their hearts against each other, which rise to the surface during tense confrontations. However, for their father's sake, they address their differences.

Towards the end of His Three Daughters, we see how their relationship is mended, so much so that their father, who until now has been an off-screen entity, seems to have miraculously gotten better. We see the father engaging in a monologue, addressing his daughters on different topics. But does the conversation actually happen? It does not, as he had already passed away by then.

This article contains spoilers for His Three Daughters. Viewer discretion is advised.

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Does the deathbed conversation happen between the father and his three daughters?

Towards the end of His Three Daughters, the sisters finally resolve their differences and go into their father, Vincent's room together. Vincent is on his deathbed, but he asks his daughters to move him to his favorite chair in the living room.

As Katie, Rachel, and Christina bring him out and help him to his chair, we see Vincent getting agitated by the perpetual beep sound of the monitor and ripping off his medical equipment. He then gets up and goes to the kitchen to grab a beer, leaving the three siblings shocked but delighted.

Vincent seems to have gotten himself back together, which seems too good to be true. He then delivers a monologue, declaring his love for them and acknowledging the mistakes he made as a parent, especially towards Christina. He continues to talk about his passion for the city, the nature of life and death, and his regrets in life. But suddenly, in a split-second scene, we get a glimpse of Vincent dying in his chair with his daughters, agitated, surrounding him.

The Vincent that was talking also looks at the chair to see himself dying and realizes that he was dead shortly after he was brought to his chair. The conversation we see between Vincent and his daughters thus does not happen, and Vincent dies carrying all his regrets, unable to tell his daughters what they need to hear.

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The significance of Christina's duck song in His Three Daughters

As Vincent dies, there's an irreplaceable void in the house, and the three sisters gather to feel his presence one last time. They huddle with Christina in the middle, comforting Katie and Rachel, who are visibly devastated.

Christina sings a duck song that tells the story of five little ducks. Every day they go out, one does not come back until the home is empty. This seems to imply the situation of the three sisters, who have become estranged.

But in the ending scene of His Three Daughters, we hear Rachel completing the song by saying that when the "daddy duck" says "beep, beep, beep," the sound of their father's health monitor, all the ducks come running back. This implies the return of the sisters and the repair of their bond when their father's failing health calls them back to the nest.

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His Three Daughters is a tumultuous and emotional journey that tugs at our heartstrings, leaving a bitter-sweet taste. Don't miss the Netflix movie, which is now available for streaming.