The film's title character, a «night nanny» played by a lightly pixie - dusted Mackenzie Davis, hired by Marlo's
wealthy brother - in - law, Craig (Mark Duplass), to help her
through the first few sleep - deprived months of motherhood following the birth of her (unplanned and only grudgingly welcomed) third child, is a figment of her
client's imagination.
The
wealthy who own securities have always had an assured income; and their polar opposite, the relief
client, has been guaranteed an income, however miniscule,
through welfare benefits.