Rhonda's Fate In Muriel's Wedding

In the 1994 Australian comedy-drama film Muriel's Wedding, Rhonda Epinstock (played by Rachel Griffiths) is Muriel's gregarious, carefree high-school acquaintance who becomes her best friend. Rhonda is first introduced when she meets Muriel on holiday, and the two move to Sydney together. Rhonda is diagnosed with cancer and becomes paraplegic following multiple surgeries. Muriel promises to take care of her and never let her return to their hometown, Porpoise Spit. However, their friendship becomes strained when Rhonda discovers Muriel's fixation on having a glamorous wedding. At Muriel's wedding, Rhonda refuses to be a bridesmaid and moves back to her mother's home in Porpoise Spit. In the end, Muriel leaves her husband and goes back to Sydney with Rhonda, leaving their small hometown behind for a more promising future.

Rhonda is diagnosed with cancer

Muriel takes Rhonda's cancer diagnosis as an opportunity to fulfil her dream of trying on wedding dresses. She co-opts Rhonda's health crisis as the basis for deceiving bridal shops into letting her try on dresses and take photographs, indulging her wedding obsession. Muriel's primary goal in life is to get married, and she sees this as a chance to make it happen. She doesn't care about the consequences or how it might affect Rhonda; she is laser-focused on achieving her dream.

However, Muriel's actions have consequences, and her deception doesn't go unnoticed. Rhonda discovers that Muriel has tried on every wedding dress in Sydney and confronts her about it. Muriel is forced to confess the depth of her deceptions, and their friendship becomes strained. Despite this, Muriel stands by her promise to care for Rhonda. When Rhonda's tumour returns, Muriel is there for her, and they leave Porpoise Spit behind for a more promising future together.

Rhonda's cancer diagnosis is a pivotal moment in the film, highlighting Muriel's self-centred nature and her willingness to exploit others to get what she wants. It also showcases her capacity for loyalty and care, as she ultimately chooses to put Rhonda's needs before her own desires.

Rhonda and Muriel move to Sydney together

Muriel, having embezzled money from her family, runs away to Sydney with Rhonda, sharing a flat and changing her name to Mariel. Muriel gets a job at a video store and briefly dates a kind man named Brice Nobes. Rhonda and Muriel's friendship is strained when Muriel indulges her wedding obsession, using Rhonda's cancer diagnosis to obtain pampered service at bridal shops. Muriel agrees to an arranged marriage with a South African swimmer, David Van Arkle, so he can join Team Australia in the Olympics. Muriel is paid $10,000 by David's parents for her help.

At Muriel's wedding, Rhonda refuses to be a bridesmaid, bitter about Muriel's fixation on a storybook wedding. Rhonda moves back to her mother's home, unable to live in Sydney without help. Muriel, realising the hollowness of her marriage, decides to leave her husband. She offers to take Rhonda back to Sydney, and they happily leave Porpoise Spit behind.

Rhonda and Muriel perform an ABBA lip-sync in a talent contest

Rhonda and Muriel meet on Hibiscus Island, where Muriel has secretly followed her former friends on holiday. Rhonda, an old high school acquaintance, is also an outcast. The two quickly strike up a friendship, united in their otherness and shared appreciation for ABBA.

In one scene, Rhonda and Muriel perform an ABBA lip-sync in white costumes and outrageous wigs, emulating the Swedish pop group's theatrical style. They lip-sync to "Waterloo", an anthem of triumph, mirroring ABBA's victory at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. The performance is a turning point for Muriel, who has spent the film traversing an internal battle, feeling inferior and struggling to fit in.

Through their shared love for ABBA, Rhonda and Muriel's friendship is cemented, and they support each other in leaving their small town and its narrow expectations behind.

Rhonda moves back to her mother's home

Rhonda's situation is a result of her cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgery. Rhonda discovers a tumour in her spine, which leaves her unable to feel her legs. She undergoes multiple operations, but her paralysis is permanent.

Before her diagnosis, Rhonda had been living in Sydney with her best friend, Muriel. The two had met on holiday and quickly struck up a friendship, moving to the city together and sharing a flat. However, their friendship becomes strained when Muriel confesses her fixation on having a glamorous wedding. Muriel goes on to marry South African swimmer David Van Arkle, but the marriage is not based on love, and Muriel realises that all her frauds, falsehoods, and lies have only led to pain.

After her wedding, Muriel returns to Sydney and visits Rhonda at her mother's house. She offers to take Rhonda back to the city with her, and Rhonda accepts. The two friends leave Porpoise Spit behind, heading to the airport for a more promising future.

Muriel and Rhonda leave Porpoise Spit for a more promising future

Muriel and Rhonda leave Porpoise Spit for Sydney, where they share a flat. Rhonda has been diagnosed with a cancerous tumour in her spine, which will leave her paraplegic. Muriel promises to look after Rhonda and never let her return to Porpoise Spit. Muriel also uses Rhonda's illness to get pampered service at bridal shops, trying on wedding dresses and taking photographs. Rhonda eventually confronts Muriel about her obsession with marriage, and their friendship becomes strained.

Muriel, desperate to get married, agrees to a sham wedding with South African swimmer David Van Arkle, who pays her $10,000 so that he can join Team Australia in the Olympics. Rhonda refuses to be a bridesmaid at the wedding, and after the ceremony, she moves back to her mother's home in Porpoise Spit, unable to live in Sydney without help.

Muriel, realising the negative impact of her actions, leaves David and returns to Rhonda, offering to take her back to Sydney. Rhonda accepts, and the two leave Porpoise Spit for a more promising future.

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