Arlene Butterfly Machiallie

## Arlene Machiallie

**Arlene "Butterfly" Machiallie** was a character in Quentin Tarantino's 5th film, *Death Proof*. She was portrayed by Vanessa Ferlito.

## Biography

Originally from Brooklyn, Arlene moved to Austin to attend the University of Texas, where she became friends with Shanna Bannana and Jungle Julia Lucai. After school was over, Arlene went back to New York. Seven years after college, Arlene visits Austin, Texas, for a week to celebrate Julia’s birthday.

On her birthday, Julia told the viewers of her morning radio show that she had a friend named "Butterfly" (Arlene) visiting from out of town and that if they recite the poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" to her and call her by the nickname, she would give them a lap dance. Later that day, Arlene and Shanna drive to Julia's apartment to pick her up and spend the rest of the day together. The trio contacts Lanna Frank for weed, and Arlene tells Shanna and Julia about her relationship with her lover, Nate. They then go to Güeros for margaritas and Mexican food, where Arlene notices a man (Stuntman Mike) following them in his stunt car. Unbeknownst to the trio, Stuntman Mike had been stalking them for several days. Unnerved, Arlene watches him drive off and later engages in conversation with Marcie, a friend of Julia and Shanna. Julia tells Arlene about the radio prank by having Marcie act out the scenario with Arlene, much to the latter’s annoyance. Tipsy, the three of them then go to Texas Chili Parlor and meet up with their dates, Omar, Pete, and Nate. Stuntman Mike discreetly follows them to the location and pretends to be an ordinary bar-goer. Arlene decides to go outside the bar for a smoke and notices Mike’s vehicle in the parking lot. She is startled by Nate, who asks her to make out with him in his car. Despite her reluctance, she takes Nate up on his offer but sternly tells him to “kiss good” and make sure her hair doesn’t get wet. When the two return to the bar, Lanna Frank meets with the group to smoke weed. Arlene notices that Mike is at the bar and observes him suspiciously.

Later in the evening, Arlene becomes dejected about the lack of men pursuing her for a lap dance and is comforted by Julia as Shanna joins the group to smoke weed. Stuntman Mike appears once again, this time to introduce himself to a weary Arlene. Mike recites "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" to Arlene and refers to her as "Butterfly," hoping for the lap dance Julia had talked about on the radio. He notices Arlene’s apprehensiveness and asks if he frightens her. She affirms that he does, citing his macabre stunt car and the fact that he had been following her, Julia, and Shanna throughout the evening. Mike brushes off her suspicions, pointing out that Austin is a small city where people are likely to encounter each other repeatedly. He notices her “wounded” demeanor and goads her into giving him a lapdance, saying that if she doesn’t, he’ll consider her a “Chickenshit.” Arlene, now more comfortable around Mike, has him sit on a chair in the middle of the bar and plays “Down in Mexico” by The Coasters. She adopts a seductive demeanor and gives him a lap dance in front of everybody there.

Afterward, the trio leaves the bar and agrees that Lanna is sober enough to be the designated driver to Shanna's father's lake-house. Julia and Arlene tease Pam about accepting Stuntman Mike’s offer to drive her home and then leave with Shanna and Lanna. While Lanna drives, Julia requests the radio station to play "Hold Tight" by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. The four turn up the volume and Arlene rocks out to the song with them as they head to the lakehouse. After killing Pam, Mike turns off his stunt car's headlights, passes Lanna's vehicle, and gets a distance ahead of the quartet. Mike makes a u-turn and drives full speed at their car. An inebriated Arlene sees Mike turn on his headlights seconds before he collides with them. During the collision, the front tires of Mike’s stunt car fly through the windshield and rip off Arlene's face. Earl McGraw later confirms that she, Julia, Shanna, and Lanna did not survive the accident.