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  Through the motive of revenge for the death of her little brother, Mathilda decides to become a cleaner. At first Leon refuses to teach her his trade but eventually he allows himself to be worn down. The two of them move out of the apartment building and start a new life together. Leon begins to like having Mathilda around, even though he rarely shows the fact. Gun cleaning, target practice and assassination theory provide a form of courtship for Leon and Mathilda, although more at the father-daughter level. His guardian and mentor figure draws them closer together.    Each has the ability to salve the internal pain of the other, providing elements which their lives were previously lacking. Gradually Leon begins to open up to Mathilda, explaining how his plant is his best friend because, like him, it has no roots. In turn she makes him realise there is more to life than assassinating people and taking care of his favourite plant. Through Mathilda's care and tutorage Leon learns to overcome his problems of illiteracy and a deep paranoia for being noticed. In time Mathilda's feelings towards Leon change, and when she tells the hotel receptionist that he's her lover, their problems begin to mount.   Ordered out of their hotel room, the two of them have to move into an old apartment building. The pivotal moments of the film come when Leon kills Malky, a DEA agent, during a hit on some chinease dealers. Meanwhile Mathilda has set about her plans to kill Stansfield herself. Armed to the teeth she follows him into the mensroom, not realising that she is walking straight into his trap. Leon finds a note from Mathilda stating her intensions for revenge and immediately storms through the DEA building to rescue her. The whole affair leads Standsfield to Tony, who is forced to give away Leon's identity. 
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