| Director | Derek Cianfrance |
|---|---|
| Genre | drama film, erotic film, romance film |
| Runtime | 112 min |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $1 million |
| Box office | $16.6 million |
Five-year-old Frankie wakes up her dad Dean. She cannot find their family dog, Megan, and together they look for her outside the Pennsylvania family home, with Dean reassuring Frankie. The gate to Megan's area outside appears to have been left open, implying the dog may have escaped. Dean and Frankie wake up Dean's wife, Cindy, who appears exhausted and annoyed. She reminds the two that Frankie has to get ready for school and cannot be late. While Cindy gets Frankie dressed, gives her breakfast, and gets herself ready for her job, Dean focuses on making Frankie laugh and rebuffs the instant oatmeal breakfast Cindy made for her.
Later that day, Cindy is shown as a nurse at a clinic where her boss, Dr. Feinberg, had just offered her to join him at his new clinic in another city, and inquires if she's discussed moving with her family. Appearing exhausted, she says she hasn't. Meanwhile, Dean is shown to be painting house interiors for work, later driving around while drinking a beer. While driving to an event at Frankie's school, Cindy finds Megan dead by the roadside. She arrives late to the event. Dean is already there; when she tells Dean what she found, he blames her for leaving the gate open while she silently breaks down in tears. At home, Dean buries Megan and breaks down and Cindy comforts him. Later, despite Cindy's reluctance because she is scheduled as "on-call" for her job the next day, Dean insists on a getaway at a motel two hours away to "get drunk and make love". They drop-off Frankie with Cindy's dad. Dean does not enter the house; when Cindy asks why, he states he cannot smoke near Cindy's father's oxygen tank. While driving to the motel, Cindy stops by a liquor store and has an awkward encounter with an ex-boyfriend, Bobby, which causes her and Dean to argue when she returns to the car.
Flashbacks reveal that Dean was a hopeless romantic high school dropout, working for a moving company in Brooklyn. Cindy was once an aspiring doctor studying pre-med while living with her parents and caring for her grandmother in Pennsylvania. Her parents have a volatile marriage, with her dad verbally abusing her mother. She is dating Bobby, a fellow student, and one day they have sex during which he ejaculates inside her without her consent. He later brings flowers to her at her parents' house but gets angry when she doesn't accept his apology, causing Cindy to shut him out.
Upon arriving at the motel, Dean tries to seduce Cindy in the shower and afterwards but she rebuffs him. Dean and Cindy proceed to drink alcohol. Overwhelmed by his advances and frustrated with his lack of ambition, she questions Dean while they are drunk which leads to another explosive outburst. Dean continues his advances and Cindy gives in, but is disappointed when Dean asks if she wants to have another child with him. Their argument becomes explosive again and she locks the door between them, leaving him outside the bedroom. Early in the morning, while Dean is still sleeping, Cindy is called in for work. She takes the car and leaves a note for Dean. At the clinic, Dr. Feinberg recommends that Cindy move into an apartment near the new clinic instead of moving her family, off-handedly suggesting that they could keep each other company if she is lonely.
More flashbacks reveal that while Dean is delivering furniture to a nursing home in Pennsylvania, he first sees Cindy, who is visiting her grandmother. Initially pushy with his advances, he gives her his work number but she never calls. Dean contrives a way to meet her again on a bus and they begin dating. After discovering their relationship, a jealous Bobby and two of his friends violently assault Dean while he is at work. Cindy finds out she is pregnant and tells Dean she is not sure who the father is, and that it is not likely to be his child. Dean repeatedly questions her on what she is going to do. She ends up opting for an abortion but, overwhelmed, changes her mind during the procedure, while Dean waits for her in the clinic. Dean comforts and reassures her that they can raise the child together. Cindy and Dean soon get married at a Justice of the Peace.
At the motel, Dean finds the note upon waking and, annoyed, is forced to take a bus back home. He shows up drunk at Cindy's job and forces his way in while yelling at her, as the clinic receptionist attempts to intervene. They have a heated argument. Dr. Feinberg hears the commotion, and when he also attempts to intervene, Dean punches him. Dr. Feinberg then fires Cindy, threatens to call the cops on Dean, and kicks them both out. While leaving, Cindy demands a divorce, causing Dean to throw away his wedding ring, but then attempts to look for it, with her helping him. Back at her parents' house, Dean tearfully pleads with Cindy to give the marriage another chance for Frankie. Cindy says she doesn't want Frankie to grow up with parents who despise each other like she did, and that she cannot cope with his behaviour. After Dean reminds Cindy of their wedding vows, they hug, but she pulls away and asks for some space. Dean leaves the house while Frankie runs after him and begs him to stay. He tells her to return to Cindy and then continues walking away. Frankie cries in Cindy's arms.