Sam Harper, a corporate trader in New York City, finds himself in deep trouble when questionable practices at work land him on the radar of a potential Federal Trade Commission investigation. Pressured by his boss to bribe officials to avoid legal consequences, Sam’s world begins to spiral. Just as he grapples with this crisis, his girlfriend Hannah delivers unexpected news—his estranged father, Jerry, has passed away. Reluctantly, Sam accompanies her to Los Angeles for the funeral, dreading the tense reunion with his mother, Lillian.
Upon arriving, Sam’s frustrations grow when Jerry’s lawyer and close friend, Ike, informs him that he will not inherit any money. Instead, Ike hands Sam a shaving kit containing $150,000 in cash and a note from Jerry instructing him to deliver the money to someone named Josh Davis. Baffled and resentful, Sam debates what to do with this strange request.
Curious about Josh, Sam tracks him down and discovers he is a troubled 11-year-old boy living with his mother, Frankie Davis, a bartender and recovering alcoholic. Eavesdropping on Frankie at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting, Sam is blindsided by the revelation that she is Jerry’s illegitimate daughter—making her his half-sister, and Josh his nephew. Wrestling with the implications, Sam introduces himself to Frankie under the guise of being a fellow recovering alcoholic, withholding the truth about their familial connection. When Sam tells Hannah he plans to keep the money instead of delivering it, she is disgusted and leaves, returning to New York.
Despite his initial hesitation, Sam begins spending time with Frankie and Josh, gradually weaving himself into their lives. He stops Josh from shoplifting CDs at a record store, earning the boy’s trust. While helping Frankie with laundry, Sam learns about her past—how Jerry visited her and her mother every Sunday but kept his other family hidden. Frankie admits she has never met Jerry’s wife or son, a painful reminder of the divide Jerry maintained between his two worlds.
As Sam grows closer to Frankie and Josh, he is haunted by his own unresolved feelings about Jerry and his worsening legal troubles. Frankie, sensing Sam’s transient nature, fears his eventual departure will hurt Josh, who has grown attached to him. She tells Sam to stay away, but when Josh gets into a fight at school, Frankie reluctantly calls Sam for help. This moment deepens their bond, but Sam struggles with the secret he’s hiding.
One day, as Frankie expresses her gratitude for his kindness, Sam finally confesses the truth: he is Jerry’s son. The revelation shatters Frankie’s trust, and her gratitude turns to fury. She orders him to leave and later receives Jerry’s money through Ike, cementing the break in their relationship. Determined to create a better life for Josh, Frankie quits her job, enrolls in school, and moves them to a suburban neighborhood. She cuts all contact with Sam.
Meanwhile, Lillian’s health takes a turn, and she is hospitalized with a heart condition. While waiting at the hospital, Sam and Hannah reconnect. Realizing Sam’s growing need to reconcile with his family, Hannah reveals she has enrolled in UCLA’s law program to stay close to him, hoping they can rebuild their relationship.
After her discharge, Lillian opens up to Sam about a painful family secret. Years ago, she forced Jerry to choose between their family and Frankie’s. While she believed she was protecting Sam, Jerry resented her decision and distanced himself from his son, unable to face the reminder of the daughter he abandoned. This revelation gives Sam a new perspective on his father and his own unresolved feelings.
As Josh struggles to adjust to life without Sam, he takes matters into his own hands. After finding Lillian’s address, he leaves a note for Sam with their new location. Determined to make things right, Sam visits Frankie. Apologizing for his mistakes, he asks for her forgiveness and expresses his desire to be a true brother to her and a father figure to Josh.
To bridge the gap between them, Sam shares a film reel he found among Jerry’s belongings. The footage shows a young Sam playing at a park, joined by a little girl—Frankie. The realization hits Frankie like a wave: Jerry had brought them together as children, quietly expressing his love for both his families in his own flawed way. Overwhelmed by the truth and the memories, Frankie forgives Sam and accepts him as her brother. Together, they begin to rebuild the fractured bond Jerry left behind, finding solace in the family they never knew they had.
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