A Little Prayer

In a North Carolina suburb, Bill runs a sheet metal factory with his son David. They share mornings at home, and Bill sometimes drives David to work, highlighting both their closeness and underlying tension.

At the factory office, Bill notices a charged interaction between David and Narcedalia while they discuss the weekly outing. He confronts David about a possible affair; David doesn't deny it and Bill chastises him, while David urges him to stay out of his business.

Patti arrives at the house unexpectedly, newly separated from her problematic husband. Bill and Venida grapple with how to support her, while Tammy calmly demonstrates patience with Patti's daughter Hadley, and the family dynamic tightens around her crisis.

Tammy feels increasingly lonely despite her friendship with Bill. She privately takes an at-home pregnancy test, which comes back positive, adding a new layer of tension to the household.

Narcedalia resigns from the company, telling David she has a better offer from a bank. Bill hints that he knows about the affair, suggesting he might help inflate her salary with the bank, and Narcedalia thanks him.

Tammy undergoes an abortion, and Venida learns of it before telling Bill. The revelation deepens the emotional strain on the family and reshapes the menage, altering how trust and loyalty are navigated.

Before the next VFW dance night, Bill corners David again, bringing up the abortion and its possible consequences. David insists he did not force Tammy, but when Bill lays out the potential outcomes, David breaks down and drives off.

At the VFW dance, Bill notices David in an angry phone conversation and goes to Narcedalia's house. Bethany opens the door and invites him in for cocoa; Narcedalia returns home, trying to be polite while the tension remains.

Narcedalia reveals that the baby is hers, implying David may be the father but won't have a role in the child's life. She also recounts that David was verbally and physically abusive when she told him about the pregnancy and that he insisted she get an abortion.

Patti and Hadley return to Patti's husband, signaling a continuation of marital instability that echoes through the family.

Bill and Tammy have a lunch date, visiting a small local museum before eating on a park bench. They share a deep conversation in which Bill urges Tammy to get out of her marriage, and Tammy acknowledges their bond while fearing the loss of their unique friendship.

They acknowledge their deep, kindred-spirit connection and decide that honesty matters, even as it may lead them to pursue different paths in the future.