Butterfly on a Wheel

Sophie is kidnapped, and the Randall family's perfect life instantly collapses. Neil and Abby are forced to confront a terrifying reality where their daughter's safety is unknown. The kidnapper, Tom, asserts control with chilling efficiency.

Tom announces a brutal, time-bound challenge that will dismantle their lives piece by piece. He reveals a chilling sociopathic streak and that money is only a means to an even deeper test. Neil and Abby realize they must comply if they want Sophie back.

Under Tom's directive, the couple withdraws over 130,000 dollars—their entire assets. Tom burns the money and throws the ashes into a river along with their wallets, destroying any trace of their security. The act leaves Neil and Abby more exposed and desperate.

Abby pawns her bracelet and Neil his watch to raise $300. They scavenge in unfamiliar neighborhoods and hastily assemble small sums as time runs short. The risk and discomfort heighten the sense that Tom controls every move.

Abby must deliver a document to the office of Neil's employer's competitor within 20 minutes. Tom shows Neil a copy of the document containing details of Neil's hacking into customer accounts, a secret that could ruin him if leaked. Neil watches Abby deliver the document from a distance.

The couple believes Sophie is being held in a hotel and rushes to rescue her. Their attempt fails when Tom catches them, turning the moment into another punishment. The pressure mounts as the day moves toward its end.

Tom orders Abby to remove her dress and wear an enticing short dress in front of him and Neil. The moment is a brutal demonstration of his power and the strain it places on their relationship. It leaves both spouses shaken and more compliant.

Neil enters a house and meets Judy, a coworker with whom he has been having an affair. Tom reveals that he and Judy are married and orders Neil to shoot her or Sophie will be killed. The gun is not loaded, exposing Tom's manipulation.

As they head home, Neil lies to Abby about the supposed affair being the trigger. They arrive to find Sophie asleep at home, having been there all along. Tom's day of torment ends with the truth of the deception finally dawning.

Tom's experiment is exposed: Sophie was never kidnapped and the entire day was designed to impart Neil with a day of suffering. Abby reveals she orchestrated the deception as part of repayment for Neil's affair. The couple's trust is fractured but their bond is still intact.

For 24 hours Abby has paid Neil back a portion of the pain she has endured since learning of the affair. The act serves as a final, unsettling twist to the day's events. The couple is left to reckon with what they endured and what it means for their future.

The document delivered to the competitor was blank, revealing Abby's participation in the ruse. Tom's experiment achieves its goal of testing their limits and exposing the fragility of their marriage. The day ends with everyone left to confront the consequences.