Clean and Sober

Daryl Poynter siphons $92,000 from an escrow account for cocaine and risky bets on the stock market. He wakes up the next morning beside a woman who has suffered a cocaine-induced heart attack and tries to cover up the drugs they used. The police make it clear that they know what happened, escalating the threat of arrest.

Fearing arrest for the woman's death and the embezzlement, Daryl contemplates fleeing the country. He realizes he can't avoid responsibility as investigators close in. The looming threat pushes him toward drastic options.

Daryl goes to the airport hoping to flee the country to escape the consequences. His credit card is declined and he discovers he has no cash to leave. The plan collapses, intensifying his sense of desperation.

A radio program promotes a month-long, anonymous rehabilitation program. Daryl checks in, hoping to hide from his problems and starts the process of recovery. He believes the rehab can offer a clean slate.

In rehab, Daryl meets Craig, a tough but supportive counselor. Craig helps him realize he is an addict and that his life is chaos without structure. He introduces the idea that the best way to break old habits is to make new ones.

During a 12-step meeting, Daryl tries to enlist sponsorship from eligible women but is rejected. The experience highlights the social obstacles in his path to sobriety. He remains determined to find guidance elsewhere.

Daryl meets Richard Dirks, an older reformed addict and bank officer, who agrees to sponsor him in Alcoholics Anonymous. They discuss the steps, and Richard pushes him to confront his past. The sponsorship marks a turning point in his accountability.

Richard encourages Daryl to confess his embezzlement to his employer. Daryl agrees but attempts to shift blame onto the dead woman. The employer fires him, and he avoids explicit legal liability for his crimes.

Daryl becomes attracted to Charlie Standers, a fellow patient who is addicted to alcohol and cocaine. Charlie is involved in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend, Lenny. Daryl's interest deepens as he tries to support her sobriety.

Daryl persuades Charlie to leave Lenny and pursue sobriety. He hopes to protect her and keep their relationship on solid footing. However, her situation remains unstable as Lenny's manipulations continue.

After a confrontation with Lenny, Charlie relapses, taking cocaine and triggering a tragic car crash. She dies in the accident, devastating Daryl and shaking his resolve. He confronts a renewed temptation to fall back into old habits.

Richard explains that addicts can't shoulder responsibility for someone else's life and that he couldn't have saved Charlie. The conversation helps Daryl accept limits in saving others. He rededicates himself to his own recovery.

A month later, Daryl stands before fellow AA members and accepts his 30 Day Sobriety Coin. The moment marks a rebirth and renewed commitment to sobriety. The audience witnesses a hopeful, resolute Daryl continuing his recovery.

With the coin as a symbol of progress, Daryl embraces a sober path and the possibility of rebuilding his life. The narrative closes on his sense of hope and ongoing effort to maintain sobriety.