Curfew

Richie is in the bathtub, planning to end his life. The quiet moment is shattered when the phone rings, breaking his concentration and pulling him back from the edge. The call marks the first interruption that redirects the night's events.

Maggie reaches out and asks Richie to look after Sophia. The request comes with urgency and vulnerability, turning an interrupted plan into a new responsibility. Richie agrees reluctantly, deciding to take on the night shift as an unexpected guardian.

Richie cancels his own plans to focus on Sophia's needs, shifting from self-destruction to caregiving. He prepares to pick up Sophia and bring her into the night’s care. The decision marks a pivotal turn in his immediate priorities.

Richie meets Sophia, who is distant and uninterested in engaging with him. He takes her to an old rundown building where he once lived, hoping to connect over something familiar. Sophia remains guarded, making the initial connection feel fragile.

In the building, Richie finds flipbooks he drew with a protagonist named Sophia and tries to share them. Sophia is frightened by the memories and signals that she wants to return home. The moment heightens the tension before they head back toward something safer.

They apologize for the earlier tension and return to a more ordinary setting at the bowling alley. Sophia begins to ask about Richie's life, cracking the wall of detachment between them. The exchange marks a shift toward genuine conversation and potential friendship.

Richie confesses that he once dropped Sophia on her head while caring for her as a baby, explaining the reason for the estrangement. Sophia responds with a mix of humor and curiosity, softening her stance toward him. The revelation becomes a turning point in their relationship.

A favorite song blares over the loudspeakers and suddenly everyone at the bowling alley seems to dance along. Richie feels increasingly isolated as the crowd moves together, leaving him on the sidelines. The moment underscores his continued sense of separation.

Sophia pleads with him to dance, tugging at his arm to join in. In the moment, his sleeve slips, revealing his wrist and a reminder of his prior suicide attempt. The intimate exposure deepens the emotional tension between them.

Back at Maggie's place, a restraining order for assault and harassment sits on the kitchen table. Maggie returns bruised and thanks Richie for his help, but insists he leave and protects Sophia from any further influence. Boundaries are drawn as the family confronts the night’s fallout.

Richie recalls how much he looked up to his sister when they were younger and emphasizes that he still respects her. He articulates his affection, hoping for some form of reconciliation even as their relationship remains strained. The moment adds emotional depth to their complicated bond.

Richie goes back to the bathroom, attempting to resume what he started. Maggie calls again, this time with a kinder tone that interrupts him once more. The moment leaves the ending open, with a quiet note of potential change rather than a definitive conclusion.