Doing Time on Maple Drive

Phil Carter runs a thriving restaurant and is married to Lisa. They have three grown children: Karen, Tim, and Matt. Behind the outward prosperity, the family’s relationships are strained, brittle, and mapped by unspoken resentments.

Tim discovers that Phil bribed local officials to overlook problems at the restaurant, exposing a rift in the father's moral authority. He resents his father's attitude toward his own drinking and the way Phil uses power to cover his misdeeds. The revelation seeds tension about who is morally justified within the family.

Matt introduces his fiancée Allison to the family, but she discovers a letter from his ex-boyfriend Kyle indicating Matt is gay. She breaks the engagement and leaves, expressing her choice to end the relationship. Matt lies about the reason and keeps the wedding plans intact, trying to maintain appearances.

Matt's bachelor party gives a window into the family’s issues as Tim drinks to excess and behaves badly. The party scene underscores the underlying dysfunction and the strain on Matt's upcoming wedding. The chaos foreshadows the fragility of their relationships.

Overwhelmed and unable to face his situation, Matt drives into a utility pole and survives with a broken arm and scrapes. He wakes up in the hospital while Karen watches over him and learns that Allison has disappeared. He reveals that the marriage is off but keeps quiet about why.

After the crash, police declare it an accident, and the family begins to process the incident. Karen confronts Tim about his suspicions of foul play, urging him to move past blame. The mood at home grows tense as the truth about their lives starts to surface.

Lisa reads Allison's note apologizing for ending the engagement and demands an explanation from Matt. Matt avoids answering and when pressed, he still withholds the real reason. The confrontation marks a turning point in the family's ability to hide the truth.

When pressed, Matt reveals to Lisa that his sexuality is the reason Allison left two years earlier. He explains that he is tired of living a double life and that he drove into the pole to escape this existence. Lisa urges him to call Allison to reconcile, but he storms off.

Tom confronts Phil and reveals that Karen is pregnant and terrified of bringing a child into such a troubled family. He begs Karen not to terminate the pregnancy and expresses a desire to protect her and the baby. The news triggers talks of leaving the family to shield their future child.

Tom and Karen decide to move away to protect their baby from the family turmoil. Karen's fear of repeating patterns in the family pushes them to seek a fresh start. The move signals a breaking point in the family dynamics.

With the major crisis acknowledged, Phil starts tentative steps toward understanding and rebuilding bridges with his family. He faces the consequences of his actions and begins listening to Karen and Tom. The process hints at potential reconciliation, even as wounds remain.

Lisa remains in denial about the extent of the family's problems, clinging to appearances. Her stance contrasts with the others' willingness to confront painful truths. The film closes with a glimmer of effort to heal despite ongoing tensions.