Mona Dearly, portrayed by Bette Midler, finds herself in an unfortunate situation when she can't unlock her car. As a solution, she takes her son Jeph's (Marcus Thomas) Yugo for a drive. However, disaster strikes when the brakes fail, sending her vehicle plummeting off a cliff into the Hudson River. Witnessing this tragic event is Clarence, who was fishing nearby. Chief Wyatt Rash, played by Danny DeVito, notes the absence of skid marks, hinting at foul play.
In the wake of Mona's death, her husband Phil (William Fichtner) and son Jeph show little emotion, as Mona led a tumultuous life filled with abuse, heavy drinking, and belligerence, leaving her loved by none. Jeph seems more concerned about the fate of his car than his mother. Meanwhile, Ellie Rash (Neve Campbell), the daughter of Wyatt, is eager to celebrate Mona's passing due to the Dearly family's mistreatment of her fiancé Bobby (Casey Affleck), who is also Jeph's business partner. As the struggling JB Landscaping continues to falter under Jeph's lack of motivation, tension brews among the characters.
In an affair at the Charm Motel, Phil and Rona (Jamie Lee Curtis) express a twisted sense of relief over Mona's death, but Phil denies any involvement. Meanwhile, Bobby confides in his older brother Murph (Mark Pellegrino), who has been financially supporting him but grows suspicious of Bobby's reactions to Mona's death. Chief Wyatt begins to investigate, leading him to Jeph, who accuses Bobby of having threatened Mona. Through Lucinda (Kathleen Wilhoite), the local mechanic, Wyatt uncovers that Mona's vehicle had been tampered with in various ways.
As the investigation unfolds, Phil claims to Wyatt that he suffered from Mona's abusive behavior, and their family dynamic becomes clearer. Numerous allegations arise, including Bobby admitting his hatred toward Mona due to a partnership dispute involving Jeph. Events culminate in a dramatic plot twist when it is revealed that the car keys had been switched and that Bobby had confessed to Ellie about rigging Jeph's vehicle. Just as Ellie announces her pregnancy, more chaos ensues, leading to Phil's mysterious death at the Charm Motel.
Allegations and secrets intertwine further when jealousy and betrayal surface. Jeph feels pushed to the edge as he spirals into despair over Rona's departure. With tragic confessions and manipulated truths disclosed, Chief Wyatt learns from Clarence that Bobby had been keeping secrets regarding Phil’s tampering with the car. After a dramatic confrontation and unraveling of events, an unexpected commitment arises as Bobby promises to care for Ellie and their unborn child, amidst a web of deception and twisted loyalty. In the end, Bobby and Ellie tie the knot while Clarence's fate is sealed.
