Endings, Beginnings

After breaking up with Adrian, Daphne quits her job and moves into her sister Billie’s poolhouse. She commits to a six-month sabbatical from alcohol and men, hoping to rebuild her life from the ground up. The change marks the first step in redefining who she is outside of relationships.

Daphne visits her mother Sue for Christmas and finds an estranged, detached dynamic between them. Sue has a European partner and remains unsympathetic toward Daphne’s heartbreak. She even gifts Daphne her wedding ring, a complex symbol of family history.

At Billie’s New Year’s party, Daphne meets Frank, a free-spirited bad boy, and Jack, a sober, intelligent writer. Both flirt and intrigue her, presenting two contrasting visions of romance. The encounter leaves her torn between impulsive passion and steady connection.

Daphne and Jack go out together and talk for hours, forming a deep, compatible connection. They share thoughts about life, values, and potential futures. The conversation makes Jack feel like a real option for Daphne’s future.

Frank pressures her with alcohol and romance, seducing her. The next day, Daphne insists he not use her as a wedge in his friendship with Jack. She asserts her autonomy and resists becoming a pawn in their dynamic.

Returning home with her niece, Daphne witnesses a fight between her sister Billie and her brother-in-law, deepening her sense of instability. She eventually pawns the wedding ring from her mother, trying to sever painful family history and reclaim control over her future.

Daphne receives a message from Jed, her former boss, apologizing for having sex with her. The revelation adds to her tangled sense of betrayal and triggers reflection on the patterns she’s repeating in love and work.

Unable to choose, she bounces between Jack’s domestic life and Frank’s carefree adventures, effectively trying out two versions of what life could be. Each arrangement highlights different aspects of her desires and fears about commitment. The tension between stability and spontaneity grows.

Daphne moves in with Jack and their relationship settles into a domestic rhythm, sharing movies and long conversations. At the same time, Frank continues to reach out, keeping a place for his presence in her mind. The competing visions of love pull at her choices.

Frank returns during a weekend visit and, unable to take his dog, leaves it with Daphne. He soon comes back and they share another passionate encounter. The moment deepens the pull toward Frank while complicating her relationship with Jack.

Daphne and Frank spend a weekend road-tripping north and attending a house party with Frank’s friends. They arrive two hours late to Billie’s baby shower, prompting gossip and judgment from others. The trip intensifies the tug-of-war between the two men.

Weeks later, Daphne suspects she might be pregnant and takes a home test, then visits a gynecologist to confirm. She tells Jack about the pregnancy, which unsettles him given his earlier views on children. The revelation marks a major turning point in their relationship.

Jack feels happy about the baby but is unsettled by the possibility that Frank could be the father. He asks Daphne to leave, unable to fully accept the idea of raising a child with a partner who may not be his. The tension tests their commitment and trust.

Sue and Karl marry, but Daphne and Sue clash as old patterns resurface in their discussion of stability and motherhood. They eventually find a path to peace, accepting that recovery and understanding take time. The family dynamics shift as Daphne grows into her own role as an expectant mother.

Towards the end, Daphne receives an encouraging message from Adrian, offering support for her choices and a sense of continuity beyond the chaotic past. She begins to feel a cautious optimism about what comes next.