Instructions Not Included

As a young boy, Valentín Bravo struggled with overwhelming fears, ranging from spiders to heights. His father, Johnny Bravo, introduced him to tough love with extreme methods, intending to rid him of these fears.

The final act of Valentín's father's cruel upbringing came when Johnny locked him in a crypt. This traumatic experience led Valentín to resent his father deeply, prompting him to run away and declare his lack of love for him.

Years later, Valentín becomes a local playboy in Acapulco, enjoying a carefree life filled with fleeting romances. His life significantly changes when Julie, a former romantic interest, arrives at his door with a life-altering revelation.

Julie drops off her baby daughter, Maggie, claiming Valentín is the father. She leaves in a hurry to find taxi fare and never returns, leaving Valentín to face the unforeseen responsibility of parenthood.

Valentín receives a call from Julie, indicating her desire to abandon Maggie. Determined to return her to the airport, he rushes but ultimately misses her flight, leading him into a chaotic new role as a single father.

Faced with the need to enter the United States to find Julie, Valentín embarks on a journey to Tijuana. However, he quickly realizes he lacks the funds for a visa, forcing him to sneak across the border.

Arriving at a Los Angeles hotel with only a photograph as guidance, disaster strikes when Maggie falls into the pool. To save her, Valentín performs a daring leap from a ten-story suite, catching the attention of a film director.

After his heroic leap, director Frank Ryan offers Valentín a job as a stuntman. This opportunity allows him to support Maggie and establishes Valentín as a notable figure in Hollywood over the next six years.

While raising Maggie in a loving environment, Valentín struggles with his past. He writes fake letters from her mother, Julie, to shield Maggie from the painful truth of her parent's absence.

Maggie expresses a wish to meet her mother, prompting Valentín to search for an actress to play Julie. Unexpectedly, Julie returns, now a lawyer in a same-sex relationship, complicating Valentín's life once more.

As Julie seeks full custody, she emphasizes Valentín's dangerous job and immaturity. Despite Valentín's love for Maggie, a DNA test reveals he is not her biological father, leading to a painful custody loss.

Defeated yet resolute, Valentín takes Maggie back to Acapulco. There, he reconnects with friends and learns about his father's death, navigating his grief while trying to support Maggie.

In Los Angeles, Julie tracks Valentín down with the help of Frank. Surprisingly, she decides to drop her custody suit, allowing the family to spend two precious weeks together on the beach.

Tragically, Maggie, who has been battling a heart defect, succumbs while being held by Valentín. This heartbreaking moment leaves Valentín to face life without her, filled with memories of their time together.

A year later, Valentín strolls along the beach with a dog, contemplating his father’s intentions of instilling courage in him. The film concludes with the bittersweet image of Maggie playing in heaven alongside her grandfather.