Kotch

In Los Angeles, young mother Wilma Kotcher hires Erica 'Ricky' Herzenstiel to babysit her infant son Duncan. The arrangement starts smoothly as Wilma hopes for dependable help. Ricky begins the role with Duncan's best interests in mind, hoping to balance work and motherhood.

Kotch arrives and interrupts the quiet routine with an unrelated and perplexing story about another Herzenstiel. Ricky and Wilma are left puzzled by his intrusion, sensing trouble ahead. The interruption foreshadows the strain Kotch will put on the household.

Ricky takes Duncan to the park, and when her boyfriend arrives, she leaves Kotch behind to tend to Duncan. In the park, Kotch saves a drowning girl, an act meant as friendliness that backfires when the girl’s mother and a Parks Department representative are offended. Kotch’s own son Gerald reacts with displeasure, signaling fractured family dynamics.

While Gerald and Wilma go out, Kotch is discovered by Erica and her boyfriend having a private moment in the living room. He quietly leaves and later vents his frustrations to Gerald, questioning why he and Wilma don’t trust him with Duncan. The tension foreshadows further estrangements within the Kotcher clan.

Wilma’s discomfort with Kotch’s behavior leads to Gerald insisting Kotch be removed from their household. Gerald then takes Kotch to an upscale retirement community, but Kotch is put off by the tests and the cold atmosphere. The visit reinforces Kotch’s sense of exclusion from the family.

Kotch tracks down Erica at her high school and learns she is upset about an unplanned pregnancy and leaving school for work in San Bernardino. She initially refuses help, but eventually accepts a small payment from Kotch and promises to repay it. The debt becomes a persistent undercurrent in their uneasy relationship.

Kotch decides to journey across the country by bus, staying in motels and sending postcards to Duncan. The cross-country trip marks a dramatic shift from his former life and shows his determination to find meaning beyond the Los Angeles household. He communicates with Duncan sporadically as he wanders.

Kotch returns unannounced to the Kotcher home and discovers a Halloween party letter revealing that Erica cannot repay her debt due to serious issues. The revelation deepens Kotch’s sense of responsibility and loneliness. It also pushes him toward a more decisive search for Erica’s future.

Acting as a private investigator, Kotch discovers Erica was dismissed from her job as a hair stylist for being unlicensed and learns she is seeking work in Palm Springs. The discovery shifts his focus from moral concern to practical help, spurring a new plan. He decides to confront Erica in a place where she might start anew.

Kotch finds Erica and takes her on a tram ride, using the chance to offer her a job as his housekeeper. The ride through Palm Springs becomes a turning point, as she contemplates leaving her old life behind for a chance at stability. The two reach a tentative agreement about a new arrangement.

Back in Palm Springs, Erica decorates and knits while Kotch buys an old car, signaling a shift toward a quieter life. He learns she is taking a midwifery class, hinting at deeper plans for motherhood and responsibility. Christmas Eve marks a symbolic moment as their relationship evolves.

Erica decides to give up her baby for adoption, and Kotch hires a nurse to help find a family. The contractions begin, and she goes into labor, ultimately delivering the baby at a gas station with Kotch assisting. In the end, Erica chooses to keep her baby, reshaping their intertwined futures.

Erica returns to Los Angeles with her baby, and Gerald and Wilma offer Kotch a place in their home, which he declines. He resolves to build a life of his own in Palm Springs, planning to buy a house and work at a local hardware store. The decision seals a turning point for Kotch’s independence.

Kotch finds a note hinting that with better circumstances he could have become a great-grandfather, a bittersweet reflection on what might have been. He departs with his friend Pablo, ready for new adventures and uncertain horizons. The film ends on a note of moving forward rather than settling down.