Man of the House

Five-year-old Ben watches his father drive away with his secretary, and only a wave is returned. Sandy is heartbroken as they start over in a new city. They move into a loft in downtown Seattle to begin a fresh life as just the two of them.

Over time, Ben and Sandy establish comforting rituals to cope with the departure. They gradually turn their new home into a warmer place, and complete a beach debris collage that becomes a symbol of their family. The routine helps them feel whole again.

Five years after the move, Sandy begins dating again and introduces Jack Sturges, a U.S. Federal Prosecutor. Ben is wary of the change and fears losing his mother to a stepfather. Jack reassures them and tries to fit into their life.

In federal court, Jack prosecutes mobster Frank Renda for drug trafficking and wins a lengthy sentence. Before sentencing, Renda hints at revenge, and his son Joey repeats the threat in more menacing terms. Ben watches the courtroom dynamics with unease about the man his mother is dating.

Sandy and Jack discuss Jack moving in with them, but Ben resents the idea of a new parental figure. He actively resists Jack's attempts to connect and resents any change to his routines. The tension marks the early phase of their blended family.

To drive a wedge between mother and Jack, Ben fakes interest in Indian Guides, a father–son program, and joins Norman Bronski and Jack in the Minotauks. Neither Ben nor Jack enjoys the experience at first, and Ben uses it to humiliate Jack at meetings. The dynamic fuels further strain.

Jack tries to go with the flow, but his relationship with Ben remains strained. Ben's hostile behavior and misdirections reveal his fear that Jack will take his mother away. Jack begins to understand the deeper stakes behind the boy's resistance.

Jack overhears Ben bragging on the phone about his mischief and plans to drive him away, which disturbs him deeply. He seeks counsel from Chet Bronski, the Indian Guides chief and woodshop teacher, who explains that Ben's actions stem from protecting his bond with his mother. Jack resolves to win Ben by embodying the protective, patient stepfather Chet describes.

Following Chet's advice, Jack redoubles his efforts to bond with Ben by reinvigorating the Indian Guides. Ben begins to open up, and he and Norman Bronski form a budding friendship. The plan gradually strengthens their father–son dynamic.

Joey's threat resurfaces when the brakes on Jack's Ford Explorer are cut, sending him into Puget Sound and causing a near-miss. Ben learns of the incident and is torn by the sense of betrayal it implies. Jack explains the car trouble and vows to make it right.

Back home, Ben is hurt but begins to forgive when Jack reveals the truth behind the 'car trouble' and asks for continued trust. Jack also decides to pass on a transfer to Portland, choosing to stay to repair their family. This shows his commitment to the boy and the bond they're building.

Joey and his goons are spotted in the woods with rifles, and Ben alerts Jack to the danger. Jack confesses the full truth behind the 'car trouble' to gain Ben's forgiveness and to demonstrate that he won't abandon them. Ben's trust in Jack deepens.

Together, Jack and Ben are cornered by the criminals in an abandoned mine shaft rigged with dynamite. The Minotauks arrive to rescue them, neutralizing the crooks. Ben is impressed by the bravery and the teamwork that saved them.

With danger behind them, Ben finally accepts Jack, and the trio completes the beach collage together, symbolizing their renewed family unity. Jack and Sandy marry, with the Minotauks in attendance. The family moves forward, imperfect but whole.