Richard, portrayed by John Hawkes, is a shoe salesman grappling with the aftermath of his recent separation from his wife, Pam (JoNell Kennedy). Ejected from their shared life, he now strives to create a new world for himself and his two children, Peter (Miles Thompson) and Robby (Brandon Ratcliff). The separation has been particularly harsh, with Pam retaining everything from her family's side, leaving Richard in a state of confusion and despair. This emotional struggle leads Richard to take drastic measures, even injuring himself in an act of frustration.
Amidst this turmoil, Richard crosses paths with Christine (Miranda July), a unique senior cab driver and aspiring video artist. Their interaction begins when Christine transports a client, Michael (Hector Elias), to shop for shoes, sparking a budding romance. Noticing Christine's scraped ankles, Richard assists her by selling a new pair of shoes, deepening their connection.
Christine is dedicated to her art, working tirelessly on a video project she wishes to submit to a contemporary art museum. However, she faces dismissal from the pretentious Nancy Harrington (Tracy Wright), who embodies the snobby critique of the art world, confusing genuine creativity with commonplace trash. After a comical incident where an artist treats a burger wrapper as art, Nancy insists that Christine mail her project instead of accepting it on the spot.
As their relationship develops, Richard and Christine enjoy a casual walk following Richard's work day. They begin to dream about a shared future, yet this moment of intimacy quickly turns precarious when Richard feels overwhelmed and asks Christine to exit his car before driving away in confusion.
Meanwhile, the two brothers, Robby and Peter, experiment with an online chat that stirs controversy and curiosity, leading to Robby meeting a woman in the park who, realizing he’s just a child, walks away after an unexpected kiss. Robby also finds a close companion in Silvie, a neighborhood girl raised by her parents, Colette Kilroy and James Kayten.
The story further unfolds with teenagers Heather (Natasha Slayton) and Rebecca (Najarra Townsend), who explore their budding friendship with their older neighbor Andrew (Brad William Henke). Their playful yet complicated dynamic involves flirty exchanges and misinterpreted signals, which culminates in shocking encounters that blur the lines of innocence.
Despite Christine's initial failures at the museum, her persistence pays off as her work gains unexpected acceptance from the curator—a woman connected to the boys. As the characters' lives intertwine, Peter strikes a friendship with Silvie that reveals deeper themes of hope and aspiration, epitomized by the hope chest she dreams of filling for her future marriage.
In a poignant finale, the narrative threads converge as Richard and Christine acknowledge their feelings for each other, and Robby discovers the sounds that awaken him at dawn are simply a businessman passing time—an encounter that symbolizes the mundane beauty of life. When Robby is gifted a quarter by this stranger, it serves as a metaphor for time and its ever-passing nature, inviting reflection on the mosaic of relationships that color their lives.
