My Days of Mercy (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Lucy and Martha believe their father Simon is innocent. Despite the evidence pointing to him for their mother's murder eight years ago, the sisters are convinced the conviction is wrong. Their entire activism is built on the belief that Simon was wrongly sentenced to death, making their fight for acquittal central to their identity and family bond.

Foreshadowing: The film establishes early on that the sisters' entire lifestyle revolves around proving Simon's innocence, suggesting this belief is foundational to their family.

• simon Moro
• death row
• father convicted
• mother's murder
• wrongful conviction

Mercy's attendance at the execution shows her respect for Lucy and the family despite their romantic breakup. Though the relationship ended painfully when Lucy discovered Mercy still lived with her parents and had a boyfriend, Mercy chooses to be present during this devastating moment. Her presence demonstrates genuine connection beyond the romantic relationship and honors what they shared.

Foreshadowing: Their earlier connection was built on shared vulnerability about the case, making the execution a moment Mercy feels compelled to witness.

• mercy bromage
• execution
• breakup
• support

Lucy moves to California as part of the family's decision to sell their Ohio house and seek a fresh start after the execution. The loss of their father and the end of their years-long activism leaves the family fractured. Lucy chooses to build a quiet, modest life away from the painful memories, working as a waitress in California represents her attempt at normalcy and healing.

Foreshadowing: Martha proposed selling the house and moving away for a fresh start after the execution, which Lucy and Ben agreed to.

• california
• waitress
• new life
• healing
• move away

Despite Lucy being an anti-death penalty activist fighting for her father's acquittal and Mercy's father being a police officer with ties to the death penalty case, they form a deep personal connection. Their relationship develops through shared moments of vulnerability and mutual attraction. The romance represents an escape from the political tensions that define their daily lives, creating an intimate space where their opposing worlds temporarily dissolve.

Foreshadowing: Their first meeting occurs during a protest demonstration, immediately establishing the tension between their family circumstances.

• relationship
• forbidden love
• opposite sides
• death penalty
• mercy bromage
• lucy Moro

Martha hires a lawyer who successfully secures a four-month stay of execution, temporarily halting Simon's death sentence. This legal delay gives the family time to search for loopholes or new evidence that could reopen the case and prove Simon's innocence. The stay represents their last real hope of saving Simon, though it ultimately ends when all appeals are denied.

Foreshadowing: The timeline builds tension around this deadline, with the story progressing toward the execution date.

• stay of execution
• legal appeal
• lawyer
• martha Moro

When Lucy travels alone to Illinois to visit Mercy, she discovers Mercy still lives with her parents and has a boyfriend. This revelation devastates Lucy because she had believed their connection was exclusive and serious. Mercy's situation suggests she wasn't fully ready to commit to Lucy or leave her existing life behind, leading Lucy to end the relationship.

Foreshadowing: Their relationship existed primarily through Skype calls and brief meetings during protests, keeping their connection somewhat detached from everyday reality.

• mercy boyfriend
• illinois
• breakup
• confrontation

When Simon's final legal appeals are denied and the evidence continues to point toward his guilt, the execution proceeds. Despite the sisters' years of activism and the temporary stay, Simon is executed in Illinois. This devastating event marks the tragic culmination of the family's fight and changes everything for Lucy, Martha, and Ben.

Foreshadowing: The four-month stay was always a temporary measure while searching for new evidence that apparently was never found.

• execution
• appeals denied
• simon Moro
• death row

Mercy travels to California six months after Simon's execution to attempt to rekindle her relationship with Lucy. Despite their painful breakup and Lucy's new life as a waitress, Mercy hopes to reconnect. Lucy initially rejects her, but eventually decides to give their relationship another chance, suggesting unresolved feelings remain between them.

Foreshadowing: The film's ending hints that their connection was never fully severed, despite the heartbreak.

• mercy california
• reconciliation
• second chance
• relationship

Lucy and Martha live in a mobile home while traveling between states to protest for their father's acquittal. This lifestyle allows them to maintain their activism full-time while staying together as a family. Their ten-year-old brother Ben accompanies them, making the mobile home their family home as they campaign across different states.

Foreshadowing: The film opens with this mobile home lifestyle, establishing the nomadic existence that defines their family.

• mobile home
• travel
• activism
• ben Moro
• family

The tension stems from Lucy and Martha's anti-death penalty activism for their father Simon, while Mercy's father is a police officer whose work connects him to the death penalty case that sent Simon to death row. This places their families on opposite sides of a politically charged issue that directly impacts both of their lives.

Foreshadowing: Their first meeting occurs at a protest demonstration, immediately highlighting this fundamental conflict.

• death penalty
• police officer
• political tension
• family conflict
• mercy father