Ordinary Miracle

Kay Woodbury is portrayed as a powerful and tough judge who maintains a distant relationship with her father due to past conflicts involving a scam. She handles her latest case with seriousness and authority, reflecting her strong personality. Her background sets the tone for her personal struggles and sense of justice.

Sally Powell, a rebellious teenager, has experienced instability in her life, having been in multiple foster homes. She exhibits anger and mistrust towards authority figures and feels abandoned by her biological parents. Her placement in juvenile prison underscores her troubled past and the challenges she faces.

Moved by her circumstances, Kay chooses to foster Sally, providing her with stability and care. Sally is initially suspicious and distrustful, which leads her to steal jewelry from Kay to fund her plans to move away. This act highlights Sally’s struggles with trust and abandonment.

Over time, Kay and Sally start to develop a mutual understanding and respect. Sally shows her intelligence and interests, like playing chess, which impresses Kay. Their relationship begins to shift from suspicion to genuine affection, and Sally begins to see Kay as a confidante.

Sally tries to impress her boyfriend, a bad boy, by pawning stolen jewelry, but only manages to get $200. Her attempt to forge a new life is hindered by her mistrust and her desperation to escape her past life. This highlights her struggle to find stability and trust.

While reviewing Sally's files, Kay learns that Sally's widowed biological father, James, lives nearby. She also discovers that Sally's mother, Miranda, has died. Kay decides to reach out to James for landscaping work, initiating a new connection with her past.

Kay contacts James for work, and they quickly become friends, although Kay keeps Sally's existence private at first. Their relationship introduces complex feelings about family and reconciliation, complicating Kay's perception of her own family history.

When Kay tells James about Sally, he reacts negatively, refusing to accept her and claiming she wouldn't accept him either. This fallout highlights the emotional distance and unresolved issues between them, creating tension in their newly formed relationship.

Sally discovers Kay's secret about her biological father and feels betrayed, believing Kay was hiding her true identity. She steals more jewelry and runs away with her boyfriend, who further risks her safety by robbing a pawn shop involved in her theft.

After her boyfriend abandons her, Sally returns home where Kay welcomes her back. This moment signifies a turning point as Sally starts to trust Kay again and begins to contemplate her future.

In the film's closing moments, Sally chooses to give her father a second chance. She along with Kay and James visit Miranda's grave, symbolizing her willingness to confront her past and embrace her future with hope and forgiveness.