People Like Us

Sam Harper faces a looming federal probe and pressure from his boss to bribe federal officials. The risk of violating federal law threatens both his career and freedom as he weighs illegal shortcuts. The situation forces him to confront where his loyalty truly lies.

Sam and Hannah fly to Los Angeles after learning Jerry has died, setting the stage for a tense family reunion. They confront Sam's mother Lillian and begin to see the fractures in his inherited past. The trip marks the start of Sam's complicated relationship with his family.

Jerry's lawyer informs Sam that he will not inherit any money. He hands Sam a shaving kit containing $150,000 in cash and a note directing him to deliver it to Josh Davis. The arrangement binds Sam to Jerry's other family and to a possible moral conflict.

Sam secretly follows Frankie to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and learns she is Jerry's illegitimate daughter, making Josh his nephew. He introduces himself to Frankie as a visiting fellow alcoholic, establishing a tenuous connection. This discovery begins to blur the lines between ally and beneficiary.

Sam reveals to Hannah that he intends to keep the money, prompting a rift between them. Hannah returns to New York in disgust, choosing distance over partnership in his moral dilemma. Their relationship becomes strained as Sam's loyalties shift toward his newfound family.

Sam starts spending time with Josh and prevents him from shoplifting CDs, gradually becoming part of their daily life. He helps with laundry and learns that Jerry visited Frankie and her mother on Sundays, revealing a hidden paternal history. The bond grows as Sam assumes a protective, almost familial role.

Frankie worries that Sam's presence will disrupt Josh's life and pushes him away. Sam chooses to stay and later returns to pick up Josh from school after he gets into a fight. The tense dynamic tests their fragile family arrangement and Sam's commitment.

Sam reveals his paternity to Frankie, who responds with guarded gratitude and anger, ultimately ordering him to leave. Frankie then receives Jerry's money through a lawyer, quits her job, and moves with Josh into a suburban neighborhood, cutting contact with Sam. The revelation shifts the balance of power and leaves Sam at a crossroads.

Lillian is hospitalized with a heart condition, forcing Sam and Hannah to confront their relationship. In the waiting room, they reconcile, and Hannah decides to enroll in UCLA's law program to stay close to him. The family crisis rekindles their bond and sets a new shared goal.

After discharge, Lillian reveals that she pressed Jerry to choose family over Frankie, protecting Sam, but Jerry rejected his son to avoid reminding him of the daughter he abandoned. Meanwhile, Josh, missing Sam, leaves a note with Sam's new address. The revelation of past choices deepens the family’s pain and drives their next steps.

Sam visits Frankie to seek forgiveness and expresses his wish to be her brother and Josh's uncle and father figure. He shows her an old film reel that Jerry shot of a young Sam at a playground, revealing that Jerry loved both children. Frankie, touched by the revelation, accepts Sam as her brother.

With the past acknowledged, Sam, Frankie, and Josh begin to envision a future that includes both their lives. Hannah stays nearby, pursuing law to remain connected, and Lillian's memory guides their choices. The story ends with a redefined family unit built on forgiveness and shared history.

Eventually the siblings and Sam embrace a broader family role, supporting each other across personal struggles. Josh's life now includes Frankie and his uncle/father figure Sam, while Hannah and Sam navigate a life grounded in love rather than professional pressure. The film finishes on a hopeful note that families can heal through understanding and time.