Ride

In NYC, Angelo is accepted into NYU to major in writing, a dream Jackie has long fostered. She has been his relentless editor and mentor, shaping his voice since childhood. The success masks his growing insecurity as he fears he won't live up to her standards.

Angelo travels cross-country to California to spend the summer with his father's family. For five days Jackie can't reach him, prompting her to fly out and visit his NYU dorm, only to learn he has dropped out. The trip marks the start of a new life for him, far from NYC and his mother's supervision.

Jackie follows Angelo to California and, with Ramon in pursuit, learns he has embraced surfing in Santa Monica. They stay up all night outside Peter's home, watching for him until dawn when he emerges with a surfboard. He bluntly tells his mother that the NYC world no longer interests him and that Santa Monica is where he belongs now.

Realizing she must fit into Angelo's world, Jackie resolves to learn surfing. She can't master it alone and hires Ian, a nearby surfer, to teach her. Despite Ramon's skepticism, she pursues the new skill with stubborn determination.

After their second day of lessons, Jackie and Ian sleep together, crossing a line between personal and instructor relationships. The affair deepens her immersion in Angelo's life and complicates the bond she has with him. The next day, they run into Angelo and his surfing friends on the beach.

At an outdoor cafe near the beach, Angelo's group looms over Jackie's circle when a bag of weed is dropped. Jackie tries it and ends up giggling, then confesses she has been fired from her publishing job. The moment highlights how far she has drifted from her old life.

That evening Jackie goes to Peter's house and meets his pregnant second wife and their young daughter. The scene highlights Angelo's fractured family life and the mounting tension between old loyalties. It also underscores the complexity of Jackie's presence in both households.

The next day Angelo confronts Jackie inside his room, accusing her of smothering him since his brother's accidental death and demanding distance. He asserts he wants to live on his own terms rather than under her protection. The quarrel exposes the central conflict between a protective mother and a son seeking independence.

The day after the confrontation, Jackie and Ian decide to see each other, but she leaves California to return to New York. Her return signals a reassessment of her West Coast immersion and her role in Angelo's life. The separation creates space for both to chart their own paths.

Back on the East Coast, Jackie retrieves Angelo's brother's ashes and disperses them in the ocean, seeking closure for their shared tragedy. The ritual signals a final attempt to reconcile family memories with current realities. This act marks a pause before a new chapter begins.

A few days after the ash ceremony, on Angelo's birthday, Jackie arranges for him to meet her at the beach so he can witness her surfing progress. The scene blends affection, pride, and a reminder of the distance between their lives. It hints at a possible bridge between motherly care and his independence.

Jackie announces she is moving to LA and will no longer smother Angelo. In response, Angelo secures his place back at NYU by insisting on his own path and leaving behind the older writer he had considered. The shift signals a new balance in their relationship.

Mother and son share one final surfing session together before going their separate ways. They acknowledge the changes in their bond and commit to living their individual lives with a measure of mutual respect. The film ends on a note of independence tempered by lingering connection.