Sherry Swanson, portrayed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, arrives at Genesis House, which serves as a refuge for women recently paroled from prison. Having just completed a three-year sentence for robbery driven by her heroin addiction, she battles her past as she enters her own private room while also adhering to her daily chores and sharing a payphone with other residents.
Struggling with her recovery, Sherry quickly manipulates her surroundings to her advantage, seducing Andy, the house manager played by Rio Hackford. To secure the job she desires in a daycare center, she even resorts to performing oral sex on her job placement counselor. Amidst her challenges, she finds encouragement in Dean, a fellow recovery group member portrayed by Danny Trejo, who reminds her of the bar she used to frequent while underage.
Sherry's commitment to being a good mother to her daughter, Alexis, portrayed by Ryan Simpkins, is constantly tested. Alexis has been raised by Sherry's brother Bobby and sister-in-law Lynette, with Alexis feeling confused over her mother’s return. Tensions rise when Lynette discourages Alexis from calling Sherry “mother,” further complicating Sherry's attempts to reconnect.
Things come to a head when Sherry clashes with another resident and chooses to move in with her brother and Lynette. During a visit from her father, played by Sam Bottoms, Sherry tries to win family approval by singing "Eternal Flame," but the family's attention is predominantly on Alexis, and the atmosphere grows tense. In a heart-wrenching moment, Alexis reveals that Lynette insists on calling her "Sherry," leading to conflict between them.
In a swift turn of events, Sherry finds herself staying at a motel, where she encounters her parole officer, Hernandez. Faced with the threat of returning to prison, Sherry struggles to stay on the right path, realizing she faces a choice each day—either to embrace recovery or succumb to her past.
Sherry attempts to build a relationship with Alexis, but chaos ensues during a birthday party organized without her knowledge. After experiencing an inappropriate encounter with her father, Sherry feels betrayed and finds solace in drugs once again. Following her reunion with Dean, who leads her through a healing ritual, she becomes torn between the struggle of her addiction and the hope of rebuilding her life.
As the weekend approaches, Sherry fights against her cravings and encounters with Hernandez, contemplating whether to choose detox or prison. During an emotional lunch with Bobby, Sherry confronts her motherhood failures but ultimately decides to drive away, leaving behind the life she yearned to reclaim.
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