Shrink

Dr. Henry Carter is a renowned Hollywood psychiatrist with a luxurious life in the Hills and a thriving practice. He has published a hugely successful self-help book. Yet he is disheveled, smoking marijuana at home, in his car, and behind his office, and he drinks himself to sleep, waking up in his clothes without ever entering his bedroom.

Patrick is a high-powered talent agent and one of Carter's patients. He is self-obsessed, angst-ridden, and germ-phobic, constantly managing his image and clients. Despite his flaws, he relies on Carter's incisive therapy to navigate the industry.

Seamus, an actor, struggles with drugs and alcohol and is one of Patrick's biggest clients. Although he is not Carter's patient, Seamus' world intersects with Carter's through a shared drug-dealer named Jesus. This connection underscores how addiction binds the Hollywood elite in a fragile network.

Jack Holden is another celebrity with a drinking problem who remains in denial about his issues. He continues therapy, insisting his problems are something else, while Carter maintains a steady therapeutic presence. Their dynamic shows Carter's patience with hard-to-treat patients.

Kate is a smart, poised actress in her thirties whose opportunities shrink due to Patrick's view of her age. Her rock-star husband, self-centered and unfaithful, compounds her personal turmoil. Carter observes the pressures she faces as she navigates a ruthless industry.

Jemma, a troubled high-school student, is required to see Carter after she cuts her hand punching a mirror. She is referred to Carter by his father as a pro-bono case because, like Carter's wife, Jemma's mother died by suicide. An avid moviegoer with ambitions to become a filmmaker, Jemma adds a meta dimension to the therapy.

Carter has few friends and spends time with Jesus, his pot dealer, and he also socializes with Jeremy, who is loosely connected to Carter through his deceased wife. Jeremy is a struggling writer who finds creative inspiration in Carter's circle and Jemma. Their interaction expands the film's web of relationships.

Jeremy secretly steals Jemma's private file from Carter's office and uses her experiences to draft a breakthrough screenplay about her. With Daisy's help, Jeremy frames the project to capture Patrick's interest, blurring boundaries and ethics. The deception begins to ripple through Carter's professional world.

The screenplay about Jemma gains Patrick's interest, aided by Daisy's assistance. Jeremy realizes a breakthrough moment as his writing connects with Hollywood power. The collaboration between agents and screenwriters starts to elevate the project in the industry.

During a live television talk show, Carter suffers a public breakdown when he reveals that his wife died by suicide. He denounces his self-help book as 'bullshit' and admits he feels like a fraud. He storms off the set, shocking the host and the audience.

Jemma, Daisy, and Jeremy react to Carter's on-air outburst. Carter decides to stop treating Jemma, though he helps her begin to come to terms with her mother's suicide. The decision tests his professional boundaries and personal beliefs.

Jemma discovers the screenplay and feels betrayed by Jeremy's deception. Carter angrily confronts Jeremy for his manipulation but also accepts his own professional responsibility in the situation, recognizing that he unknowingly enabled it. The tension highlights the ethics of storytelling and therapy.

Carter and Jeremy are invited to a meeting at Patrick's office, where Jemma is waiting in a conference room. Jemma approves of Jeremy's screenplay, and Patrick announces that he will represent her and develop the project into a movie. Power shifts as Jemma takes control of her narrative.

Having disposed of his drug supply, Carter visits Kate at home and tells her he does not want to see her professionally anymore, hinting at a possible romantic interest. Kate smiles, signaling a reframed personal relationship. The moment marks a turn in Carter's private life.

That night, Carter puts on pajamas, glances at the former marital bed, and climbs into his own bed to switch off the light. The scene suggests a tentative, intimate renewal after upheaval. The private ending contrasts with his earlier public breakdown and professional chaos.