In the year 1976, amidst the backdrop of Beverly Hills, 14-year-old Vivian Abromowitz grapples with the relentless challenges of poverty and a pervasive social stigma. Her family, under the watchful eye of her divorced father, Murray, is in a constant state of flux, shuffling between dilapidated apartments as they strive to access the prestigious schools in the area for Vivian and her siblings. The weight of their financial struggles intensifies with Murray's futile attempts at selling Oldsmobiles, a venture hampered further by the prevalent energy crisis.
Their lifeline emerges in the form of Vivian's affluent uncle, Mickey, who routinely sends vital funds to help the family stay afloat. However, when Mickey's 29-year-old daughter Rita escapes from rehab, Murray seizes the opportunity to offer her a place to stay, provided Mickey foots the bill for their new living arrangements.
As Vivian steps into the role of caretaker for her errant cousin, she must navigate the intricacies of family dynamics and expectations. her responsibilities extend to ensuring that Rita pursues her nursing studies, shuns her unhealthy habits, and ultimately discovers a sense of direction in her life. On her own journey, Vivian wrestles with burgeoning feelings about sexuality, a budding crush on her neighbor Eliot, and the embarrassment stemming from the family's dire financial state.
Vivian's older brother Ben harbors ambitions of a career in show business, while their father seems torn between his attraction to his wealthy companion, Doris Zimmerman, and the painful prospect of sending his children back East to live with their mother. Meanwhile, the youngest sibling, Rickey, yearns for a life of comfort, dreaming of basic amenities like actual furniture, and worries about the increasing age of their father.
As the bond between Vivian and Rita deepens, they often converse in a unique language of their own. Yet, it becomes apparent that Rita's true passion lies not within the walls of nursing school but in revisiting a romance with a man she encountered during her time in rehab. This wavering focus distresses both families, especially as Murray strives to pacify Mickey, who is demanding updates on Rita's progress.
The tensions explode during a fraught meeting between the families, culminating in Mickey fiercely proclaiming that Murray is "their real father" due to his financial support. Vivian's reaction is immediate and fierce—she plunges a fork into Mickey's leg. The drama escalates when Rita breaks the news of her pregnancy to her family, leading her to board a flight with her furious parents. Devastated, Murray gathers his children once more and embarks into an uncertain future.
Determined to lift their father's spirits amid the upheaval, Vivian proposes a nostalgic breakfast stop at Sizzler for a cheap steak—a comforting routine that Murray has often employed to express his love for his children. This small act provides a brief moment of solace amidst the turmoil enveloping their lives.
