The Poker House

Sarah's husband, a preacher, abuses the children. The family flees their home to escape the violence. After meeting Duval, Sarah becomes a prostitute to support the girls, setting in motion the Poker House world. These changes lay the groundwork for Agnes's difficult childhood.

With Sarah unable to provide stability, Agnes assumes responsibility for her younger sisters. She juggles school, chores, and multiple jobs as the Poker House atmosphere grows around them. She tries to shield her sisters from the worst of the pimps and gamblers.

Bee expresses a wish to move into a foster home and be adopted, seeking a chance at a normal life. The dream contrasts with the harsh reality of their surroundings. The possibility of a different future remains a fragile thread throughout their youth.

Cammie spends the day at a bar, befriending Dolly, the bar owner, and Stymie, an alcoholic. The adults' world encroaches on the children, highlighting the neglect they endure. The scene shows how the environment seeps into every corner of their lives.

Agnes rides through town, chats with friends, and plays basketball, all while picking up paychecks from her part-time jobs. She remains focused on caring for her sisters despite the chaos around her. The day shows her resilience and the beginnings of her public talent.

Towards the end of the day, Agnes climbs through Bee's window to avoid the living room filled with gamblers and drunks. She helps Bee leave the house and tells her not to come back for a while. The sisters cling to each other as the environment worsens.

That same evening, Duval and Agnes begin kissing, and he rapes her. The trauma devastates Agnes as she runs to the bathroom to clean herself. Sarah enters the scene but refuses to touch her, instead telling Agnes to go to the store to buy alcohol.

After the assault, Agnes overhears Duval telling Sarah that he will begin pimping and selling her. She confronts a new level of fear as the possibility of being owned and exploited becomes real. The revelation shatters any remaining sense of safety.

Agnes threatens to shoot Duval and fires a couple of shots. Sarah tells Agnes that she will defend him, revealing a chilling complicity. The family remains trapped in a cycle of abuse, with little support for Agnes.

Despite the trauma, Agnes becomes a basketball star, scoring 27 points in the second half, a record that lasts for years. She pushes through pain and fear to perform at a level that could change her life. The moment stands out as a beacon of talent amid darkness.

After the final basket, Agnes limps to the car and drives off with Bee and Cammie, avoiding revealing the night’s violence to her sisters. The trio shares a moment of defiant bonding as they head away from the Poker House. The route becomes a temporary escape from their harsh reality.

Some years later, Agnes leaves Iowa to pursue acting and art in New York, beginning a new life away from the familiar danger. The move marks the start of a personal transformation and the search for opportunity.

Approximately twenty years after the events, we learn that Agnes has directed the movie, revealing it is Lori Petty's childhood story. The film uses her own memories to tell this deeply personal tale. The meta aspect underscores the healing that storytelling can bring.