A weary young woman, Iris Brevard, is forced to move in with her overbearing mother, Min, following her husband's suicide. She finds her only escape from her mother's badgering is to verbally fight back and to hide herself in an alcoholic haze. Unfortunately, her young teen son, Lonnie, observes all of this and finds himself torn between the two women. The older woman is multi-dimensional as she is clearly shown as manipulative and critical, but also as loving and charming. This is clearly shown in scenes with Fred Ward as the father of a bride-to-be who comes to the women's bridal gown shop to stop the purchase of his daughter's wedding dress. After facing Rowlands, he willingly writes the check for the next dress payment. The film also raises questions about whether Min was responsible for the suicide of Iris' husband. As Lonnie questions his father's death and is faced with similar pressures, he also clearly is considering his life options.