A writer and mother, Lucy Barton lives in New York City with her husband William and grapples with her traumatic past. Originally from Amgash, Illinois, Lucy escaped a childhood of harsh poverty and abuse after gaining a full scholarship to college and seeks a new life in New York City that will allow her to tap into her full potential as a writer. Self-conscious, Lucy does not see herself as an artist. Estranged from her family, Lucy must confront her tenuous relationship with her mother when her husband invites her mother to care for Lucy in a hospital as she recovers from an infection.

Lucy and her mother struggle to connect as her mother entertains her with stories about people from their hometown while Lucy seeks a deeper connection. The mother and daughter navigate the unspoken tension arising from the abuse Lucy suffered in her childhood. Lucy soon realizes her mother’s limitations when she abandons Lucy in her most vulnerable state out of fear. This moment propels Lucy to explore her own identity as a writer and a human. Through her friendships with other artists and parental figures, Lucy gains an understanding of her trauma and its power to free her from the past.