Sam Dawson ( Sean Penn ) . a adult male with a developmental disablement. is the individual male parent of Lucy ( Dakota Fanning ) . following their forsaking by her female parent. who is revealed to be a stateless adult female who “just needed a topographic point to sleep” . Despite his restrictions. Sam is well-balanced and has a supportive group of friends with developmental disablements. every bit good as a sort. agoraphobic neighbour Annie ( Dianne Wiest ) who takes attention of Lucy when Sam can non. Though Sam provides a loving and lovingness environment for precocious Lucy. she shortly surpasses his mental ability. Other kids tease her for holding a “retard” as a male parent. and she becomes excessively embarrassed to accept that she is more intellectually advanced than Sam.
At a surprise party Sam planned for Lucy. a kid and his male parent torture Sam. and Lucy walks in on Sam being pushed around by the male parent. He is said to hold “assaulted” the kid. and Lucy is taken off from him. as there had already been several issues. such as Sam inadvertently speaking to a Hooker. and Lucy “showing signs” that Sam is a load. In readying for a detention instance. a societal worker turns up at Lucy’s birthday party and takes her off. leting Sam two supervised visits per hebdomad.
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On the advice of his friends. Sam approaches a high-octane attorney. Rita Harrison ( Michelle Pfeiffer ) . whose brusk mode. fast-paced agenda and hard personal life have earned her a repute as cold and unfeeling. In an effort to turn out to others that she is non hardhearted. Rita surprisingly agrees to take on Sam’s instance pro bono. As they work together to procure Sam’s parental rights. Sam inadvertently helps Rita with her household jobs. including promoting her to go forth her philandering hubby and mending her refractory relationship with her boy. She and Sam have an emotional minute together when they reveal that they ne’er feel good plenty.
At the test. Sam breaks down after opposing advocate convinces him that he is non capable of being a male parent. After the test. Lucy resides in a surrogate place with Randy Carpenter ( Laura Dern ) . but tries to convert Sam to assist her run off. and continually flights in the center of the dark to travel to Sam’s flat. whereupon he instantly returns her. Ultimately. the surrogate household who planned to follow Lucy make up one’s mind to return her to Sam. with an agreement that Randy will assist him raise her.
The concluding scene depicts a association football game. which Sam referees and in which Lucy participates as a participant. In attending are the surrogate household. Sam’s friendly relationship group. and a newly-single Rita with her boy.
