At home in her opulent mansion in Savannah, Georgia, Katheryn Cryer places a call to her husband, Judge Jim Cryer, on his 50th birthday. "What time will you be home?" she asks. "It is your birthday, and our children will be here tonight for a surprise dinner."
"This trial has more twists and turns than a roller coaster," he says. "I'll be home by 9."
"Six," Katheryn says. "And not a moment later."
As Jim hangs up, there's a knock at his door—the door to his hotel room. He opens it to find Candace, a beautiful escort in her 20s. "I thought I was coming to see an old man," she says.
"Flattery will get you everywhere," Jim says.
"Well, money will get you this," she says, dropping her coat.
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Back at Katheryn's house, she interviews a woman named Hanna for an open maid position. As Katheryn presses Hanna for details about the family she used to work for, Hanna declines to answer any questions about their personal lives. Katheryn asks one more question, and Hanna gets up to leave. "I don't think this is the place for me," she says.
Katheryn tells her to sit down. "My family has been known to have a few skeletons in our closet, and it is very important to me that they stay there," she says. "So everyone I hire is under extreme scrutiny, especially in this day of social media. Do you understand?"
Hanna has passed Katheryn's test. She is hired. "Confidentiality is the key to keeping your job," Katheryn says.
Katheryn calls her housekeeper, Celine, to train Hanna. In the kitchen and away from Katheryn, the two woman—actually old friends—are happy to be working with one another again.
"What's Katheryn like?" Hanna asks.
"She is a handful," Celine says. "But as long as you do your job, you shouldn't have a problem."
Back in Jim's hotel room, he and Candace have both had the best sex of their lives. "I'd love to see you again," Jim says.
"This is my personal number," Candace says. "Use it anytime."
In the Cryer living room, Katheryn paces and gives Hanna final instructions before her children, Wyatt and Amanda, arrive for their father's party. She asks Hanna if she has children. Hanna says she does—a boy and a girl.
Then, Katheryn's friend Veronica Harrington arrives, walking past Hanna and handing her a coat and hat like she was a coat rack. Veronica is a recovering alcoholic, 20 years sober, who runs a prominent rehab facility on the beach. She is married to a judge friend of Jim's, David Harrington.
Veronica has big news: She has just merged with her competitor. Hanna is told to bring sparkling water for Veronica and Champagne for Katheryn to celebrate.
"You and David will be here tonight for Jim's birthday dinner?" Katheryn asks.
"Of course we will. How often does our good friend turn 50?" Veronica says. "How is he feeling about turning 50, anyway?"
Katheryn says she's waiting for his midlife crisis. "I'm expecting a red sports car in the driveway at any second, and he's probably going to trade me in for a younger version."
"Not if he knows what's good for him," Veronica says. "That's one of the perks of being an heiress."
Katheryn and Veronica's conversation is interrupted as their sons, Wyatt and Jeffery, arrive. Katheryn's son, Wyatt, is a patient in Veronica's facility. Jeffery, Veronica's son, is his rehabilitation counselor, who can't leave Wyatt's side during this phase of treatment.
Wyatt excuses himself to go to the bathroom, but Veronica reminds him that Jeffery must go with him. In protest, Wyatt strips off all of his clothes. "You see I got nothing," Wyatt says.
Wyatt goes to his room, where he surprises Celine and Hanna. Jeffery rushes in after him.
"He's on his third stint of rehab," Celine confides to Hanna. "Do you know that my son was working here for a little bit last year, and Wyatt tried to get him to buy drugs for him? Watch him. He's a snake."
In the kitchen, Katheryn gets an update from Jeffery on Wyatt's progress. "He's been clean for 47 days, but he is still very agitated with having to deal with the real world," Jeffery says.
Katheryn asks if Jeffery will be staying all weekend. He says he is. "That's the only way he could be let out."
Just then, Jim comes home—and Wyatt, still naked, comes down the stairs. "Put your damn clothes on now!" he says. "Jeffery, am I going to have to talk to your father about this? Are you helping him at all?"
Jim and Wyatt begin to argue, and Katheryn urges them to calm down. Then, Jim and Katheryn's daughter, Amanda, enters—and she's brought a friend from law school. "Everybody, this is a good friend of mine," she says. "This is Candace."
Jim and Candace look at each other, shocked. "Nice to meet you," Candace says.
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Upstairs, Amanda shows Candace her room. "Your house is beautiful," Candace says.
"I'm sure your parents' house is just as nice," Amanda replies.
"Not really," Candace says.
Candace asks if Amanda's parents mind that she's there. "Don't worry about it," Amanda says. "My dad loves having guests here at the house."
The party has begun downstairs. The Harringtons, as well as several other guests, have arrived to celebrate Jim's 50th. Jim is quieter than usual. "It's just been a long day," he tells Amanda.
The conversation turns to Candace's family. "Well, my father is a doctor at the Winslow Cancer Institute," she says, declining to give his name.
When asked about her mother, Candace says she died when she was young. Just then, Hanna enters, sees Candace and stops in her tracks. They stare at one another, and Hanna begins handing out drinks. When she gets to Candace, she spills wine down the front of her dress.
Candace cleans up as Katheryn brings Hanna into the kitchen. "Celine, will you do the serving please?" Katheryn says.
After Katheryn and Celine leave the kitchen, Hanna sneaks upstairs to find Candace—her daughter. "What are you doing with these people?" she says. "You're up to something."
Watch their confrontation
"Girl, something bad is going to happen to you," Hanna says. "You can't keep living like this."
"And you can't keep living with your head buried in a Bible, trying to hide who you really are," Candace says. "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree."
Hanna goes back to the kitchen and finds Celine. She tells her that Candace is her daughter. "I put her out of my house. She was hanging with the wrong crowds," she says. "She's trouble, just bad news. I've got to tell them."
Celine stops Hanna. "I know these Cryers. You need this job. They will think you had something to do with this," she says. "Just keep your mouth shut and get her out of here."
"This is not going to end good at all," Hanna says. "I know my child."
Back home after a long day, Hanna greets her 28-year-old son, Benny. He's got some good news—he bought his first tow truck. "Pretty soon, I'll have a fleet of them," he says.
Hanna then tells Benny who walked into the Cryers' party. Hanna says she's afraid Candace will cost her the new job. Benny says she won't. "She is in college and doing pretty good," he says.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Hanna says.
"Because I didn't want you to be upset," he says.
Hanna wants to know who's paying for her school. Benny says he doesn't know but insists she will get her life together. He also tells his mother that Candace has a nanny for her young son.
"That girl left here broke 18 months ago, and now she has a nanny?" Hanna says. "Benny, she is going to rob those people blind. She is no good."
Benny asks his mother to relax. "You know you have to watch your blood pressure," he says. "Come, I made you some dinner."
The party ends, and Veronica has some parting advice for Katheryn. "I'm not so sure about that girl," she says. "Watch her."
With the guests gone, Jim and Katheryn head upstairs. Katheryn confronts Jim about why he's acting strangely. "What's her name?" Katheryn asks.
"Okay. You caught me. Her name is Amanda. Perhaps you met her; she's our daughter. She cuts herself," he says. "Then there is Wyatt, our son. He's in rehab."
"I've got that," Katheryn says. "We do have a lot to be thankful for. That's what we should be thankful for. Let's hope they'll find their way."
"Whatever we have to be thankful for, do me a favor," Jim says. "Put it on a sticky note so I'll notice it."
Elsewhere in the house, Candace gets a call from Benny. "I didn't know she worked here," she says. "Tell her to find another job."
"Mama thinks you're up to something," he says. "Please tell me you're not up to your old tricks."
Candace says she's changed and will pay her family's bills like she promised. Before she lets him go, Benny shares his big news.
"I'm so happy for you," she says. "You have wanted to be a tow truck driver since you were a kid. I'm happy for you. It looks like both of us are on the cusp of our dreams. I'll call you later."
Later, Candace is asleep next to Amanda when she feels a hand come over her mouth. It's Jim, who motions for Candace to come with him.
Meanwhile, Wyatt is in Jim's study prying open the liquor cabinet. He hides as he hears his father and Candace in the foyer.
"How long have you known my daughter?" Jim asks.
"This semester," Candace says. "I'm sorry that this happened. I had no idea."
Jim tells her that at 7 a.m., they will all have breakfast, and then Candace will leave, never to speak to Amanda again.
"So what you said about wanting to see me again, you didn't mean it?" Candace says.
"No, not like this," Jim says. "I don't know you. You are in my home and among my family. You don't belong here. Now be out of here in the morning. Get out."
Candace says she will—for $100,000 and a sports car. "Or I will burn your little playhouse down."
"Little girl, you have no idea who you're dealing with," Jim says.
"And you have no idea who you're dealing with," she replies.
Candace goes back upstairs. Wyatt has heard everything.
