Accidents Happen 2010

On a drizzly evening in 1974, the Conway family gathers at a Connecticut drive-in theater to catch a screening of The Three Stooges. Gloria (Geena Davis), a force to be reckoned with, firmly establishes herself as the rock upon which the family’s stability rests. Her easy-going husband Ray (Joel Tobeck) serves as the perfect counterbalance, often caught in the crossfire between his wife’s strictures and their children’s antics. The Conways’ brood consists of Linda, Gene, Larry (Harry Cook), and youngest son Billy (Harrison Gilbertson), a hapless youngster prone to mishaps.

As they settle into their seats, their neighbor Douglas “Doug” Post (Sebastian Gregory) pedals by on his bicycle, prompting Gene’s mischievous invitation for Doug to join him atop the drive-in screen. In a bold display of teenage rebellion, Gene takes matters into his own hands and, ahem, lets it all hang out for the audience to see. Gloria’s wrath is only momentarily stayed as she trips en route to scolding her offspring, while the assembled movie-goers respond with a cacophony of horn honks and exasperated shouts.

The evening’s tranquility is shattered when the Conways’ return home in the rain, their conversation devolving into a heated squabble that leaves Ray distracted. The resulting collision with a pick-up truck sends shockwaves through the family, leaving Gloria, Ray, Billy, and Larry with minor injuries. Tragically, Linda meets her untimely demise, while Gene’s misadventures take a devastating toll on his physical well-being, leaving him brain-damaged and paralyzed from the neck down.

As the years went by since the fateful incident, Ray’s life continued to unravel. In 1982, eight grueling years after the accident, he finds himself divorced and grappling with fresh concerns surrounding Doug and Gene’s precarious condition. The specter of death loomed large, casting a shadow over their lives.

For Billy, a fifteen-year-old still reeling from the aftermath of the tragedy, life had become a never-ending struggle. His friendship with Doug remained strong, despite the odds against them. One fateful night, an argument erupted between Larry, now a belligerent and profane drunk, and Billy over a TV dinner. In a momentary lapse of judgment, Billy knocked the dinner to the ground, causing it to land on his back, leaving a scorching burn.

As Doug intervened in the chaos, he found himself locked in a brief skirmish with Larry. Billy, however, blamed his brother for the burn on his back, further straining their already fragile bond. The darkness of that night was far from over; Billy and Doug’s misadventures would soon take a deadly turn.

In a reckless moment of teenage angst, Billy decided to streak and rob a convenience store. His nocturnal escapades came to an abrupt halt when he accidentally caused a catastrophic collision between a moving car and a bowling ball, resulting in the senseless death of Doug’s father.

The aftermath of the tragedy saw Larry’s relentless harassment push Billy to his limits. The brothers’ scuffle ended with Gloria intervening, only to discover a gauze on Billy’s back – a souvenir from his earlier mishap – as well as news articles detailing their robbery. Larry seized the opportunity to implicate Billy and Doug in his own twisted game of deceit.

Billy was powerless against the mounting evidence, which ultimately led to his mother’s wrath. Gloria reprimanded him, issuing a stern decree: he would never again be allowed to see his brother Doug. Though she knew the truth about their misdeeds, Gloria remained oblivious to the true circumstances surrounding Doug’s father’s death.

As the weight of secrets and lies threatened to consume them, Billy and Doug decided it was time to come clean to the authorities. When Billy confided in his mother about the incident, she was shocked and disgusted by her son’s selfishness. Her words cut deep, leaving Billy reeling.

The family received devastating news: Gene had finally succumbed to his illness. As they mourned their loss, a surprise revelation emerged – Gloria had long since forgiven Doug for his role in the tragedy.

As the curtain closed on this troubled tale, Billy gazed out at the world, a bowling ball clutched tightly in his hand. With a heavy heart, he rolled it down the sidewalk, a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the devastating consequences that can follow when reckless choices are made.