Barefoot 2014

Jay Wheeler (Scott Speedman), the wayward son of a wealthy dynasty, has always lived life on his own terms, indulging in fleeting connections with women and a reckless pursuit of pleasure. Yet, despite the frequency of his one-night stands, he’s never found someone who truly resonates with him.

Jay’s frivolous lifestyle has come at a steep cost, as he’s accumulated a substantial debt to a loan shark, Mr. Vincent (exact figure: $37,000), and is on thin ice with the law, thanks to repeated run-ins and his current probationary status. His family’s wealth is no longer an option for bailing him out, leaving Jay vulnerable to the consequences of his actions.

Jay’s life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Daisy Kensington (Evan Rachel Wood), a psychiatric patient under the care of Dr. Bertleman (J.K. Simmons). Raised in isolation and unaware of the world beyond her hospital walls, Daisy is both naive and endearingly innocent. As Jay spends more time with Daisy, he’s struck by her genuine charm, despite her tumultuous past.

After intervening to save Daisy from a molester at the hospital, Jay decides to take his new friend under his wing, much to Dr. Bertleman’s dismay. The doctor cautions Jay against getting too close to his patients and warns him that any negative repercussions could result in serious consequences, including imprisonment.

As Jay navigates this newfound responsibility, he receives an unexpected invitation from his family to attend his brother’s wedding. Eager to present a more respectable facade, Jay concocts a tale about having a girlfriend who is a nurse, and asks the stripper friends who’ve become like a surrogate family to him to pose as her for one weekend.

However, when Daisy follows Jay home, he sees an opportunity to pass her off as his girlfriend. Despite initial reservations, Jay decides to bring Daisy along to the wedding, hoping that her genuine charm will convince his family that he’s finally turned over a new leaf and is worthy of their financial support.

As the days unfold, Daisy impresses Jay’s family with her unique qualities, which are both captivating and unsettling. As they get to know her better, Jay learns about Daisy’s troubled past, including the tragic circumstances surrounding her mother’s death. This revelation adds a layer of depth to their complex relationship, setting the stage for the events that will unfold as they navigate this unconventional family dynamic.

As tensions simmer beneath the surface, Mr. Wheeler (Treat Williams) grows increasingly suspicious of Jay’s true motives for attending his daughter Daisy’s wedding. His doubts are palpable as he confronts her at the reception, prompting a panic attack that forces Jay to intervene and whisk her away from the celebration. Under the cover of night, they make their way to Jay’s parents’ home, where the truth finally comes to light: Jay is a janitor at a local mental hospital, part of his probationary agreement with the court; Daisy, meanwhile, is a patient at that very same institution.

Jay’s revelation sparks a chain reaction of revelations, as he confesses to his parents about his precarious circumstances. His financial woes have led him into debt with a loan shark, and he’s desperate to scrape together enough cash to settle his obligations. As the weight of his secrets threatens to crush him, Jay turns to the only means at his disposal: a vintage RV, whose keys he manages to liberate from his father’s collection.

As they embark on their journey back to Los Angeles, Jay and Daisy find themselves navigating not just the treacherous landscape of their own emotions but also the danger that lurks around every corner. With the authorities hot on their heels due to Jay’s parole violation, they must rely on each other for survival. Amidst the chaos, they discover a sense of freedom and connection as they pull over to rest, Daisy waking Jay with a gentle touch as a police cruiser pulls up behind them.

Jay’s instincts kick in, and he hides away as Daisy spins a tale about her boyfriend “Beaver” making a hasty exit at the sight of flashing lights. The cop buys into her story, leaving him free to continue his search for the elusive “Beaver”. As our protagonists slip away unnoticed, Daisy seizes the opportunity to dispose of the officer’s keys, ensuring their own escape.

As they make their way through the desert night, Jay reaches out to Dr. Bertleman, only to reveal his true intentions: he plans to return Daisy to the psychiatric hospital from whence she came. Her anger and despair boil over as she makes a break for it, attempting to pilot the RV to freedom before Jay can catch up. The result is a spectacular crash, leaving our heroes shaken but still clinging to each other. As they stumble out of the wreckage, tears streaming down Daisy’s face, they’re met with the curious gazes of passersby, their secrets now laid bare for all to see.

As Jay’s fascination with Daisy deepens, he can’t shake the notion that her doctor’s diagnosis of schizophrenia is inaccurate. His curiosity gets the better of him, and he presses her about whether the voices she claims to hear instructed her to kill her mother. Daisy’s response reveals a complex web of guilt and confusion. She confesses that it wasn’t her own ears that heard the voices, but those of her mother, whose frantic screams one fateful night went unheeded by Daisy herself. The tragedy that unfolded in the aftermath - her mother’s untimely demise - has left Daisy convinced she was responsible for the fatal outcome.

Meanwhile, chaos erupts outside as a swarm of police cars converges on the scene, responding to a mysterious 911 call. Jay and Daisy are taken into custody, with Jay’s mother (Kate Burton) ultimately bailing him out. Returning home only to find his belongings in disarray, courtesy of a ruthless loan shark, Jay becomes desperate for answers and sets his sights on the psychiatric hospital where Daisy is being held. However, security and Dr. Bertleman refuse to let him see her, forcing Jay to concoct a plan of last resort.

Under the guise of suicidal intentions, Jay lies down on the train tracks, hoping to be whisked away to the hospital. While Dr. Bertleman initially dismisses his ruse, Jay’s persistence eventually prompts the doctor to place him in solitary confinement. It is there that Jay finally shares a crucial revelation: it was Daisy’s mother, not Daisy herself, who heard the voices.

As Jay navigates the labyrinthine corridors of the hospital, he uncovers vital information about Daisy’s condition from a sympathetic fellow patient. However, his newfound understanding is short-lived, as Frakel (Ricky Wayne) orchestrates a sinister plot to have the loan shark’s thug sneak into the hospital and strangle Jay using a chain. Just as all hope seems lost, another inmate intervenes, dispatching the goon with a well-placed broom blow.

Jay awakens in the hospital, where Dr. Bertleman apologizes for Frakel’s actions and finally acknowledges the truth about Daisy’s mother - her struggles with schizophrenia. The doctor then decides to release both Daisy and Jay from their confinement.

A surprise letter arrives from Jay’s father, containing a $40,000 check to settle his debts. With his financial woes alleviated, Jay reunites with Daisy at the hospital entrance, where they reconcile before departing together into the unknown.