Certain Women

In the rural town of Livingston, Montana, attorney Laura Wells (no stranger to dealing with difficult clients) finds herself entangled in an eight-month saga with the troubled Fuller, whose litany of grievances stems from a workplace injury that left him disabled. Despite her best efforts to counsel him, Fuller remains stubbornly resistant to reason, prompting Laura to seek outside assistance. After a second lawyer concurs with Laura's initial assessment - namely, that Fuller's company is indeed culpable for his injuries but he can no longer pursue legal action due to having accepted an initial, paltry settlement - Fuller's frustration boils over into anger. His wife ultimately kicks him out of their car on the way home from this latest disappointment, leaving Fuller with little choice but to flag down Laura and request a ride back to Livingston. As they drive through the night, Fuller unloads his frustrations upon Laura, revealing a deep-seated desire for vengeance against his former employers.

That same evening, Laura's world is turned upside down when she receives a frantic call from the police: Fuller has taken a security guard hostage at his former place of employment. With her unique insight into Fuller's motivations and emotions, Laura agrees to intervene, entering the building under police guidance. Upon arriving on the scene, Laura finds herself face-to-face with Fuller, who is holding his hostage in a precarious standoff. At his behest, she retrieves his employee file, which details the egregious manner in which he was shortchanged by his former company during the disability claim process. As Fuller's anger and despair reach a boiling point, he orders Laura to stall for him by alerting the police of his demands while pretending that a gun is pointed at her very life. But instead of playing along, Laura seizes the opportunity to thwart Fuller's plans, calmly informing the authorities of his whereabouts and paving the way for his swift apprehension.

In the quaint rural setting of their dream home, Gina (character name not provided) and Ryan Lewis, a married couple with a teenage daughter, are embarking on a challenging endeavor - building their abode from scratch. However, beneath the surface, their relationship is marred by subtle tensions and unspoken resentments. Gina's frustration simmers as she perceives Ryan constantly undermining her authority in their daughter's presence. Meanwhile, Ryan's extramarital escapades with Laura Wells further complicate the situation.

Their domestic strife momentarily takes a backseat as they pay a visit to Albert, an elderly acquaintance who owns a valuable plot of land. Gina is determined to secure his permission to acquire a cache of sandstone blocks on his property, and she's prepared to use her persuasive charms to seal the deal. As they converse with Albert, it becomes apparent that he's more interested in engaging Ryan than listening to Gina's proposals. Despite this, she persistently tries to win him over, secretly recording their conversation as a safeguard. Eventually, Albert agrees to grant them access to the sandstone, and Gina signals to leave.

The ride home is marked by Gina's growing dissatisfaction with Ryan's lack of support during the negotiation. Their disagreement rages on, leaving them both uncertain about the wisdom of taking possession of the coveted sandstone.

In a separate narrative thread, Jamie (character name not provided), a solitary ranch hand, has been hunkered down at her farm in Belfry throughout the winter months, tending to horses and finding solace in her isolation. One night, she stumbles upon an unusual gathering - cars streaming into the local school for a class on education law taught by the charismatic Beth Travis (character name not provided). Intrigued, Jamie decides to investigate further, joining Beth for dinner after class.

As they share stories over their meal, Beth reveals that she commutes twice weekly from Livingston, a four-hour drive away, to make it back in time for her primary occupation. Despite the arduous round-trip journey, she's driven by a passion for education and a desire to make a positive impact on her community.

As Jamie returns to her academic routine, it's almost as if she's going through the motions, devoid of enthusiasm for the subject matter. Yet, she persistently shows up in class week after week, often bringing a touch of unconventional flair - like the time she brought one of her horses to school and shared a memorable ride with Beth (actress) to the local diner. But life has a way of throwing curveballs, and the following week's revelation that Beth had abruptly quit and been replaced by a new teacher is jarring enough to send Jamie packing from class in a huff. Seething with frustration, she makes a beeline for Livingston, spending the night in her car before driving to law offices in search of her former educator. As she navigates the winding road, the past comes flooding back as she's beset by vivid flashbacks of a previous drive to the city. Eventually, Jamie tracks down Beth and implores her not to disappear from her life again, only to be met with stony silence before departing, crestfallen. The emotional toll takes its cue on her return journey, where exhaustion gets the better of her, and she dozes off at the wheel, careening into a deserted field.

Meanwhile, Laura pays a visit to the incarcerated Fuller, who displays an unexpected understanding of her actions. He requests that she respond to his letters, imploring her to do so in order to alleviate his loneliness. Laura agrees to oblige, extending a lifeline to her loved one behind bars. In stark contrast, Gina is basking in the warmth of a backyard barbecue with friends on her property, where her husband takes a moment to acknowledge and appreciate her tireless efforts. As she gazes out at the natural beauty surrounding them, her smile says it all - this is a moment of pure joy and contentment. Back at the ranch, Jamie continues to plod along, carrying on with her daily routine despite the turmoil brewing beneath the surface.