Sunshine State 2002

In the tranquil coastal town of Delrona Beach, Florida, the air is thick with anticipation as the annual festival approaches. However, the festive atmosphere is abruptly disrupted when one of the parade floats goes up in flames, casting a shadow over the community. The authorities swiftly pinpoint 12-year-old Terrell as the culprit and sentence him to a stint at the local community theater, serving out his community service. As it happens, Terrell is an orphan under the care of Eunice Stokes, a kind-hearted elderly woman who resides in the predominantly African American town of Lincoln Beach, adjacent to Delrona.

Eunice’s life takes a nostalgic turn when her actress daughter, Desiree, returns to town after years away. A former beauty queen, Desiree left Delrona under a cloud of controversy, having become pregnant by her boyfriend at the time and subsequently being sent to live with an aunt in Georgia until the baby was born. Now, she’s back to mend fences with her mother, introduce her new husband, Reggie, and relive old memories. During her visit, Desiree reconnects with Flash, her high school sweetheart who has since become a successful promoter for a property development scheme.

Meanwhile, Marly Temple is stuck between a rock and a hard place, managing the family motel and cafe owned by her elderly parents, both of whom are drama instructors. The arrangement weighs heavily on Marly, who had once dreamed of becoming a marine biologist but was forced to take over the business after the tragic loss of her twin brothers in an accident. As she navigates this complicated web of responsibilities, Marly must also contend with her ex-husband Steve, a laid-back individual always scheming for easy cash, and her current boyfriend Scotty, who’s struggling to make it as a professional golfer.

The plot thickens when Marly becomes romantically entangled with Jack, a landscape architect tied to the property development company. As the story unfolds, a chorus of golf enthusiasts provides astute commentary, echoing the voices of the ancient Greek chorus and offering wry observations on the unfolding drama.