Wayne Hayes, portrayed by Robert Redford, and his wife Eileen, played by Helen Mirren, appear to be living the epitome of the American dream. They have successfully raised two children and built a thriving business from the ground up, and Wayne looks forward to enjoying a peaceful retirement with Eileen. However, their idyllic life is shattered when Wayne is brazenly kidnapped in broad daylight by his former employee, Arnold Mack, brought to life by Willem Dafoe.

As Wayne attempts to negotiate with his captor for his own survival, Eileen finds herself in a frantic battle to secure his release, only to discover that the FBI has turned its scrutiny on her, complicating matters further. The harrowing situation forces Wayne and Eileen to reassess the very fabric of their relationship, especially when Eileen uncovers the painful truth about Wayne’s ongoing extramarital affair—a promise he had made months ago to end, yet failed to uphold.

Doubt creeps into Eileen’s mind as she weighs the decision of whether or not to pay the ransom, particularly as the prospects of Wayne’s safe return begin to dwindle. As the week unfolds, it becomes painfully clear that her desperate attempts to save Wayne have been in vain; he was murdered by Arnold mere hours into his captivity. The heart-wrenching ordeal that Eileen undergoes lasts for a grueling week, while Wayne’s life is tragically cut short within just one day. This sharp time disparity, only revealed in the movie’s climax, creates a haunting illusion that both of them are experiencing their fates simultaneously, drawing viewers deeply into the emotional turmoil of their shattered lives.