Sherry, a self-destructive makeup saleswoman, lives by her own set of rules,
spending her days confidently touting for makeup products and her nights
picking up men at bars. She refers to self-help books for inspiration and
likes to watch old black-and-white movies on a small TV set before heading
out to the nearest bar to escape her suburban milieu. Once there, she
chain-smokes, drinks far too much and picks up just any man for a night
of anonymous sex.
We soon learn that Sherry is estranged from her family. She occasionally
visits her young daughter, Alice, whom she has largely left to the care of her
sister, Abby, a quietly disappointed and angry woman who now demands
that Sherry step up to the plate, financially if not emotionally. Meanwhile,
no one talks about the child’s father.
After the ultimatum, Sherry tries to open up a beauty salon with her best
friend, Danny. But as Sherry’s love and business plans begin to unravel, she
takes control of her life in a dramatic turn of events.