Fourintersectingtalesshedlightonthedifficultlivesofsuburbanites.Esther(GlennClose)nurseshercomatoseson(JoshuaJackson)whileignoringtherestofthefamily,andworkaholicattorneyJim(DermotMulroney)overlookshiswife(MoiraKelly),losingcontrolwhenhedoesn'tgetanexpectedpromotion.Meanwhile,Annette(PatriciaClarkson)andherfamilystruggletosurviveherdivorce,andHelen(MaryKayPlace)seeksexcitement.