Daryl Poynter is a successful but self-destructive
Philadelphia real estate salesman who is
addicted to
cocaine and
alcohol. He
embezzles $92,000 of his company's money from an
escrow account and spends $52,000 of it between cocaine buys and playing the
stock market. Waking up one morning next to a woman who suffered a
heart attack from a cocaine overdose, he tries to cover up their drug use, but the
police make it clear that they know what happened. The woman's family blames Daryl for her death. Fearing arrest for the woman's death and embezzling his company's funds, Daryl goes to the airport to try to flee the country but his credit card is declined and he has no cash. His colleague Martin also refuses to put him up for a couple of weeks. Daryl learns of a
drug rehabilitation program on the radio which lasts about a month and which guarantees
anonymity. He checks in, figuring he can hide out there. While in rehab he meets Craig, a tough but supportive drug rehabilitation counselor. With great difficulty, Craig helps Daryl to realize he is an addict and that his life is complete chaos. Craig teaches Daryl the maxim, "The best way to break old habits is to make new ones." At a
12-step meeting, Daryl tries to get "eligible" women to sponsor him, but they turn him down. He then meets the older, reformed
addict bank officer Richard Dirks, who agrees to act as his sponsor in
Alcoholics Anonymous. While discussing Step 4, Richard eventually encourages Daryl to confess his embezzlement to his employer. Daryl agrees but tries to shirk responsibility by blaming the dead woman he spent the night with. Incredulous, Daryl's employer fires him, though he skirts legal responsibility for his actions. Daryl becomes attracted to a fellow patient, a woman named Charlie Standers. She is a steel foundry worker who is addicted to
alcohol and cocaine. Charlie is involved in an
abusive relationship with her boyfriend, Lenny, a fellow addict to whom Charlie acts as a
codependent. Daryl falls in love with Charlie and urges her to leave Lenny. He finally succeeds in persuading her to leave, only to witness Lenny's
manipulative way of winning her back. Genuinely concerned for her well-being, Daryl tries to remain in Charlie's life to help her stay
sober. After another fight with Lenny, she leaves the house (perhaps to return to Daryl), does a hit of cocaine, and is killed in a
car accident. In despair, Daryl also feels a strong temptation to return to drugs. He visits Richard, who talks him out of it. Richard also explains he couldn't have saved Charlie as addicts cannot take responsibility for someone else. A month later, Daryl, confused but hopeful and reborn, accepts his 30 Day
Sobriety Coin in front of an audience of fellow AA members. ==Cast==