Joann and her four-year-old son, Billy, are co-dependent, unable to live without one another for more than a few minutes. Joann's husband left her because he thought that she didn't care whether or not he was around. Joann lives off welfare and refuses to work so that she can spend all of her time with Billy. The mother and son's co-dependence prompts a social worker to step in, who heavily suggests that Joann take a step back from Billy and allow him to get used to children his own age. Billy and Joann have a history with social workers in the past, but when it becomes too overbearing, Joann often flees the city and state to find a new place for her and Billy to live. They've moved to five different states total. When Joann takes Billy to a playdate, she feels suffocated without Billy in the room. The other boy's mother asks Joann about her interests and invites her to join events with the moms from Billy's school. Billy hits the other boy with a toy, but Joann doesn't believe he is acting out; rather, he did it simply because he knew it was what Joann would want him to do to get them out of the situation. The next day, Billy's teacher forces Joann to leave Billy alone at school. Joann sits in her car, unable to stand Billy's absence, until she sees Billy run out of his school. Once he's in the car, Joann promises to leave this city, so the two of them can find a better home.