Where There's a Will

The film opens with Richie Greene attempting a bizarre medical scam in a hospital, posing as a doctor to trick an elderly patient into 'cryonics' before being chased out by security. Facing mounting debts to a dangerous man named Paulie, Richie receives a call from Annie Clark, a social worker in Harmony, Texas. She informs him that his estranged grandmother, Clyde Onstott, is in failing health and he is her only living relative. Seeing an opportunity to escape his creditors and secure an inheritance of land and a house, Richie flees to Texas. Upon arrival, he meets the formidable Clyde, who is far from the frail woman he expected; she is sharp-tongued, eccentric, and insists on being the boss of her home. Richie's initial intentions are purely predatory; he consults a local lawyer to discuss declaring Clyde mentally incompetent, citing her belief that a Q-tip is stuck in her brain as evidence. However, as he spends time with her, he learns about his family history and the mother who left him. He also develops an attraction to Annie, who admires his 'sacrifice' for his grandmother. The plot thickens when Wheeler Darden, a long-time neighbor, proposes to Clyde to protect her from Richie, whom he suspects is a 'mountebank.' Meanwhile, Paulie tracks Richie to Texas, but is intimidated into leaving by the local Sheriff, Clifford Laws. A turning point occurs during a terrifying tornado when Richie protects Clyde in a bathtub, and she comforts him over childhood trauma. Richie abandons his scheme, realizing he truly cares for her. Clyde eventually reveals she has updated her will to leave him everything, but shortly after, she is diagnosed with a brain tumor. In her final days, Richie stays by her side, promising to fix up the family home. After Clyde passes away, Richie chooses to stay in Harmony, repairing the house and pursuing a relationship with Annie, finally embracing the family roots he once rejected.