Leo plot
Stephen (Joseph Fiennes) is released after serving 15 years in prison. He gets room and board in a motel run by Vic (Sam Shepard). In his spare time he writes letters. He started writing because he received letters from the young Leo Bloom during his time in prison. Leo writes about his relationship with his mother, Mary Bloom (Elisabeth Shue). She got Leo on the day her husband and daughter died in a car accident. She holds herself responsible for the accident and projects it onto Leo. She is unloving towards him and he cannot do anything right in her eyes. Leo is all alone in life and the only one who stands up for him is his teacher. Leo can write very well. Stephen is also impressed by this and one day, after his release, he wants to look for Leo.