Synopsis
Sue Buttons is a timid woman living in Kentucky along with her husband, Karl. Sue wishes to be more assertive in life but is constantly taken advantage of by others. Unbeknownst to Sue, Karl's position at a bank has made him an unwilling participant in a money laundering scheme along with his ex-convict brother Petey. Karl is given three million dollars to launder by criminals Mina and Ray on behalf of Mina's father, Mr. Kim. Sue, whose birthday has been ignored by everyone in her life, drives to Karl's bank to confront him about forgetting her birthday. As she arrives she spots Karl leaving with flowers and believes he is planning a surprise celebration for her. She follows him, only to discover that he is meeting his mistress Leah at a motel. When Sue walks in on him in the act, the combination of shock and physical exertion causes Karl to suddenly die. After ordering Leah to leave, Sue is watching television when she sees a program hosted by TV host Gloria Michaels about a missing child, Emma Rose. She decides to pretend that Karl has gone missing in order to receive the attention and validation she seeks.
After burying Karl and his possessions near the motel, Sue goes to the police station to file a missing persons report, but is ignored by the officers at the station, including Detective Cam Harris. She becomes distraught and trashes her home in frustration, but is interrupted by her half-sister and local news reporter Nancy. Sue claims that she woke up and found her house ransacked, assuming Karl has been abducted. Nancy films an interview with Sue that is broadcast on the news, attracting large amounts of local attention. Detective Harris arrives to investigate the scene and becomes suspicious of Sue's inconsistent story. Petey believes that Mina and Ray are responsible for Karl's kidnapping and confronts them. Mina lies to Petey, telling him that they will return Karl for twenty thousand dollars. After discovering that the money has not been deposited, they assume Karl has fled with the money.
Sue gives an interview to Gloria Michaels claiming that Karl was kidnapped because he knew who had taken the missing Emma Rose, attracting even more attention. Petey and his boss Rita rob a jewelry store in order to raise the money to pay off Mina. Mina and Ray ambush Sue at her home looking for Karl, but leave without harming her. Before an interview between Nancy, Sue, and Emma Rose's parents, Sue is confronted by Leah, who attempts to extort her for the missing three million dollars, which Sue knows nothing about (she buried the funds after, for some reason, not noticing they were part of Karl's possessions). Their conversation is witnessed by Detective Harris. Sue calls Mina and claims that Leah has information about Karl's whereabouts. Harris attempts to question Leah, but finds her house empty, having been kidnapped by Mina and Ray. Petey delivers the ransom, and is told by Mina that Karl will be released. Harris, believing Sue is responsibl