Since her husband expelled sweet son Paul for a drinking problem, widow Ruth feels abandoned by the family in her vast, stately home. Her suicide attempt by drugs is frustrated by snooty homeless Billy, who is mistaken for a mugger and arrested at Ruth's lawyer daughter's instigation. Ruth has Billie released and is determined to reward the ingrate, ultimately coming up with converting her home into a private rehab facility. That appalls her daughter and her snobbish neighbors, who hire posh lawyer Todd Preston. Being the daughter's ex, Todd inadvertently brings her in on Ruth's side.