Ordinary Miracles

Plot

Kay Woodbury is a powerful and tough judge who has not spoken to her father since he tried to involve her in a scam. At her latest case, she deals with Sally Powell, a troubled and rebellious teenager who has been in several foster homes in her life. Feeling abandoned by her biological parents, she expresses her anger to anyone who tries to grow close to her. She is given up by her latest foster parents and, because there are not any replacements available, she is put in juvenile prison.

Sympathizing with her, Kay decides to take Sally into her home. Sally is initially reluctant to trust Kay and steals some of her jewelry, pawning it to make enough money to move to San Francisco with her boyfriend, who is a typical bad boy. However, she gets only $200. Kay and Sally soon grow to like each other, and Kay is particularly impressed by Sally's intelligence. Sally especially seems to enjoy chess. Sally tries to help Kay impress her ex-husband Davis, who is about to marry a much younger woman.

Meanwhile, Kay is going through Sally's files and discovers that her widowed biological father, James, lives nearby. Kay contacts him for landscaping work and they soon become friends. Kay initially does not tell him about Sally. Later, when Kay tells him, he argues with her and refuses to talk to his daughter, claiming that she would not accept him. Sally, meanwhile, has found her files and feels that Kay has betrayed her, as she always made clear that she has no interest in meeting her biological parents.

She steals more of Kay's jewelry and runs away with her boyfriend who, instead of simply selling the jewelry, robs the pawn shop and involves Sally without a warning. Upset, she demands that he drop her off, and he leaves without her. Sally returns home and is welcomed back by Kay. In the end, Sally decides to give her father a second chance.

Cast