Substance-addicted Hollywood actress Suzanne Vale is on the skids. After a spell at a detox centre her film company insists as a condition of continuing to employ her that she live with her mother Doris Mann, herself once a star and now a champion drinker. Such a set-up is bad news for Suzanne who has struggled for years to get out of her mother's shadow, and who finds her mother still treats her like a child. Despite these problems - and further ones to do with the men in in her life - Suzanne can begin to see the funny side of her situation, and it also starts to occur to her that not only do daughters have mothers, mothers do too.

The band accompanying Meryl Streep at the end of the film is Blue Rodeo, one of the most popular and respected rock groups in Canada, who were virtually unknown in the US at the time of the film's release. After hearing their music being played in a limo, by the driver, Streep wanted them to contribute to the soundtrack.

Julie Marsden:
You've got to learn to deal with your feelings, Suzanne, before they deal with you.


Suzanne Vale:
Do you always talk in bumper stickers?


Julie Marsden:
You know, addiction isn't the problem - it's the solution


Suzanne Vale:
[talking over Julie Marsden] You do... you DO!

Miscellaneous: Lowell tells Suzanne that none of the airport scene can be saved because it was shot without any cutaways. However, the scene is obviously edited as the characters jump about 3 feet farther from the camera as they walk from past a pole between the ticket counter and the passport control desk.

Written by Shel Silverstein
Performed by Meryl Streep and Blue Rodeo
Blue Rodeo appears courtesy of Risque Disque, Inc.
WEA Music of Canada, Ltd.