18 months after Sammy's birth, Stella is mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausted by caring virtually alone for her autistic son. Her husband, Tony, offers little help as he claims to be too busy being the breadwinner.

Sammy makes noises that sound like 'Mama', and Stella is jubilant; though he doesn't do it again, she decides to take Sammy out with her for shopping. He screams and fights her all the way through, and Stella binge-buys food in an attempt to destress.

They bump into Stella's old friend, Mary, who has a 'perfect' son. Mary tries to keep Stella from isolating herself, but Stella escapes. In her haste, she almost doesn't see Sam run into a car's path. She saves Sam at the last moment, but the trolley full of food runs away and tips over. Stella is left feeling utterly alone as she holds her unresponsive son.