SPOILER ALERT: the following article contains massive spoilers, including the ending. If you have not yet seen the movie, proceed at your own risk, or better, come back to this article later!
A woman buries the body of her husband after he dies of a heart attack when caught cheating on her and struggles to keep it secret.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Breaking News in Yuba County Plot Summary and 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.
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 responsible for Leah’s disappearance, detains her for questioning. She is spotted by Nancy, who tips off the media, leading to a large crowd outside the police station. The interrogation is interrupted by Harris’s captain, who removes her from the case and releases Sue.
Meanwhile, Rita and Petey kidnap Mina, attempting to use her as ransom to negotiate Karl’s release.
However, Mr. Kim mistakenly believes that Leah is the hostage that is being negotiated for. Leah tells him that Sue has both Mina and the money, but is killed by Ray and Mr. Kim with a drill.
Petey receives a call that Jonelle is going into labour. When he arrives home, she reveals that she has found a piece of jewelry from the robbery, and gives Petey an ultimatum to give up his life of crime.
Back at Rita’s store, Rita is shot by Ray, who has come to rescue Mina. He also shoots Rita’s wife Debbie, but not before she kills Mina with a hatchet. Petey returns to the store, only to discover what has happened. Ray arrives at Petey and Jonelle’s house to kill them both, but is ambushed and killed by Jonelle with a knife.
Sue is picked up from the police station by Nancy, who reveals that Sue’s conversation with Leah was recorded by one of the microphones for the interview. She demands the truth, but Sue accuses Nancy of being upset that Sue is getting more attention than her.
The two are met at Sue’s house by Mr. Kim. Sue confesses the truth after Mr. Kim kneecaps Nancy.
Mr. Kim brings Sue to the motel at gunpoint, where at the same time Harris and her partner are investigating. Harris finds security footage of Sue at the motel. As she is leaving, she spots Sue and Mr. Kim. After digging up the money, Mr. Kim plans to kill Sue until they are surprised by Harris and her partner.
A shootout ensues that leaves everyone but Sue dead. With nobody left alive to contradict her story, Sue is free from suspicion. Emma Rose is found safely at a bus stop in Miami, Florida, having run away from home.
Breaking News in Yuba County Ending
One year later, Sue has written a bestselling book about her experience and is interviewed by her ‘friend’ Gloria Michaels.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0).