Citizen Ruth

Ruth Stoops, played by Laura Dern, is a poor, drug-addled pregnant woman who unexpectedly attracts national attention from those involved in the abortion debate. After being arrested and facing felony charges, she is taken in by a middle-aged radical Evangelical couple, Norm and Gail Stoney, who offer to lessen her sentence if she has an abortion. The couple's motivations are contrasted with those of Diane, a lesbian abortion-rights activist, and her partner Rachel, who take Ruth in and provide her with comfort and support. As the situation escalates, Ruth finds herself caught in a media circus, with various individuals and groups offering her money to keep or abort her child, leading to a series of humorous and satirical moments.