Terry Ann Wolfmeyer (Joan Allen) turns to ferocious anger and alcohol after her husband leaves for his secretary. Neighbor Denny Davies (Kevin Costner), a retired Detroit Tigers pitcher and host of a radio talk show, tries to befriend Terry and help her cope as a drinking buddy. Add four beautiful daughters and the interpersonal interactions become complex and sometimes comedic.

Stress and Stressors: Terry and Denny
This sequence has two parts with a title screen separating them. Part I follows the family dinner with Denny as a guest. Terry is standing on the porch holding her drink against her forehead as Denny arrives. Part I ends with Terry saying, “Then leave. Any other reason than that for you to be here, frankly, is just pitiful.” She returns to the house while Denny stays on the porch.

Part II follows the bungee jumping scene and Denny driving Lavender “Popeye” Wolfmeyer (Evan Rachel Wood) home. It begins with Terry and Denny eating ice cream from the same container. Denny tells her that “Popeye” suggested he marry her mother. This scene ends after Denny kicks down the bathroom door. Terry screams, jumps into the bathtub, and Denny approaches silently.

1.    Assess the stressors affecting Terry and Denny. View Part I for Terry and Part II for Denny.

2.    Are Terry and Denny having a distress or eustress response? Give examples of behavior in the film sequences to support your observations.

3.    Review the earlier section, “The Consequences of Stress.” What consequences do you observe or predict for Terry and Denny?