Late for Dinner 1991

Willie kills a man in self-defense and the run begins

Willie Husband, acting in self-defense, shoots and kills a man during a deadly confrontation. The incident forces him and his brother-in-law Frank Lovegren to flee. A witness, Bob Freeman, plants the accusation of kidnapping and murder to ensure they cannot clear their names.

Family life in Santa Fe and mounting financial trouble

Willie lives with his wife Joy and daughter Jess in Santa Fe, while Frank stays with them. The family’s finances deteriorate after Willie loses his job at a local milk company and falls behind on mortgage payments. The mounting pressure foreshadows further conflict with the bank.

The bank ultimatum and the burned receipt

The bank informs them of an impending foreclosure, and Freeman manipulates the situation to push Willie toward a low-value sale. Freeman burns a receipt that would prove the payments were up to date and pressures Willie to accept a deal. Willie refuses to sell for less than the house’s worth, escalating tensions.

Donald the boy and the decision to sell

While driving home, Willie discovers that Frank has 'borrowed' Freeman’s son Donald, believing the boy is mistreated. They decide to keep Donald, but Joy urges Willie to accept Freeman’s offer to sell the house for a price well below value. Willie reluctantly agrees and calls Freeman to arrange the deal, mentioning Donald's presence.

Desert meeting and Freeman’s frame-up

Freeman invites them to a desert rendezvous to retrieve his son but intends to frame them for a ransom exchange. At the meeting, Freeman and his henchman reveal guns and their plan, forcing a violent confrontation. Willie is shot in the shoulder, but he shoots back in self-defense and the two men flee, leaving Donald behind.

Police around the house and the desert escape

Police have already surrounded the house by the time Willie and Frank try to return. Jess signals from a distance for them not to approach, and the family realizes they cannot go home. The duo drives away into the desert to escape capture, beginning a longer chase.

Emergency aid in Pomona reveals a deadly kidney disease

Hours later, the fugitives encounter Dr. Dan Chilblains in Pomona, California, where Willie collapses from his injuries. The eccentric physician treats him and diagnoses Frank with glomerulonephritis, a serious kidney disease threatening his life. Dr. Chilblains also urges a radical plan that could save them both.

Cryogenic plan and freezing

Chilblains convinces Frank to undergo an experimental cryogenic procedure that will freeze them until a cure is found. Frank agrees, hoping to escape the authorities, and Willie is frozen while still unconscious. The two are stored away, effectively removing them from the world for years.

Cryogenic sleep ends decades later

Nearly thirty years pass when a freak accident destroys the cryogenic facility and their tanks burst open. Willie and Frank awaken disoriented, realizing they have slept for almost three decades in a radically changed world. They must navigate a modern society that feels alien to them.

Return to Santa Fe and reunion with Joy and Jess

The revived duo travel back to Santa Fe to find Joy and Jess. They discover Jess is now an adult and Joy has remarried, later divorcing. Joy had kept the house and exposed Freeman’s fraud, contributing to Freeman’s downfall.

Emotional reunion with Joy

Joy struggles to accept Willie because he has not aged while she has aged, illustrating the passage of time. Willie reassures her with their enduring love, and gradually she begins to warm to him again. The couple contemplates rebuilding the family after decades apart.

Family rebuilds and Jess supports the reunion

Willie, Joy, and Jess begin to rebuild their relationships after the long separation. Jess helps bridge the gap between their old past and the new reality, while the family adjusts to the changes around them. They start a hopeful new chapter together.