Pam W. Coughlan

The flashes of memory that return to Carrie Wallace as she lies bloodied in the street all share a common trait: Each culminates in an insincere apology. A casual bump in the street, a father’s indifference, a boyfriend’s exit, youthful disappointments. But despite her lifetime’s experience, she holds out hope that she may yet witness a true expression of remorse.

The Coffmans are desperate to win their bid for residency in a new, environmentally friendly condo. Putting their best face forward, they work to convince a jaded government auditor that their lifestyle makes them worthy of acceptance. But when another couple vies for the same home, a battle for environmental superiority begins.

Kevin can’t seem to catch a break in the romantic arena, and his poker buddies aren’t afraid to let him know it. Over the course of a friendly game, they recount his romantic misadventures, and a pattern emerges — all of Kevin’s concepts of romance derive from 1980s-era films. Which might be all right, except that Kevin can’t seem to execute them the way they come off in the movies. Whether he’s reenacting his favorite scenes from “Pretty in Pink,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Top Gun,” or “Say Anything,” he always manages to end up with egg on his face. That is, until he meets just the right woman…

In this contemporary take on the classic fable “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” a man finds himself bored with his job — and decides to amuse himself by playing pranks on his coworkers, only to find that they may be disinclined to believe him when their trust is most critical.

Up-and-coming politico Robert Soxer is making a last-minute campaign appearance at a small kitchen and bath remodeling shop. The shop’s owner, Leon, is an ardent supporter, and takes Soxer and his entourage on a quick tour. Meanwhile, shop worker Rachael, despondent over her recent breakup with coworker Rick, makes a startling discovery — the candidate is far from what he appears to be, giving new meaning to the term “political machine.” As the group leaves, Rachael tries to convince Rick of what she’s seen, but he misinterprets her warnings. Will Rachael be able to stop Soxer’s ascent to power and redeem herself in Rick’s eyes?

Every Sunday, a group of close friends gets together for a backyard barbecue. But one day, Smitty decides to bring along his new girlfriend — and everyone is shocked to discover that she looks strikingly similar to Samantha, another friend who died several years ago. As the afternoon progresses, each of the friends must not only deal with the new addition to their little circle, but confront the ghosts of their own past relationships — resulting in unplanned revelations.

When three sudden deaths befall members of a small law firm, Karen Dunmore begins to suspect that they may be retribution for a terrible crime and its subsequent cover-up. Fearing for her family’s safety, she desperately tries to convince her husband and his associates to take action. But will it be too late?

Sebastian is eager to show off his latest acquisition to a cadre of eccentric — and soon-to-be-jealous — art collectors, even hiring his photographer nephew to capture the unveiling for posterity. But when the “Schlimmer” turns up missing, accusations of theft begin flying, and long-simmering resentments begin to undermine the group’s cohesion.