Two men who have already struggled their way to adulthood have found that their troubles never ended. Now Sam, a high school drama teacher, is going through a divorce and is living in a town that David would just as soon like to forget ever existed. David, a mechanic living in the city not far away, cannot face his only son Conneras illness. Twelve-year-old Conner has his doubts; he needs a near-perfect bone marrow match to save him. Marshall, one of Samas top students, offers to help Sam move from the house that was sold as a result of the divorce. Sam takes a fall down the stairs and is hospitalized. Marshall continues with the move and stumbles upon a memoir written by his teacher. Curious, he takes it home to read, and learns of the secrets of his teacheras past, and the secrets of David Panea]