Mike Martin, a former fire fighter with a disability, takes up writing and has one successful novel to his credit. One of his students, Leroy Hawkes, is a wealthy banker and chairman of the board at Cresthaven Prep, an all-boys school. He asks Mike to become a 'writer-in-residence' at the school, about two hours away from Mike's home. He takes the job, thinking that the regular salary will help him to save his busted marriage.
While at school, he begins to suspect a neighbor of taking up with his wife. Enraged, he plots to do in the neighbor and he observes a growing similarity between the plot of his current novel in process and his fantasies regarding his neighbor.
During the previous school year, a gang rape took place on campus. A cover-up was engineered by wealthy parents, the school's head master and some faculty. Mike is asked by the victim to write about it, revealing the truth and bringing her a sense of justice. He agrees and then encounters road blocks and complications. Losing his job is one, and he faces going home with nothing to offer, possibly even losing his, much-loved, children.
He vacillates, growing more confused and helpless with each new input. He's offered status and money to drop the project, an advantage in recouping his marriage--but his children would know of his capitulation. He starts to convince himself that dropping the project might be best for the girl. Leroy weighs in, providing Mike with the clarity he needs.