Investigating a young man’s attempted suicide exposes the fractures in a psychologist’s seemingly perfect world, edging him toward the brink of tragedy.

SYNOPSIS:

One evening, 17-year-old Scott Dane ransacks his bedroom. After scribbling a note, Scott rushes to the garage and hangs himself from the garage door track. Sharon, driving home through a downpour, arrives to see Scott hanging, almost dead. Alec arrives, and Scott is rushed to the ER. In a psychiatric hospital, middle-aged psychologist Jim is in session before meeting longtime friend Richard. Then Jim gets a call he has a new patient, and goes to meet Scott. An ER Doctor tells Sharon and Alec that Scott will move to a psychiatric hospital for observation. In Jim’s first meeting with Scott, Scott is sarcastic, but then softens. Jim goes home to Joanne, who is watching TV and drinking wine, and whose quiet aside makes clear all isn’t right in the marriage. The next morning, Jim again meets with Scott, who starts to open up about a love affair gone awry. Afterward, Scott cuts himself with a paper clip and writes a bloody note. That night, Jim opens an old wallet, and remembers being seventeen. While cruising with Ted, the two meet up with Paigeand Dodie, and Jim has sex with Paige. Weeks later, Paige drops a bombshell: She’s pregnant. Jim’s boss refers him to a shady pharmacist who gives Jim medicine to terminate Paige’s pregnancy. When Jim gives Paige the medicine, she’s horrified, but accepts it.

In their next session, Scott tells Jim about his affair with married neighbor Camille. Jim reads Scott’s note written in blood, and tells Scott he’ll stay in the hospital. In session with Sharon and Alec, Jim reveals his daughter died tragically. Jim validates Sharon’s anger at Camille, and Sharon reveals a sad past: a broken family and years of addiction. Jim and Scott talk about Camille, how she seduced Scott, and the resulting pregnancy. Scott was in love, planning their future, and Camille disappeared. When she returned, she wasn’t pregnant, and the affair was over. Sharon and Alec reveal Sharon’s past suicide attempt. Saved by Alec, they married soon after. In a family session, Sharon and Alec tell Scott about Sharon’s suicide attempt and affirm their love for their son. After Scott leaves, Jim tells Sharon and Alec he suspects Scott isn’t sharing something. Jim discusses Scott’s treatment with Richard, who cautions Jim about identifying with Scott. When he again opens his old wallet, Jim recalls Ralston proposing Jim can make money stealing clothes from his mom’s employer. Jim and Pete are soon arrested. Later, Jim recalls a decades-ago meeting with Paige in which Paige tells Jim she gave their baby up for adoption. On Saturday, as Jim leaves home, Joanne berates him for working. Jim goes to a nearby diner to get breakfast to go and sees Joanne meeting Richard, after which Joanne seduces Richard. After tennis, Jim asks Richard about his day, and Richard fails to mention his tryst with Joanne. The next day, Jim sees Richard zip up his pants before driving away from Jim’s house. Jim confronts Joanne, who blames Jim. Richard tries to excuse his actions, then begs for forgiveness, but Jim says their friendship is over. Sharon sits in her car outside Jim’s office, and when Alec calls her she goes home. Jim tells Scott he’s being discharged, with future sessions in Jim’s office. That night, Scott, Kim and Dylan set some train tracks on fire, stopping an oncoming train, and all are arrested. In session, Jim tells Scott he could go to jail. Scott notes Jim’s missing wedding ring, but Jim redirects the conversation and begs Scott to admit what is haunting him. In a tearful sudden session, Sharon admits she confronted Camille and demanded she terminate her pregnancy or face jail. Sharon realizes Scott almost died because of what she did and wants to tell Alec and Scott. Jim tells her to keep the secret forever. In session with Scott, Jim is unshaven and upset. Jim says he understands Scott’s pain, sharing Joanne and Richard’s betrayal and that a son he’s never met lives nearby. Scott opens up about feeling lost and scared after the loss of his child and his planned future with Camille. Jim says he and Joanne lost a daughter, and tells Scott that after her death he chose to keep living, and Scott has his own happy ending to write. Scott asks about Jim’s happy ending, encouraging him to meet his son. As Tom thanks everyone after an election win, Jim smiles a sad smile in the background and applauds. In his office, Jim stares at a photo of Joanne, then removes a wooden box from a drawer. Inside is a gun. Across town, Joanne and Richard are in bed. Joanne wants him to stay. Richard says he wasn’t looking for anything serious, and a furious Joanne throws him out. Joanne knocks on Jim’s door and wants Jim back. After unleashing on Joanne and seeing her out, Jim breaks down.

Night. Jim sits in his office. As Scott gets ready to leave for his session, Jim calls and cancels. Scott senses something is wrong and drives through the rain, arriving just as Jim readies to shoot himself. Scott talks Jim down, observing that nothing changes: People have long faced hardship and tragedy; and Jim has a responsibility to the patients after Scott who will need Jim’s help. Jim puts down the gun; and Scott good-naturedly confirms their next session. Jim meets Tom and tells him about the circumstances of Tom’s birth and Paige’s passing. When Tom asks how he knows, Jim reveals he’s Tom’s father, and the two men embrace. In his final session with Jim, Scott is cheerful. Jim acknowledges their shared experiences, and they affirm Scott will be fine. At home, Julie tells Tom that Jim is coming for dinner. Tom admits he’s terrified, but thanks Julie. Tom greets Jim, and after another awkward handshake they hug again. With happy tears in his eyes, Jim sees Tom’s family all smiling broadly. Some days later, while Jim lectures about our shared human experience, we see glimpses into others’ lives. Joanne sits expressionless, drinking wine and watching TV. Richard, at his office desk, considers calling Jim. Tom and Julie watch Michelle sleep with the family dog. At the front door of a home, Scott greets Jessica, who embraces him and invites him in. After Jim finishes speaking, attendee Rosalyn mentions Jim’s lecture was recommended by her therapist. She asks if permanent change is possible, and Jim says it’s easier than we think. Jim asks Rosalyn if she’d join him for a drink or cup of coffee, and Rosalyn regards him with a smile.