- When Gus Stewart's wife announces that she wants to divorce him, he starts thinking of committing suicide. Noticing this, his 14-year-old son Alex tries desperately to give his father a reason to live.
- Gus Stewart finds his relationship with his wife Dolores is becoming strained when he becomes jealous of one of Dolores' male co-workers, whom she has invited to the house for Thanksgiving dinner.
After saying grace at the table, Gus retreats to the attic, where he pulls out a .45 pistol from a desk drawer. Concerned about Gus' behavior, his 13-year-old son Alex follows him to the attic, but doesn't see the pistol. Later that night, Alex overhears his parents arguing in the bedroom next door. Unable to sleep, he goes downstairs, where he sees his dad leave a note on the table. He also sees Gus work on a will, but when he asks about it, Gus brushes him off.
The next day, Alex loads up the car for a lodge trip, but discovers his dad's pistol is missing when he and his friend Ellen check the attic. He also learns that Gus has decided not to go on the trip, and becomes even more worried when his dad gives him an expensive fishing rod, something he knows Gus highly values. When Alex and Dolores leave, Alex convinces his mom to go on without him, dropping him off a few blocks away from the house. Back home, Alex finds his dad's note, which he discovers has the phone number to the local Suicide Prevention Center. Alex goes to the boat harbor where his dad works, only to learn that Gus was fired from his job a week ago.
Alex visits the Suicide Prevention Center, where he tells counselor Bob Cousins about his dad's behavior the past couple of days. Saying the center can't really help unless the person contemplating suicide calls them first, Cousins tells Alex to talk to his dad, giving him a list of behavioral warning signs. On the bus ride home, Ellen tells Alex that she has been hearing rumors about Dolores having an affair.
Alex finds Gus reviewing his will and some old photographs, and tries to get him to open up. Frustrated, Gus tells Alex that he'll send him to stay with a cousin for the weekend. Alex tries to get a friend to invite Gus out, which fails. He then visits Isabel Bennett, a woman that Gus once had a relationship with, and gets her to visit. While Isabel talks to Gus, Alex and Ellen try unsuccessfully to locate the gun. After Isabel leaves, Gus and Alex share a few drinks. Gus finally relents and tells Alex he doesn't have to go visit his cousin.
The next morning, Gus calls Dolores at the lodge, where she says she's not coming back and that she's not at the lodge alone. After Gus hangs up, he says he's going to take Alex to the airport anyway. Alex tries to call Cousins at the center, but Gus interrupts him, causing Alex to hide in his bedroom. Gus forces his way in, grabs Alex, and shoves him into the car. As Gus speeds toward the airport, Alex confronts Gus about his knowledge that Gus is contemplating suicide. When Gus doesn't respond, an exasperated Alex jumps out of the car, leading to a foot chase on the freeway that nearly ends in Alex being run over. Gus rescues Alex and promises his son that he won't ever leave him.
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