TwentyoneyearoldDonnyO'Brien,arecentcollegegraduate,dreamsofmovingtoLosAngelestopursueasongwritingcareer.Onlyonethingstandsinhisway:aninabilitytoconfronttheguiltassociatedwithacaraccidentthatlefthismothermentallyhandicappedfortherestofherlife.ThisisthestoryofhowDonnycomestodealwithhisconflictandtheunexpectedwisdomhegains-bothfromhismotherandhisstruggletowriteasongforher.