The hunchbacked son of a preacher, Hollis Bragg lives in rural isolation and earns his living ghost-writing songs for a popular band. It's the life he prefers, free from spotlight and attachments. But much to his consternation, he's discovered by Russell Watson, a local musician and fan, and the rebellious son of the local chemical company magnate. When a devastating toxic spill at the Watson chemical plant poisons the local water, it sets off an unpredictable series of events as Hollis witnesses a murder, faces a shocking betrayal, and begins to come to terms with his body and his past.