In a society in which the state desires complete oversight of its psychiatric programs, and emotions may be sold like high-grade drugs, an experimental group trial begins to go awry. Indeed, Dr. Edward Wells' encouragement of his patients' unique abilities, that seem to careen from hallucination to unruly lawlessness, raise grave concern. Yet, what could be better than total, unfettered liberty, Wells thinks? From acute schizophrenic heroism to unhinged criminal activity, his championing, against all unnatural interference, brings both he and his therapy into the shocking realm of pugilism, artful thievery, and poetical free speech beyond the stark mandates of a security system made to "groom" its people. In a slow rolling snowball of radical incidents, Wells discovers that placebo may be more important than medicine, freedom, no matter the cost, more important than going to prison, and love more important than life.