Scott Carlin is a 24-year-old high school dropout living in Staten Island, who has been marked by a family tragedy: the death of his firefighter father when Scott was just seven years old. Still reeling from the loss and suffering from mental health issues, Scott spends his days smoking marijuana, hanging out with his equally aimless friends, and dreaming of becoming a tattoo artist, which often results in him practicing his designs on his friends with mixed results. He lives with his long-suffering mother Margie, a nurse, and his younger sister Claire, who is heading off to college, leaving Scott feeling even more directionless as he grapples with growing up and finding his purpose.

As Scott's mother starts dating Ray, a loudmouthed but well-intentioned firefighter, tensions rise in the household. Scott is openly hostile towards Ray, whose presence and profession remind Scott of his father's absence and how little progress he has made in his own life. Ray's efforts to bond with Scott only highlight the baggage he carries and the unresolved issues he has with his father's death. Simultaneously, Scott's relationship with his childhood friend Kelsey grows more complicated as she pushes for a more serious connection, while Scott is frozen by his fears and insecurities, unsure of how to move forward with his life or his relationships.