Abe Lucas, a disillusioned philosophy professor, arrives at a small-town college, grappling with an existential crisis. He struggles to find meaning or joy in life despite his academic accomplishments. His arrival stirs excitement among colleagues and students, particularly Jill Pollard, an idealistic student who becomes fascinated with him. Despite maintaining a platonic relationship with Jill, Abe also engages in a brief affair with another professor, Rita Richards, who sees him as an escape from her unsatisfying marriage. Despite forming these connections, Abe remains mired in his despair, unable to shake off his deep-seated sense of purposelessness.

During a chance encounter at a diner with Jill, Abe overhears a conversation that deeply impacts him. This moment triggers an epiphany that rekindles his passion for life and provides a newfound sense of purpose. This turning point reinvigorates his academic interests and personal affairs, making him more engaged and lively. However, the subsequent actions he takes to sustain this renewed zest for life lead down a dark and complex path. His decisions bring about unforeseen consequences that profoundly affect everyone around him, forcing them to grapple with their own moral boundaries and the implications of his newfound ideology.