A curmudgeonly and misanthropic war veteran named Vincent lives alone in Brooklyn, leading an unremarkable life filled with gambling, drinking, and casual encounters. His routine is disrupted when his new neighbors, Maggie and her 12-year-old son Oliver, move in next door. Maggie is a struggling single mother who works long hours, leaving Oliver in desperate need of a caretaker after school. Despite initial reluctance, Vincent agrees to babysit Oliver for a fee, and the unlikely duo forms an unexpected bond.

As Vincent introduces Oliver to his unconventional lifestyle, they visit local bars, racetracks, and Vincent's regular haunt, a nursing home where he sees his Alzheimer's-stricken wife. Through their adventures, a deeper side of Vincent is revealed, showing he has more layers than his gruff exterior suggests. Oliver, initially an awkward misfit at school, begins to grow in confidence and character under Vincent's blunt mentorship. The relationship between the cynical old man and the innocent young boy offers both a chance for growth and redemption as they navigate their personal struggles and form a meaningful connection.