The setting is Chicago, January 1997. Samuel Espinoza, a young banker, receives an unexpected New Year's Eve visit from an old college friend, Raymond Blackwell, who is passing through Chicago on his way to the Western United States. As he stays with Samuel for a short time, Raymond finds a new purpose in his life and convinces a group of people to follow him westward. Samuel's landlord, Chet Boloski, a man dedicated to a quiet life of routine, almost agrees to join Raymond's group. Soon thereafter, a chain of events will lead to the revelation of a dark secret.