Johannes, son of a schizophrenic mother who frequently avoids her meds, transfers to an elite high school to help his career as a poet (and remains the only family member willing to live with his mom). His school reputation soon becomes wrongfully tarnished by a former classmate. Now aggressively blackballed, he also falls victim to plagiarism by a visiting graduate music producer. Furthering his troubles, ne'er-do-well pals from the streets get him into trouble with the law and lend no support as Johannes runs afoul of a hot-tempered street hustler. When you hit bottom, it's time to climb up and determine who your true friends are.