The script opens with a POV shot of a car driving through a thunderstorm. The driver briefly takes his eyes off the road. The screen goes black as we hear a terrible car crash. We find ourselves in a messy apartment in Brooklyn as WILSON, an unsuccessful, drug-addicted novelist, attempts to write his suicide note. Just when he finally gets the words he's looking for, Wilson receives a phone call from his mother, CAROLYN, who reveals that his older brother JEFF has died in a car accident. Realizing that he can no longer carry out his suicide, Wilson reluctantly prepares to return home. Wilson's publisher, SCOTT, shows up at his apartment to remind Wilson of the deadline for his new novel, but Wilson avoids him by climbing down the fire escape, jumping into his car, and leaving town. That night, Wilson arrives at his childhood home in Prussia, North Carolina and there is clearly tension between him and his parents, Carolyn and SAM. At breakfast the next morning, Reverend Howell suggests that Wilson read the eulogy at Jeff's funeral. Despite his parents' reluctance, Wilson agrees and arranges to meet with Reverend Howell the next day to discuss the eulogy. Wilson meets an old high school friend named MATT who informs Wilson that his high school sweetheart LIZZY has moved back to town and opened a law firm. Wilson goes to Lizzy's office and, as he works up the courage to talk to her, he hears Lizzy tell her assistant NATALIE that she lost her planner. Lizzy notices Wilson appearing outside her office and the two have an awkward, but strangely comforting reunion. Wilson returns home to find Jeff's wife, LUCY, and their daughter, EMMA, in his parents' living room. Emma complains about not having her favorite blan... middle of paper...ve. Having hit rock bottom, Wilson wakes up in a holding cell. Back home, Scott hears Sam's reaction to Wilson's arrest and calls Lizzy to get Wilson out of jail on bail. Scott tells Wilson that he is taking the work he found in Wilson's room as evidence to show his bosses that Wilson is working on a new novel. Lizzy accompanies Wilson to the funeral and reveals that Jeff was with her the night he died and she blames herself. As he gets out of the car, he tells her not to blame herself. At the funeral, Wilson delivers a touching and heartfelt eulogy that allows his family to come to terms with what they have lost and recognize that they must cherish what they still have. Back in New York, Wilson writes at his desk in a much cleaner apartment. He receives a phone call from Scott praising the pages of his new novel. A close-up on the computer screen shows the last two words written by Wilson: “THE END.”