Tom Rode's mother, Connie, lies dying in a hospital. As he tries to keep her spirits up, Tom, an editor and Bach specialist at a classical music website, sees his own life speeding off in the wrong direction. Evan Stone-a skilled schmoozer young enough to be Tom's son-has moved into Tom's old position as director of the editorial team, while Tom has been forced to make a "lateral move" that feels suspiciously like a demotion. His wife offers moral support at home, and at work he finds growing comfort in the company of his young protegee Kim-until their friendship leads to jealousy and a visit to human resources. As Tom's troubles mount, he must decide whether to continue working at a job he has held for years but now finds intolerable or to strike out on a new path during a time of economic uncertainty.