In 1970, a curmudgeonly history teacher at a New England boarding school remains on campus during Christmas break to supervise held over students, and ends up forming an unlikely bond with a brainy but damaged troublemaker.

A reluctant bare-knuckle boxer "Lion" and his manager / brother "Stanley" must travel across the country for one last fight, but an unexpected travel companion "Sky" exposes the cracks in their bond along the way.