Camp

In Eli's small-town home, his drug-addicted mother ignores him while his transient, abusive father shows up hoping to extract money. On Eli's birthday, when the father can't find cash, he beats him with a broomstick. Eli is rushed to the hospital and is removed from his mother's care.

Eli is admitted to the hospital after the beating and receives treatment for his injuries. Social services intervene and remove him from his mother's care, signaling a break from his previous unstable environment. The incident marks a turning point toward external care.

Sometime after the hospitalization, Eli's mother dies of a heroin overdose, leaving him more vulnerable and adrift. Her death triggers new arrangements for his care and future living situation. The loss compounds Eli's sense of abandonment.

Investment adviser Ken Matthews is persuaded by his personal assistant to serve as a camp counselor to impress a potential new client. The plan is framed around projecting a caring, responsible image while he helps at a Christian summer camp. This opportunity marks the start of his cross-path with Eli.

The camp director receives a last-minute request to admit Eli and is only able to accept him when Ken volunteers as a counselor. Ken agrees, enabling Eli to enter the program and begin the experience at the camp. The arrangement hinges on Ken's commitment.

Ken arrives at the camp and discovers the director is the former fat girl from his high school, now slim and attractive. He also learns it is a Christian summer camp, but he himself does not pray, creating an initial cultural and personal mismatch. The atmosphere introduces both anticipated and unanticipated tensions.

Eli is sent to the same summer camp after his mother's death and is paired with Ken as his counselor. Eli is angry and rebellious, clearly determined to hate camp and to test Ken's resolve. The pairing sets up the central conflict of trust and care.

During the initial days at camp, Eli runs away, insults Ken, and challenges him at every turn. Ken struggles to manage Eli's behavior while trying to keep him and others safe. The episodes deepen the emotional distance between them before any real bond forms.

Ken and Eli bunk in a cabin with Samuel, a battle-tested army veteran, and Redford, a kid who thinks he is an alien. The close quarters force them to confront differences and begin to build fragile trust. Shared space becomes a catalyst for personal connections.

Over the course of the camp, Ken's heart breaks as he learns about Eli's dark past. The revelation reframes Eli's behavior and hardship, challenging Ken to respond with deeper compassion. This knowledge intensifies Ken's commitment to unconditional support.

Eli gradually opens up to Ken, allowing him to see glimpses of hope beyond his trauma. Ken continues to love Eli unconditionally, reinforcing the possibility of healing and growth. The bond between counselor and camper deepens into genuine trust.

After a period at the camp, Eli is placed in Locustwood, a facility that resembles a youth prison. The environment intensifies his anger and depression, presenting a stark new challenge for his already fragile state. Ken's influence feels more limited within this setting.

An unauthorized visit from Eli's father to the camp sends the situation spiraling out of control. Ken is forced to decide what he is willing to sacrifice to help Eli understand the meaning of unconditional love. The moment tests his limits and devotion.