Coming out of high school, Alan Paige could only dream of college. The family is in a hole living on his father's unemployment, his mother's job at a school library, his sister's part-time at a fast-food, and his $6.50 an hour as a gofer in a golf course. As a test of his academic credential from the top three of his class, he applies for admission at GWU and is accepted. Tony Feller, a part-time co-worker at the links and a kind-hearted friend, is deeply troubled to see him and his family struggling to claw their way out of their hole, especially when Alan tells him about his college admission. There has to be a way, he swears to himself, to get him out of that hole. The way presents itself to him in the form of an unexpected inheritance. With it, he secretly maneuvers to see Alan through college and help the family keep the roof over their heads. Years later, Alan is a multi-millionaire moneymaker on Wall Street. He learns everything Tony did for him and his family and swears to pay it all back. Tony's life in the meantime has taken a dive. He lost his fiancee in a fatal car accident, his business tanked. He goes into a deep depression and embarks on a journey to escape his misery. He is now the one in a hole and has disappeared. Knowing this, Alan swears to find his friend and return the favor by pulling him out of his hole."