Plot: Philip Lewis Friedman is a young, New York City-based novelist with a modicum of fame within literary circles. He is an angry, self-absorbed and condescending man who has decided to burn bridges with specific people in his life for unfulfilled promises and dreams, those people on which he places complete blame. With other people such as his live-in girlfriend Ashley Kane, a photographer, he is slowly pushing them away, especially whenever they don't fit into what is happening in his life at any given time. Awaiting the official release of his second novel "Obidant", Philip learns that the advanced critical buzz is not good, which is a problem if only because he has already spent the advances he received when he was writing it. As such, he has to find other sources of income, he still not willing to do something he does not want just for money. At this time, he is befriended by fellow novelist Ike Zimmerman, who was successful and prolific as a young man, but who has not written or had anything published in years as he moves into his senior life. Ike becomes his mentor, offering him advice, his country retreat as a place to write, and assistance in getting a short term creative writing teaching position at Lambert College upstate. Philip, therefore, is physically separated from Ashley while he stays at the country retreat and while he is teaching at the college. In his time away from Ashley, Philip may get a glimpse into his future if he continues on this path. And in her time away from Philip, Ashley may decide if their separation should be permanent, especially as she has invested much of her own energies to Philip and his life.
Alternative Plot: After refusing to promote his eagerly awaited second novel, a self-absorbed writer (Jason Schwartzman) takes up residence at the home of his literary idol (Jonathan Pryce).
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