Jake Stein (Frankie Muniz) is a 17-year-old who lives with his sick mother and grandfather in Brooklyn. He wants nothing more than to be a writer, but when his mother's health takes a turn for the worse, Jake is sent to Miami to live with his father, "Zowie" (Harvey Keitel), a small-time "handicapper" who gives horse racing tips for a living.
Jake Stein (Frankie Muniz) is a 17-year-old who shares a home with his terminally ill mother and grandfather in Brooklyn. He aspires to be a writer, but when his mother's condition worsens, Jake is relocated to Miami to live with his father, "Zowie" (Harvey Keitel), a small-time gambler who offers horse racing tips for a fee.