Ten years ago, Francis Ryan was a contender for the California high school wrestling championships in his weight class. In the decade since, he has experienced nothing but the tedium and obscurity of small town, working class life. A casual longshoreman during the day, middle school wrestling coach three nights a week, Francis suffers constant comparison to his much more successful older brother Michael. In the last few months, Francis has grown feelings for the mother of one of his middle school wrestlers. Natalie Brennan is a coworker of Francis' on the docks, and, to his misfortune, the high school sweetheart of his older brother Michael. With Michael returning home for the holidays, Francis feels forced to compete head-to-head with his brother for Natalie's heart. Tensions build between the two brothers until their competition takes a violent turn.