George Gattling is a man who is a little out of place in the world. Owner of an custom auto shop, he lives with his divorced sister, Precious, and her 20-year-old autistic son, Fred. He dreams of capturing and taming a wild hawk. When he is hunting these birds of prey, he temporarily feels freed from the absurdities of civilized life. After several years of failed attempts, George and Fred capture the most magnificent bird they have ever seen: a red-tailed hawk.