Riveting River Entertainment

Synopsis

A Victim of Circumstance

13-year-old Tyson has become the target of a relentless bully Matthew and his buddies. Tyson has but one friend, Maria, a recently landed immigrant from Mexico with past trauma. Matthew has taken a romantic liking to Maria, who doesn’t return the affection.

Tyson receives conflicting advice from his parents. His mom, Christine, wants him to stick up for himself and fight Matthew. However, his dad, Eddie, wants him to take the high road and diplomatically solve the problem through the school and Matthew’s parents. Matthew’s dad, Jim, is a local cop, which is why Eddie and Christine have not involved the police.

The bullying continues, and Tyson finally decides to fight Matthew in the park across from the school when the school day ends.

Tyson accidentally kills Matthew.

Tyson is arrested, tried, convicted, and sent to juvenile detention until his 18th birthday. More alone than ever, he endures daily beatings by the other kids until he decides to fight back. Because of his newly-found strength and determination, Tyson becomes top dog inside the facility and befriends Wayne, a similar tough guy.

Upon release from juvenile detention, he and Wayne begin working for Wayne’s dad, Mike. The two collect debts and make drug drops as they rough up anyone who can’t pay up or talks back. Maria tries to reconnect with Tyson, but he is angry that she never came to visit him or answer his phone calls while he was detained.

Christine and Eddie’s relationship has been shaky since Tyson went to juvenile detention as Christine resorted to drug use. Eddie tries to find a way to hold his family together. Matthew’s father, Jim, catches wind of Tyson’s criminal involvement and becomes furious—driven by the fact his wife, Helen, committed suicide from her pain from losing her only child. All of this leads to the dramatic conclusion of the story.