Carl Huff is unlike any man you are ever likely to meet. Words describing him might include strange, reclusive or anti-social, but in short, Carl and the world at large seem to be forever at odds. A child of the early days of the Great Depression, life for Carl never seems to get close to normal. After a series of failed relationships including two marriages, Carl finds peace and refuge-a hermit-like existence in a remote country setting. After suffering for several weeks from blinding headaches, however, Carl seeks treatment from a physician he picks from the yellow pages. Driving his trusty old pickup truck home from his first visit to a doctor in over ten years, Carl is now convinced, from misconstrued comments made by the doctor, that he is dying from a brain tumor. Under these unique circumstances, it occurs to Carl that he has nothing to lose. Sweet revenge becomes foremost on his mind and Carl begins to carefully plot out the demise of Kandy, his divorced and hated second wife. He becomes completely obsessed in the thorough and comprehensive planning of every minute detail of his diabolical plot. On a steamy-hot August night just a week later, all the elements appear to be in place. The stars are in perfect alignment, a freshly-dug grave awaits.