The Beneficials

In an unnamed town in the American south, following the death of unreliable protagonist Brian's mother, Brian's uncle Jim moves in to help operate the family's peach orchard. Brian seethes with resentment against every aspect of his uncle's character, from Jim's dismissal of Brian's meek father, to his sleazy and smooth talking personality, to Jim's increasingly dubious interest in the young woman Brian is quickly falling for. Brian sinks deeper into grief for his mother, self-contempt, trepidation for what his own future holds, and the general turmoil of adolescence, all the while feeling powerless against Jim's infiltration upon the structure of Brian's life and youth. Tension builds against a small town gothic backdrop in this family saga of heartache and rivalry.