In 1990s California, sixth-graders Emmett, Maxine, and Flynn begin to notice that their disabled friend Blinky has been acting strangely recently. Blinky, who lives in a trailer, has been receiving new toys from an unknown source. In the past month he has received a Sony Walkman, a Rubik’s cube, and a set of Micro Machines. Emmett begins to notice more disturbing things: bruises on Blinky’s wrists, and an uncomfortably intimate relationship with their teacher, Mr. Glass. One day, Emmett and Flynn go out to fish and find Blinky out, far from home. They invite him to fish at Heaven’s Acres and joke around about which teacher they would have sex with if they had to choose. Blinky offers that Mr. Glass is young, unlike their other female teachers. When Emmett returns home, he finds that his dog Roxy has killed a chicken at his family’s farm; he washes Roxy up and buries the chicken to hide it. In the middle of the night, Emmett’s father, a tough papermill worker, wakes Emmett up to teach him a lesson for not coming clean about the dog killing his chicken. The two take the dead chicken outside. Following Emmett’s father’s instructions, they light the chicken on fire because, in his father’s words, “Fire cleanses all.” After Emmett’s father asks him to say the two things that can solve any problem, Emmett’s father makes him repeat his mantra: “A bottle of Scotch and a sharp Buck knife.” The bottle of Scotch is for Emmett, while the sharp Buck knife is for whoever is causing Emmett a problem. The next morning, Emmett learns that Blinky has committed suicide in the river where he had fished in the previous day. Emmett goes to Maxine’s house to console her; the two end up crying together. On Monday, the school holds an assembly to address Blinky’s death. Maxine, Flynn, and Emmett plan to put a Rubik’s cube (like the one Mr. Glass gave to Blinky) in Mr. Glass’s locker, to stir a reaction in Mr. Glass that could prove he had formed an abusive relationship with Blinky. Emmett sees Mr. Glass’s shocked reaction, confirming his suspicions. But Emmett lies to his friends, and says Mr. Glass does not have any reaction to the Rubik’s cube. The next morning, Emmett asks his father for some advice from his father’s previous life. They attend Blinky’s funeral, where even Mr. Glass tearfully eulogizes, enraging Emmett even more for his role in Blinky’s abuse and eventual suicide. That night, Emmett bikes to Mr. Glass’s house with materials his father helped him prep. He attacks Mr. Glass with an ax, ties and gags him, and drags him out of the house. Emmett drives Mr. Glass’s car with Mr. Glass in it. Emmett drags Mr. Glass out of the car, and begins his preparations to kill him and burn his remains, with his half-shocked, half-amused father watching. Emmett thinks about Blinky as he carries out his revenge.