At age 38, poet and journalist Mark O'Brien (John Hawkes), who survives only by being tethered to an iron lung, has never been in love. Nor has he had sex. A devout Catholic, Mark is reminded of how lonely his existence can be when he grows enamored of an assistant who can't reciprocate his feelings. When an editor assigns him a story about sex and disability, Mark decides that it's time to explore his own sexuality, too. He consults with his priest (William H. Macy), who supports him, and hires a sex surrogate (Helen Hunt), who teaches Mark about his body and with whom he develops an important friendship.
