Professor Alec Simon reaches 'middle age', realizing he is out of step with his academic colleagues. Rather than aspire to the lauded goals of campus leadership, publication, and national recognition, he is content with the joys of teaching. Attendance at a professional development workshop heightens his sense of isolation. He seeks solace by performing his secret passion, magic, in public for the first time. Unfortunately, his attempt to entertain leads to a misunderstanding that sets in motion a wonky, and at times, poignant, cross-country pursuit of former students. His search to find himself is complicated by Armand Pennington, a beautiful, yet demanding young bank teller, Dr. Silverman, a wily, but wise, psychotherapist, and a group of academic colleagues offering advice along the way. Beyond the magic, Alec confronts his relationship with his absentee father, bonds with his adolescent son, and discovers a new life for himself.