The town of Castle Rock is small and news travels fast. So, Scott Carey confesses his strange condition only to his friend, retired doctor Bob Ellis: He keeps losing weight but the scale shows the same, whether he's wearing clothes or not.

Scott is also in conflict with his two new neighbors, Dierdre and her wife Missy. As the couple has just opened a new restaurant, which the residents of Castle Rock do not approve of at all, Scott realizes the prejudices they face - just like himself, for his own problem - and decides to support them.

Scott's mysterious affliction, combined with unexpected alliances, pushes the residents who have so far poisoned the lives of others - and their own - with their behavior to reveal their better selves.