Following his release from prison, John finds himself abandoned by his family and homeless. He is drawn to his childhood church and to its priest who preaches fire and brimstone from the pulpit: Father Upton. John pursues the divine punishment which the priest seemingly offers and attempts to provoke Upton into giving him what he wants through a most heinous act. The two men strive to remain in the respective prisons that they have made for themselves, but their interactions open the doors to possible freedom.