A destitute young man discovers a path he will never know hunger, and must decide whether the price of absolute obedience is worth such a luxury.

SYNOPSIS:

Michael, 18, barefoot, dirty with scruffy blond hair looks for food in a gas station somewhere in the Midwest. The clerk refuses to budge on the price of a hotdog when Michael is twenty-five cents short. Michael flips out and the security guard throws him out. Linda had witnessed the whole thing unfold. Outside, As Michael curls up into himself to try and keep warm Linda approaches him and offers him a ride. Hesitant at first because “there’s no such thing as a free ride,” Michael declines, but then when he sees her get into her car with a chauffeur he goes.

They arrive at an enormous Victorian house where Linda has the Chef make him a meal. While they are getting to know one another, Eric, the Master of the House, returns home from a late night. Linda goes to meet him and Michael walks to the buffet in the dining room and takes a drink of wine. Eric sees him drinking his very expensive wine and asks why there is a “Street Urchin,” in his home. Eric denies Linda’s request to keep Michael. After Linda begs he tells her that she can have whatever she wants, but it’s not his problem. Michael, freaked out, storms out of the house and tries to run away. He opens the Iron gate and walks down the street, lit by gas lights. Dry leaves sweep across the street. Michael looks down, his feet still bare, and cold, and he returns to the house.

The story jumps ahead 3 years. A wedding is being planned and Michael has graduated to the position of head chef. It has only been a few months since his teacher, Jacques, has passed but Michael is a capable with a knife than any of his peers. The culinary preparations are in his hands. Trinity and Joseph are two of his best friends and he looks forward to making this a special event for them. Linda has fallen ill and no one really talks about it, but Michael is Linda’s favorite and his affection is returned. That night, in the restaurant that the house runs Linda collapses. Michael is there when she wakes up in the hospital.

Knowing that they need help to take care of Linda, Eric enlists the help of Arianna and her trainee Monica. Feeling like he is being replaced Michael lashes out. Everyone gets it, but an important guest is arriving and Michael has to plan for the “Council’s” arrival. That night, Ryan arrives, Eric’s nephew, and while Eric plans on asking Ryan to begin the process of becoming his inheritor Ryan requests to become a member of the house as one of the servants.

Ryan is accepted by the majority of the house. As the council members arrive for dinner he is informed that Linda will not be joining them. As they entered the dining room Linda is already seated at the table. Michael tries to convince her to return to her quarters but she is looking forward to the award-winning Duck ala Orange that Michael has prepared. As they are all bringing the food out Douglas asks for an alternative meal, perhaps a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Michael tries to explain to him that the meal has one Michelin Star and Douglas tells him that if Jacques was preparing it he would try it. Michael holding his tongue impresses Douglas, but Ryan comes down the Master Staircase. Eric is tested and Ryan is punished harshly.

Michael’s interactions with Ryan and Monica realize that he feels his place is not in the house and when no one will listen to him about the destroyed wedding cake and its violent ending, Michael learns that his place is away from the house, hopefully forever. He ends up working at a restaurant in Chicago in Ryan’s old flat.