Based on true events: when a shy, closeted 17 year old discovers his father is dying, he enlists in the Army to help his family financially survive, but the military's "Don't Ask; Don't Tell" policy threatens to destroy everything he's working to protect.

SYNOPSIS:

In 2002, AVERY BLAKE (17) panics during a gas chamber exercise while his drill sergeant yells at him. The exercise becomes too overwhelming. Avery shuts his eyes whipping us back to two months earlier. Avery watches in horror as his father, JAMES BLAKE (53) is wheeled into the emergency room, critically ill.

Avery’s mother BECKY (42), struggles day-to-day — feeling the weight of the world of unending medical bills, and James’ hospital visits, and raising Avery’s twin siblings, KATIE & KEVIN (10). So, when the news that James’ Multiple Sclerosis is much worse than before Avery watches his mother crumble.

Avery’s a gifted choir singer, and his biggest escape from the world is singing in MR. ALLEN’S (38) class with a lone best friend MADDY LLOYD (16). Maddy senses an attraction between Avery and classmate JACOB CAVAZOS (16), and she suspects Jacob is comfortable being out and proud. Avery dismisses the entire conversation, refusing to admit anything.

Desperate to help, Avery takes Becky to meet STAFF SERGEANT RICHARDS (51), offering Avery a 17,000-dollar enlistment bonus. Becky very reluctantly agrees to let him join the military.

During basic training, Drill sergeants explain the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, which makes Avery nervous. When Avery meets PVT. BOWMAN (19), the two become friends. Despite Bowman using homo- phobic slurs, Avery and Bowman begin to sense a connection that neither can acknowledge or speak of.

When the two are paired up in a hand-to-hand combat exercise, the intimacy of it becomes too much. Bowman pushes Avery away.

Soon, Bowman and Avery are able to open up about their home lives, and their parents when Avery discovers Bowman has his own family trauma. Yet, Bowman refused to let Avery get too close.

Bowman becomes crazed, and even gets into a physical fight with another private during a training exercise and has to be pulled off. When Bowman intercepts a letter from Maddy, he calls Avery a homophobic slur and rips up the letter. Avery and Bowman get into a fight.

Upset, Avery calls Maddison and says he wants to give up. Drill Sergeant SHEILA WRIGHT (37) catches him using the phone without permission but instead of punishing Avery, advises him to stay.

On graduation night, Bowman returns the barracks drunk from a night out with his older brothers. Confessing his feelings for Avery becomes too much.

So, in the late hours of the morning, Bowman steals an SUV and crashes it. Bowman is hauled away. Drill Sergeant Wright tells Avery that Bowman’s ruined his own life, and to keep his head on straight.

Avery returns home and starts school again, but his emotions are conflicted; making his old life and his new life come together is terribly painful. He’s stuck in militant routines; he’s skipping choir. Avery starts a fist fight, and then James tells Avery that he’s always seen his son for who he is, and that the price Avery’s paying is too high.

Avery meets with Richards. Richards dismisses weakness in Bowman, and Avery tells Richards that he is gay. Avery is dismissed from the Army.

Months later, Maddy and Avery graduate high school and she’s bought tickets to see John Mayer together...with Jacob. The three of them exuberantly drive off to the concert.