Dusty is a foster child who has been moved to Olathe Colorado in the year 1992. One day, he sees an outdoor class at a karate dojo run by Brad. Brad noticed Dusty spying over multiple days and lets him take free karate classes.

After training for some months at the dojo, Brad decides to adopt Dusty. Their relationship is great at first. They bond over karate and watching movies on VHS together.

Dusty discovers pro wrestling on the TV while living in Brad’s home. He grows a specific fixation on the rugged and handsome wrestler Prince Paine; his wife/sidekick Princess Pound’ Em; and his rival Drake Dragoon, a hulking, unattractive bad guy wrestler.

Over time, Brad begins to grow distant from Dusty. He rarely leaves his room, and is taking more of his “migraine pills”. Dusty becomes especially familiar with how the weight of Brad’s bottle affects his mood, and the “bottle man” (ie Sticky) that supplies Brad with his “medicine.”

Meanwhile, there are two step brothers in Dusty’s karate class named August and Reece. Reece is very extroverted and excitable, while August is a quiet bookworm. 

Dusty gradually becomes friends with the brothers in karate class and at their school, but their relationship grows strained as Brad becomes more strict during lessons as an extension of his sudden irritability and deterioration at home

As Brad’s condition worsens, Bernard starts acting more tense in class, until one day he suddenly attacks Reese and brutally breaks his arm. Bernard runs away.

A few days later, while Brad is at an all time low, he asks Dusty to go to the dojo to get Brad some of his “medicine”. As dusty approaches the dojo, he hears disco music playing from inside. Bernard is trashing the place while listening to an ABBA album on a record player. He sees Dusty and attacks him.