In late '50s Baltimore, 12-year-old Danny (Smith) is the target of bullies and humiliated by the fact that his dad Earl (Strathairn) is accused of cowardice because he's not a vet. So Danny decides to prove his own courage by climbing the local, soon-to-be-demolished 203-foot radio tower. Danny is unexpected aided by his crochety neighbor, Chuck Langer (Hurt), a hard-drinking grump dying of cancer. But when Danny gets into trouble, it's his dad who comes to the rescue. Nostalgic family fare.