Trevor, a boy in Eugene Simonet's class, comes up with the idea of "paying it forward" by doing favors for three people who each do favors for three more. The idea is to change the world through an ongoing chain of good deeds. A reporter named Chris Chandler starts following the growing movement. However, Trevor's home life is troubled as his mother struggles with alcoholism and his father is abusive when present. Ultimately, Trevor tries to help by sacrificing himself to save another boy, tragically ending his role in starting the "pay it forward" movement.