In 1994, young Dr. Eli Kurz is in over his head after he's appointed to a coveted position as head of a major division at Harvard's Department of Pediatrics. After a gaffe during his presentation at a major departmental review, he is "advised" by his chairperson to get up to speed on his research at a distant basic science lab or risk losing his position altogether. There he stumbles on a discovery with some clinical promise. Convinced by his rich and raffish new friend, DiBene, that he can fast track his research at a private lab on an island in the Antilles, Eli learns the lab is not as it seems, and he must find a way to save his job, his reputation, and his life.