Walter Black is depressed and sleeps most of the day. It’s driving his family crazy, and his wife Meredith kicks him out. Walter starts carrying a beaver puppet and tries to commit suicide (unsuccessfully). He uses the puppet to talk to himself, trying to bolster his spirits, and trying to rebuild his life. Through the beaver, the family begins to learn about Walter’s history and problems, and as he continues rebuilding, the beaver shows them all a way to cope.