Content Warning: The source text and this guide contain references to murder, violence, suicide, racism, sexism, and addiction.

Joe Wolf, the patriarch of the wealthy and powerful Wolf family, is alone on his boat, off the coast of San Francisco, reminiscing about old disagreements with his ex-wives and children. Suddenly, an unnamed stowaway surprises him. The stowaway wants to know when Wolf will give up; Wolf responds that he’ll give up when he’s dead. The unnamed stowaway responds: “Fine with me” (9).

The narrative switches to the perspective of Jenny Wolf, Joe’s only daughter. She is a political science teacher and varsity football coach at Hunters Point High in San Francisco. Jenny is tough and well-respected by her athletes. As practice comes to a close, Jenny’s players show her news reports about her father’s death in a supposed drowning.

Danny Wolf, Joe’s oldest son and director of the San Francisco Wolves, a professional football team, is eager to rework the organization now that he is fully in charge. He longs to fire the aging quarterback,