Shinkai Genichi, a 42-year-old man who used to enjoy success as a budding scientist during his school days but gets too caught up with his past and keeps chasing his dream unsuccessfully for the past 18 years. As a result, his wife walks out of him, he loses his apartment due to unpaid rent and struggles to make a living while supporting his only son Kouta who is 5 years old.

　　四处奔走依靠科普讲座勉强赚取稀薄生活费的新海元一（织田裕二 饰），许多年前曾是科学界一颗冉冉升起的明日之星，他致力于研究镁燃料电池，但是实验和项目接连遭受挫折。日常操劳家中一切的妻子纱世子（铃木幸树 饰）忍无可忍，离家出走。此时元一才意识到，自己的小家已经到了濒临崩溃的地步。因拖欠房租，他和儿子光太（田中奏生 饰）被赶出公寓；曾经支持他的业者也家财散尽，灰心离去。走投无路的元一各方求职，奔走在单位和幼儿园两端，偶尔求助于旧知岸田（八岛智人 饰）和昔日恋人美月（长谷川京子 饰）。疲于奔命，与生活搏斗。

　　他是儿子心中最伟大甚至能发明任意门的科学家，他又是被残酷现实压得几近窒息却仍不放弃一线希望的平凡男人……

대학에서 주목받던 과학자였지만, 아내가 도망을 가고 싱글 파더가 된 아버지와 아들의 이야기.