Somewhere in a college classroom, the ancient myth of Plato's Allegory of the Cave is being retold and someone is remembering their ascent out of the dark cave. The Punk and the Professor pieces together the story of a man who began his journey out of ignorance. In the suburban shadows of New York City, eighteen-year-old Jack Tortis crawls his way through atypical adolescent struggles. He's an introvert in search of home, but he's been branded as a punk on an island with little opportunity for redemption. Set in the 1980s and '90s with a soundtrack of great music in the background, Jack and his friends try to find their way through dysfunction and illusion. In a battle for survival, they must overcome the violence, drugs, and apathy that infects their Long Island town. As winter approaches, Jack finds himself alone at the crossroads and must choose his fate. This modern coming-of-age story is framed by an ancient tale of wisdom that reminds us that reality is not always what it seems.