Perpetually assaulted by an army of undiagnosed mental disorders, Ben lives in the vortex between two lives. One is a kind and compassionate man. The other is a wounded animal, racked with splinters of violence and rage. One is a second shift custodian at an elementary school. The other is convinced he's developing superhuman abilities. One is a lonely poet who's fallen for the new teacher at his school. The other is twisted with obsession and paranoia. The most dangerous kind of water looks calm on the surface but rips and thrashes underneath. That's also the most dangerous kind of person. A madman. A MAD RIVER.