Driven by ambition, Eli Stone has built a successful career at a top San Francisco law firm in representing the biggest and richest corporations, where "screwing over the little guy" is common practice. After experiencing a series of odd hallucinations, including a crooning vision of George Michael, Eli turns to his neurologist brother, Nathan, only to be told there's nothing wrong with him. As the visions persist, he's anxious to find the cause of his delirium and seeks the help of Dr. Chen, a Chinese acupuncturist who specializes in holistic medicine. Though skeptical of his practice, Eli finds Dr. Chen can help him recall important memories from his past.
Eli's visions continue to intensify and begin to affect his practice, his relationships and how he's perceived by others. But it's not until Eli puts his own life in peril that Nathan recognizes similar episodes their father shared and reconsiders his brother's case. Upon another review of the symptoms and an MRI, he discovers Eli is suffering from an inoperable brain aneurysm that's causing his illusions.
If Nathan represents science, Dr. Chen represents faith. As Eli struggles to cope with his diagnosis, he looks to Dr. Chen for his take on the relationship of his revelations to his aneurysm. Dr. Chen suggests there could be a divine answer for why he's having delusions of grandeur - Eli may be a prophet. While Eli is skeptical, his visions have helped him recall what his father once impressed upon him - "You're meant to do great things - speak inspired words - you're going to help people." With these words in mind, Eli redefines his outlook on life and his mission as a lawyer, beginning with a case in which he represents an old acquaintance against one of his firm's most important clients. Despite opposition from his imposing boss and future father in law, Jordan Wethersby, and his fiancee, Taylor, Eli chooses to stay the course.
