Synopsis
Owen Walters is a twelve-year-old boy suffering from cancer. It's an illness he tries to deny, but the death of his best friend, the elderly and mysterious Mr. Rice, threatens to make the frailty and impermanence of life all too abundantly clear. His frightening experience trying to videotape the funeral and the presence of the mortician Mr. Death only serve to heighten his sense of anxiety.Owen and his friends, Veg, Funnel Head and Gilbert, break into Mr. Rice's home to watch the video. Inside they discover a sealed envelope addressed to Owen.Mr. Rice has left him a map and a medieval decoder ring. Owen soon mbarks on a remarkable treasure hunt - a treasure hunt which uncovers life lessons and the magic of the human heart.Owen learns about the greatness of his friend and understands what Mr. Rice told him, "It's what you do in life that counts."