The Olive Depression documents the weeks before a teenage boy enters military service He is determined not to mentally accept what is required of him by law. He opts to prepare himself by maintaining his melancholy about something against what it means to be human. However, seeing the depression of his best friend who enters the army before him and the worry of his parents lead him to question his principles. As he strives not to succumb to the government's world view, he finds it increasingly difficult to be contented and sad at the same time.

The Olive Depression

Several years after surviving a car accident that killed her son, former Los Angeles defense attorney Claire Bennett is left physically and emotionally disabled — and heavily scarred — as she struggles to cope with chronic pain. Claire is hostile to most people but manipulative and sweet to her pain management doctor who prescribes her the pain medication she needs to survive. Claire's husband, Jason, has finally left her, but she's assisted by her devoted housekeeper, Silvana, who has become both caretaker and chauffeur and who selflessly looks after all of Claire's needs. Because of the accident, Claire refuses to sit up in the car, and lies down while being driven everywhere.