Milo Burke, embattled with the woes of a recent unemployment stemming from an untimely altercation at his university job, is entangled in the precarious position of 'developing' funds for the institution. When a lifeline is tossed his way, it attaches him to Purdy Stuart, a character drenched in sinister motives and shadowed connections from Milo's collegiate past. This peculiar benefactor presents an 'ask' with conditions that far exceed monetary figures, thrusting Milo into a darkly humorous exploration of contemporary anxieties. 'The Ask' by Sam Lipsyte delves into an intricate weave of societal pressures ranging from the hardships of work and class to the absurdities of pop culture and the murky waters of personal relationships.