Charlie St. Cloud (Zac Efron) is a sailor who wins a boat race along with his younger brother Sam (Charlie Tahan), and receives a sailing scholarship to Stanford University. Charlie graduates from high school and after getting home from his graduation ceremony, Charlie promises Sam, that they will practice baseball together every day until he leaves. Later that night, Charlie was supposed to go to a graduation party with his friends, but his mother Claire (Kim Basinger) makes him babysit Sam while she picks up another shift at her job as a nurse. When Sam is asleep, Charlie tries to sneak out and go to the party. But he is caught by Sam when he turns his fog lights on and asks Charlie to drive to his friend Tommy's house, Charlie gives in when Sam makes compliments about his car. Whilst driving, Charlie and Sam talk about Charlie's departure until they get into a bad car accident with a Mack semi-trailer. Although a paramedic named Florio Ferrente (Ray Liotta) is able to revive Charlie, Sam succumbs to his wounds, and dies in Charlie's arms. At Sam's funeral, Charlie runs off after being unable to put a baseball glove in the grave and finds Sam's spirit. Charlie keeps his promise to Sam by practicing baseball with him every day at sunset.
