After having slid off a snowy covered road in Colorado, Paul Sheldon, author of a bestselling series of historical romances, wakes up in a strange place, a secluded farm house. He wakes up to unspeakable pain( a dislocated pelvis, a crushed knee, two shattered legs) and to a bizzare greeting from the woman who saved his life: "I'm your number one fan!"

Annie Wilkes is a huge ex-nurse, handy with controlled substances and ther other insturments of abuse, including axe and a blowtorch. Since she doesn't want her favorite charater Misery Chastain to be killed off in Paul's latest novel. She buys him a typewriter and a ream of paper to bring Misery back to life. Wheelchair bound, drug dependent, locked in his room, Paul dosen't have much choice. He's an entertainer help captive by his audience.