Andy Vincent lives in a terrible home in Wisconsin. In 1964. He is a good student in high school, a decent young man, sociable, has friends, close friends who like him. At home he suffers the insanity of his parents, their endless warfare. He withdraws into an imaginary world to survive, gets out of the house to be with his friends as much as he can. He falls in love with Sara Roberts, is in love with her for nearly a year. Until her father is transferred to another job in California. Andy is devastated. He runs away from home, follows Sara to California, drives there alone.