In southern California, Tim Doolan is released from juvenile detention, and leaves with his mother, Felicia, and her new husband, Barton Marks. On the way, they drive Tim to a psychiatric facility for troubled youth called Valley Acres. Tim refuses to stay and when he becomes belligerent, Dr. Gaeyl has orderlies restrain him. Tim remembers a night the month before when he, his half-brother, Andy Doolan, and their gang, the D.A.B.’s, got into a fight with rivals from the 10th St. Gang. After the fight, Tim spent the night with Cheryl Anderson, the girl friend of his friend, “Link.” Angry with her alcoholic mother, Cheryl drives her mother’s convertible into their swimming pool. In the morning, Mrs. Anderson calls police to have her daughter arrested, and Tim is also taken into custody. His abusive father, Richard Doolan, arrives at the station and gives police a gun and narcotics he found in his son’s bedroom. With his mother away for several weeks on her honeymoon with her new husband, and his father refusing to look after him, Tim is left with no supervision, and a Judge orders him to a juvenile detention center until his mother’s return. Later, at Valley Acres, psychiatrist Dr. Charles Loftis meets with Tim and unbuckles his restraints. He recognizes that Tim is a good kid who does not deserve to be there. However, Tim is not allowed to leave, and begins attending group sessions with others, including Cheryl Anderson, whose mother had her committed. Cheryl apologizes to Tim for getting him into trouble. Seeing an opportunity, Tim climbs over the wall and escapes, but is soon captured and returned to Valley Acres. Dr. Loftis promises to help Tim if the boy vows not to try to escape again. Sometime later, Tim has sex with Cheryl in a shower stall. When his parents arrive for family counseling with Dr. Loftis, Tim’s father, Richard, verbally abuses his mother, and insults her new husband. Dr. Loftis scolds the adults for their behavior, and reminds them that Tim should be their priority. Cheryl is soon released, despite Dr. Loftis’s belief that she needs to remain. Hoping to be reunited with Cheryl, Tim is on his best behavior to earn his release. After receiving off-ground privileges, Tim’s half-brother, Andy, arrives to take him out for the day. He takes Tim to his mother’s house, where Tim learns that his new stepfather was responsible for him being admitted to Valley Acres, and has turned Tim’s bedroom into an office. Angry, Tim leaves and goes to see Cheryl and finds her in the empty house alone, after her mother has sold it. He worries when he discovers that Cheryl is on drugs, and after tracking down Dr. Loftis’s address, takes Cheryl to get help. However, Dr. Loftis is unhappy about the house call, and accuses the boy of going “AWOL.” Loftis reports Tim to Valley Acres, but Tim returns to the facility of his own accord. Feeling betrayed, Tim vandalizes the facility, spray-painting graffiti on the walls. Dr. Loftis encourages Tim to fight him, giving the boy the release he needs. Afterward, Tim calms down and paints over the graffiti. Andy telephones Tim and is angry he did not appear for a gang fight. When he pressures Tim to fight the following weekend, Tim acquires a key to the front door from another patient named Barry, and sneaks out. Tim learns of Andy’s plan to commit a drive-by shooting on the 10th St. gang. Initially, Tim refuses to commit murder, but after pressure from Andy, he points the gun at rival gang leader. However, as Andy drives, Tim shoots at the ground. While fleeing, Andy crashes into another vehicle, and Tim falls out of the truck. Andy drives off, leaving him behind, and Tim points the gun at his enemies before escaping on foot. He searches for Andy at their father’s house, and Tim pleads with his estranged father to speak to him. As Tim screams, Richard finally embraces his son. Andy arrives outside with Cheryl in tow, and Tim holds him at gunpoint. He fires shots next to his head as Andy cowers on the ground. Cheryl tries to appeal to Tim, but he leaves her and drives to Dr. Loftis’s house. However, Loftis is drunk and unsympathetic, after his wife has left him. He demands that Tim leave, but the boy falls asleep in a spare bedroom and in the morning, asks Dr. Loftis if he can live with him. When pressed, Tim admits that what he really wants is a home. Dr. Loftis tells Tim that his mother has asked to see him, and drives the boy to her house. He leaves Tim there, promising to sort things out at Valley Acres so he will not have to return.