Two young men confront their sexuality. Brendan, school athlete, three sport champion and son of an abusive alcoholic father speaks to us directly and introduces us to his world. Jackie, a highly verbal and intelligent young man losses himself to the poetry of Walt Whitman. Jackie's father, a blue collar bridge worker locks out the world. To protect his family from the "Commies, the Coloreds, the Queers and the Jews," he keeps a gun. He finds a copy of "Leaves of Grass" in his son's room & suspects his son's sexual inclination. He will kill Jackie rather than see him queer. Brendan's home: all to please an alcoholic and abusive father. Brendan must pass a poetry test to play in a game. Brendan seeks the help of Jackie and discovers something that draws him to Jackie's company. Brendan's team mates harass him for hanging around with faggots. They attack Jackie with intense verbal violence. Jackie returns home in torment. He finds his father's gun. He loads it. Suddenly, Brendan calls to him from outside. Jackie puts down the gun. Brendan appeals to Jackie for forgiveness. As he explains his regret he reveals that he has been looking for someone like himself. Jackie is taken aback and notes that he is not gay. But Brendan has already revealed himself and collapses in anguish at Jackie's feet begging not to be disclosed. Jackie raises Brendan from the floor. At that moment Jackie's father enters. He sees the two boys and picks up the gun. In the heat of the moment he will kill his own son. Brendan grabs the gun and runs from the house. Brendan alone. We see and hear the same tormentors that repeat , "We don't want no faggots, no homos, no queers, 'round here." Brendan fires the gun.