This is the tale of two young lovers who flee from the miseries of their homelife to make it on there own. Nineteen year old Chris, rejected by his family, hopes to go to college and into forestry once he's out of the Army Reserves. Holly, who is fourteen, lives with her divorced, overprotective mother and her brother. She runs with an older crowd and soon attaches herself to Chris. Holly's mother is dead set against Chris because of his age, and she and Holly are at odd's over him. When she forbids them to see one another, and boots Chris out of her yard, Holly convinces a doubtful Chris to run off to the promises of California. The Trip West, with the couple penniless, avoiding the law, a lecherous trucker and other routine incidents, shows them that life will not be easy. Once in southern California there are no answers except for a fortuitous offer from the Hollywood Outreach Program, which they pass up. Bad luck hits hard, but Chris can't go home because the army has declared him AWOL, and Holly's mother has pressed charges of kidnapping and rape. Furthermore, Holly won't leave Chris--they've discovered they're really in love.