In a noisy high-school classroom in Rome, a substitute teacher enters and immediately establishes control: he confiscates a student's ball, accepts a small gift from another, and puts students through their paces, having them imitate animals, making fun of those who are too eager, rewarding those whose marks in the class roster are usually low. All but one student tries to please him; except for her - a quiet girl writing a poem - all are willing to discard dignity and camaraderie for a shot at a high mark. What lessons are being taught and learned here, and what about the ball?