In the Northwest, a college student and his friend help two young women whose car has stalled on the road. The young men invite the girls to a party the friend is giving the following week. During the party, the student leaves abruptly to meet with a college professor with whom he makes pottery. The young man finds solace in the pottery making, but his parents, who tend to be critical and suspicious, become concerned about his frequent late nights and presume that he is experimenting with drugs. One day, on an excursion to Mount Hood, his friend falls and breaks his arm. When the young student commences a romance with one of the women, his parents disapprove, although hers do not. The young man finally finds happiness when he quits school six weeks prior to graduation, but it is short-lived, as he then receives a draft notice. Although he considers fleeing to Canada, he reconsiders and appears for duty and is sent to fight in Vietnam, where he is killed. Later, at his graveside, people who were close to him join hands and form a circle.