The parallel paths followed by two adolescent protagonists over a period of 18 hours intersect violently outside a local shopping centre with fatal consequences for one and fateful consequences for the other: Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll becomes Sex, Drugs and Random Violence. SCUM is a fictitious, but realistic portrayal of a devastating incident of random violence based on true events.

After a night out with friends, a couple misses the subway home by a whisker. Another man misses his train. While the couple talks things over on the platform, two lanky kids come down the stairs, clearly looking for trouble. When they start badgering the solitary man, the couple looks on anxiously and impotently. Even when the threats take on a violent nature, they do not have the courage to intervene.