Three hopefuls — a college grad, a dance teacher from Watts, and an incognito heiress — vie for a spot on the Los Angeles Lakers cheerleading team.

Brutally abused by his parents, teenage Thomas finds comfort in associating with a film director who is making a documentary about physical child abuse. The two fall in love, and the elder is faced with the decision of either running away with Thomas or focusing on his career and thereby letting the boy possibly be beaten to death.