Brad Rainey had always dreamed of playing baseball in the big leagues. Then Peggy tells him she is pregnant, and he is the father. The baby dies in Brad's arms, and all his dreams disappear. Brad, tired of her ridicule and domination by Peggy while she flirts with their customers, drops out of life in Reno. Desperate for money, he attempts to rob a cripple in Merced. Fearing the police are looking for him, Brad goes to Salinas. Instead of renting a room, he goes to an all night movie theater to sleep there. Carlos Nolan, a Hispanic-African teen, is trying to hide from an LA drug dealer. Alone and hungry, Carlos sneaks in the theater and tries to steal Brad's briefcase. Brad threatens to call the cops even though he doesn't want to talk them any more that Carlos does. Carlos dreams of being an artist, and slips into the college library hoping to learn about black artists. He meets Dr. Cyndi Bauer. Carlos tells her his mother is dead, and he lives with his stepfather. Cyd struggling to start a new life after divorcing an abusive husband teaches history at the college and dreams of starting life anew. Going to a local deli, she meets Brad, and they begin dating. Brad abruptly ends the relationship. Brad had told her his wife died and he is caring for a stepson. Carlos invites Cyd to a Christmas party his stepfather is giving. Never equating the black teenager with the tow-headed small child she visualized as Brad's stepson. When these three meet, can their dreams blend?