故事发生在第一次世界大战期间,强尼(蒂姆斯·伯特姆斯 Timothy Bottoms 饰)是一位普通的美国青年,怀着报效祖国的心情拿起枪杆走上了战场。不幸的是,在残酷的战争中,强尼身受重伤,失去了他英俊的面庞,也彻底失去了行动能力。残缺不堪的强尼被送入了陆军医院,对亲人的思念支撑着强尼度过了一个又一个充满了疼痛和绝望的夜晚。 福斯(黛安·瓦西 Diane Varsi 饰)是医院里的一名护士,负责照料强尼。因为强尼的声带被破坏了无法说话,所以福斯使用了摩斯电码同她进行交谈。善良温柔的福斯渐渐唤醒了强尼内心里对于生存的渴望,可不久之后,福斯不见了。Joe, a young American soldier, is hit by a mortar shell on the last day of World War I. He lies in a hospital bed in a fate worse than death - a quadruple amputee who has lost his arms, legs, eyes, ears, mouth and nose. He remains conscious and able to think, thereby reliving his life through strange dreams and memories, unable to distinguish whether he is awake or dreaming. He remains frustrated by his situation, until one day when Joe discovers a unique way to communicate with his caregivers.