乔(布拉德·皮特 Brad Pitt 饰)和比利(瑞克·斯克路德 Rick Schroder 饰)是情同手足的兄弟,两人由单身母亲罗斯玛丽(卡利·绍德莱斯 Carrie Snodgress 饰)辛劳拉扯养大,感情十分要好。成年之后,乔和比利的性格出现了巨大的差异,比利品学兼优是众人眼中的有用之才,而乔却因为结交损友,而走上了歧途。 比利热爱赛跑,他不仅加入了校队,还在训练和比赛之中展现了惊人的天赋。一直担心着弟弟的境况,比利劝说乔也加入校队,令比利没有想到的是,一直以来深藏不露的乔竟然展现出了高自己一等的跑步天赋。乔的回归虽然令比利高兴,但在内心里,比利却真实地感受到了一种深深的失落,一绝不正的他准备放弃即将开始的比赛。When Billy returns from reform school he has to attend a different high school at the other side of town. He tries to start with a clean slate but his old rival doesn't make it easy on him and his buddy Louie tries to make him go astray again. His brother Joe, quite the opposite of Billy, is a good runner and determined to win a track scholarship. He suggests Billy to join his school's track team, which pits the two brothers against each other...