Larry Olson, a twenty-two years old conscientious objector, is sentenced by his draft board during the Viet Nam war to spend two years of alternative service on the back ward of a mental hospital. At odds with his family, country and himself, he dreads working there. Then, on his first day, he learns the chronic schizophrenics pose less danger to him than certain "sane" staff members. To complicate matters, Larry soon gets drawn into a nasty power...