Leo and Angela Russo live a simple life in Queens, surrounded by their overbearing Italian-American family. When their son finds success on his high school basketball team, Leo tears the family apart trying to make it happen.
College grad Ned Stern is awaiting his draft into the Vietnam War. Ned spends his last summer of freedom caring for a belligerent wealthy alcoholic man at his lakeside mansion, only to find himself falling in love with a free-spirited and wild girl while questioning his commitment to his country.