Teen Nick is estranged from his family, and blaming himself for his Maori mate's climbing death. He runs away to his straight talking grandfather - who takes him bush - and loses his virginity to Sally.

Author Maurice Shadbolt went before the cameras to play father to the main character, in this adaptation of his acclaimed coming of age novel. Teen Nick is estranged from his family, and blaming himself for his Maori mate's climbing death. He runs away to his straight talking grandfather - who takes him bush - and loses his virginity to Sally (a first film role for Rebecca Gibney).