A tennis champion falls in with the Hollywood crowd. He soon finds himself being corrupted by the life in the fast lane.
Franklin Cane is a red-hot professional tennis player who climbs the ladder of success with his trainer, Jonathan, at his side. Jonathan was once considered the greatest American tennis player and intends to guide Franklin to the high-road. Franklin does not transcend the interest he has in local Hollywood-type parties littered with has-beens, wannabes and think-they-ares. It is there that he meets Cynthia, a pretty photographer who makes a living photographing people like French filmmaker Jean Renoir and taking production photos of commercials. Cane becomes slowly seduced by the fast-track life and, when Jonathan suddenly passes away in his sleep, he succumbs to a lifestyle that is completely devoid of morality. He drops off Cynthia at the side of the road, so to speak, and continues driving to a bleak, uncertain future.—thustlebird
Handsome, up and coming Los Angeles-based tennis pro Franklin Cane (Beau Bridges) is considered the "golden boy" by the press and fans. Disaffected from his own father, who disdainfully called tennis "hittin' the ball," Franklin looks upon his coach, former tennis great Jonathan "J. C." Carruthers (Gilbert Roland), as a father. J. C., an elegant gentleman from the old school, returns Franklin's feelings, and advises him to concentrate on tennis rather than the trappings of success that the game will bring him.
One night, at a party attended by many of Hollywood's rich and famous, Franklin meets still photographer Cynthia Vicstrom (Maud Adams). The two are immediately attracted to each other and quickly begin an affair, although Cynthia is more serious about the relationship that Franklin.
One day, while flying to Houston for a tournament, J. C., who played tennis during the years when professionals made little money, tells Franklin that he has gotten an offer for him to appear in a hairspray commercial. Although tempted to take the offer, Franklin decides against it, saying that he wants to stay away from show business and concentrate on tennis.
After being down one game in the match against "Butch" Bucholtz, Franklin takes J. C.'s advice always to make his opponent play his game and wins the tournament. Later, he attends a celebration with some local businessmen and has a one-night stand with a Texas girl (Anne Randall).
On his return home, when Cynthia meets him at the airport, Franklin acts as if nothing has happened. Cynthia and J. C. are initially wary of each other, but after having lunch together and realizing that they both want what is best for Franklin, they become friends.
A short time later, Franklin is waiting for a practice session with J. C. and becomes concerned when his always punctual mentor does not show up. After making repeated unanswered calls to J. C., Franklin soon learns that J. C. had died peacefully in his sleep. Although he is shattered by J. C.'s death, Franklin has difficulty showing his grief and becomes even more emotionally withdrawn from Cynthia, who presses him to express himself while the couple is on a trip to Morro Bay following J. C.'s funeral. Soon, without J. C.'s guidance, Franklin becomes caught up in his own success and self-importance, makes a film and the hairspray commercial, and begins spending most of his time attending Hollywood parties, drinking and having casual affairs.
Meanwhile, Cynthia, who wants to marry and begin a family, is hurt by Franklin's behavior, and begins seeing Monroe Smith (Allan Arbus), a serious-minded film director with whom she has worked and who has long been in love with her. One night, at a wild party held at a mansion, Franklin wakes up after passing out and decides to go for a drive in the host's classic Mercedes Gullwing. Taking one of the girls from the party with him, Franklin speeds along Pacific Coast Highway, then turns off into one of the canyons, all the while leaving the Gullwing doors precariously open. As he enters a tunnel, the car crashes into an oncoming vehicle, killing Franklin and the girl.
After Franklin's death is reported, a shaken Cynthia watches television as his hairspray commercial comes onto the screen.
