Mask

In 1979, in Azusa, California, Rocky Dennis is born with craniodiaphyseal dysplasia, a rare skull and facial bone disorder. He is lovingly accepted by his freewheeling mother Rusty, her biker boyfriend Gar, and their extended motorcycle family, as well as his grandparents who share his love of baseball cards. This warm, supportive environment contrasts with the fear and pity he encounters from those who do not know his humanity and intelligence.

Rusty Dennis fights to enroll Rocky in a regular junior high rather than consign him to a special education track. She confronts the skeptical principal who would rather classify Rocky as intellectually disabled. Rocky's sharp intelligence and humor soon prove the naysayers wrong and win him classmates' respect.

At a routine semi-annual checkup, a doctor warns that Rocky's life expectancy may be limited to less than six months due to his condition. Rusty rejects the grim predictions, citing earlier doctors who claimed similar disabilities that Rocky has since outgrown. The tension underscores the fragile balance between fear and hope that defines their relationship.

Rocky makes friends with wit and humor, tutoring classmates for money and helping a fellow student with his locker. He also entertains the class with a lively retelling of the Trojan War. These moments highlight his humanity and intelligence beyond his appearance.

Shortly before junior high graduation, Rocky takes home academic achievement prizes in mathematics, history, and science, underscoring his academic abilities. The recognition bolsters Rusty's belief in his potential and his capacity to lead. The moment marks Rocky's transition from student to someone capable of broader responsibility.

Rocky tries to help his chronically depressed mother break her drug habit by leaving rehabilitation pamphlets around the house, sparking a heated argument with Rusty. Amid the tension, he decides to accept the counselor's aide job at Camp Bloomfield, embracing responsibility and independence. This choice signals his shift toward helping others beyond his own family.

During the camp session, Rocky meets Diana Adams, a blind teenage girl, and is drawn to her kindness and courage. He uses tactile demonstrations to explain words and colors, sharing a new way to 'see' the world. They share their first kiss at a New Year's Eve themed dance, marking a tender, transformative connection.

Diana's parents are horrified by Rocky's appearance and forbid her from spending time with him. The couple confronts the painful reality of societal judgment and separation. Despite the heartbreak, Rocky remains loving and chooses to cherish their moments in memory if they cannot be together.

Rocky enters high school to face harsher taunts about his deformity, and where his wit no longer protects him. After a student taunts him about wearing a 'mask', Rocky lashes out, slamming a bully against a locker. The incident reveals the mounting pressure he bears and the limits of his defenses.

Rocky's dream of a Europe motorbike trip is crushed when his best friend Ben moves away. He instead takes a bus to visit Diana at the equestrian stables near Griffith Park, only to learn that her parents have arranged a private boarding school for the blind. Despite the separation, Rocky vows their love will endure in memory and in spirit.

One evening, Rocky endures an excruciating headache and withdraws to his room to sleep, the biker family visiting to lift his spirits. The next morning Rusty learns he is absent and finds him dead in his bed, triggering a flood of grief and anger as she destroys the kitchen in rage. The sudden loss devastates his family and friends.

Rocky's biker family visits his grave, leaving flowers and 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers baseball cards by his headstone. Rusty recites part of Rocky's own English poem in a voice-over that echoes his voice and perspective. The scene memorializes the boy's life and the enduring bond with those who loved him.

A closing voice-over by Rocky recites the poem he wrote for English class, preserving his voice and memory after death. The moment underscores his intelligence, humor, and humanity, and the impact he left on his family and friends.