Suburbia

A teenage runaway named Sheila starts her journey by hitchhiking along Interstate 605 in the Greater Los Angeles Area. Seeking freedom from her past, she hopes for a new beginning in life.

Sheila is picked up by a woman traveling with her toddler, creating a brief moment of hope. However, their journey takes a horrific turn when a flat tire leads them to a telephone booth, where a stray dog attacks the toddler, resulting in tragedy.

Another teenage runaway, Evan Johnson, escapes from his troubled home marked by his mother's alcoholism. His desperation drives him to seek solace outside the confines of his suburban life.

Evan attends a punk rock concert where he is targeted for illicit drugs that are slipped into his drink. As the situation spirals out of control, he witnesses a female attendee assaulted by rowdy punks, forcing him to flee in terror.

Evan encounters Jack Diddley, who offers him a place at T.R. House, a shelter for misfits in a desolate area. The atmosphere is unconventional, marked by practices like branding residents, but Evan sees it as a chance at belonging.

Joe Schmo initially hesitates to join T.R. House due to its peculiar practices, including branding. After, he grapples with his father's homosexuality and his new relationship, he ultimately decides to embrace the community by accepting the brand.

In the aftermath of the toddler's tragic death, a group known as 'Citizens Against Crime' begins patrolling the area. Jim Tripplett and Bob Skokes are among them, looking to hunt down the wild dogs and exact revenge.

Tensions escalate as the T.R. kids confront Jim and Bob during their patrols. The situation becomes tense, but Jack's stepfather, a police officer, diffuses the conflict momentarily, providing a temporary sense of safety.

Evan learns that his mother has been arrested for drunk driving, pushing him to retrieve his younger brother Ethan from a foster home. Taking him to T.R. House, where Sheila gives Ethan a trendy mohawk, they begin to form a new family.

At a T.S.O.L. concert, the group becomes embroiled in a brawl while trying to defend Skinner. The situation worsens when a security guard is stabbed, and the T.R. kids are framed for the crime, further complicating their lives.

A community meeting erupts with accusations against the police regarding their inaction towards the teens. This leads to a violent invasion of T.R. House by Jim and Bob, resulting in a harrowing assault on Sheila that leaves the group in shock.

In the wake of the turmoil, Sheila tragically succumbs to an overdose of drugs, devastating her friends. The group resolves to return her remains to her parents, but the situation at her funeral escalates into violence, revealing their deep scars of abuse.

Amid chaos at a Vandals concert, Bill warns the kids that they must leave T.R. House to avoid further conflict with the Citizens Against Crime. Despite his pleas, they decide to stay, believing they can resist the turmoil.

The situation culminates in tragedy when Ethan is accidentally killed by a car driven by Jim and Bob, leaving Evan devastated. Grief-stricken, he cradles his brother's lifeless body, a poignant symbol of their struggle and loss.

The series of events underscores the harsh realities faced by these struggling youths as they navigate survival, grief, and the complexities of their intertwined lives. Their journey reflects the impact of abandonment, violence, and community in their desperate search for love and belonging.