Joe Clark and Sue Andretti, a heartthrob couple, have their dreams crushed in a car accident caused by three members of the Chicago mafia. As a child, Joe caused constant worry and heartache for his mother. His quick temper landed him in a boys' prison. He survived the harsh environment with help from his friend, Jimmy Robbins, a black youth from Chicago. Brownie, a hundred pound mixed breed dog, became Joe's anchor. Their bond could never be broken. Recovery became a grueling task, but Joe fought through it, keeping his thoughts inside him.