Mark and Pete, two teenage members of the Czechoslovak Olympic Swimming Team live their lives physically and mentally abused by the Party coaches, teachers, even their own parents who themselves are but caricatures of free human beings, distorted by lies and pretensions, their fear swallowed only by the echo of their own hands zealously clapping as the communist comrades "from above" are pinning "Medals of Socialist Work" to the chests of their Party disciples. Principal Chief Comrade Mucha gives orations on the vices of capitalism while the two boys... Just follow the unquenchable gleam in the corner of their eyes as they get on the train to Bratislava and begin their adventure.