Colin (Tom Courtenay) is a right bastard of a teenager who is constantly sticking two fingers up at  society, refusing to become like his father, dying because of his factory job, railing against the capitalist bosses and preferring to make a living from petty thieving. Sent to borstal, Colin discovers his talent for cross-country running. The borstal governor (Michael Redgrave) offers him the chance to redeem himself in a race against a local public school, Will he conform or rebel.