Barry's father is a high achiever. He is proud of Barry because he is a winner. With a letter in swimming, a lovely girlfriend and good grades, Barry seems all set to follow his brother to the University of Wisconsin. The his world begins to collapse. His SAT scores are poor, he is cut from the swim team, and finally his girlfriend tells him she "just wants to be friends." The understanding swim coach tells Barry to use his pain to root his life in something bigger than himself. When his father berates him for being a loser, Barry is crushed. Early in his life, Barry is forced to face the ultimate question: Is life worth the pains of living?