Jody is traumatized by water. He cannot swim. Even the thought of it fills him with terror. Yet he manages the high school swim team because it enables him to be close to Tracy, the star of the girl's team whom he loves, yet who hardly seems to know he exists. The jocks on the swim team consider Jody a wimp and put him down. This intensifies when Tracy starts to show some interest in him. She likes his piano playing and they go to a concert together. Aware of his problem, Tracy tries to teach him to swim. Baited by the jocks, Jody over-extends himself and almost drowns. Humiliated, he quits the team and pulls away from Tracy. Exasperated by this, Tracy blurts out her love for him. This blows Jody's mind. Shortly thereafter, Tracy is knocked unconscious while surfing and Jody must decide: does he love her enough to plunge into the ocean to save her?