River Phoenix and Lili Taylor star in a bittersweet story about losing innocence and discovering love. In November 1963, four young marines in San Francisco celebrate their last night before leaving to fight in Vietnam with a "dogfight," a competition in which the man who brings the ugliest date wins. Handsome Eddie Birdlace (Phoenix) convinces Rose (Taylor) to accompany him on a date--but he doesn't tell her she is part of the dogfight. Despite the pain he causes, Eddie discovers the last thing he expects... love.