Encounter on the Beach

Years have passed since the tumultuous events unfolded, and Rusty-James finds himself unexpectedly reunited with Steve, an old friend, on a distant beach. Rusty-James has been drifting aimlessly, unemployed and unsettled after his stint in a reformatory. In contrast, Steve, now a college student on the path to becoming a teacher, suggests catching up over dinner. Yet, Rusty-James, haunted by memories of their shared past, feels no inclination to revisit those days.

Confrontation Looms

Flashing back six years, Rusty-James, then a young teenager, receives troubling news at Benny’s, a local hangout. A kid named Midget warns him that Biff Wilcox is gunning for him due to a remark Rusty-James made to Biff’s girlfriend. Despite the end of gang fights—prohibited by Rusty-James’ older brother, the Motorcycle Boy—Rusty-James is ready to defend himself and won’t face Biff without allies. They arrange a showdown behind a pet store, each vowing to bring friends.

Visit to Patty

Rusty-James visits his girlfriend, Patty, who’s upset about rumors of his escapades with Smokey and others. He reassures her of his fidelity, and they make up. She's uneasy about his impending fight with Biff, but Rusty-James dismisses her concerns. Leaving Patty, he returns to Benny’s where a crowd awaits the confrontation.

At the vacant lot, accompanied by Smokey and B.J., Rusty-James encounters Biff and his posse. Biff, visibly under the influence, wields a knife, while Rusty-James has only a bike chain. The fight ensues, and Rusty-James prevails until Biff seizes an opportunity to slice him. Motorcycle Boy’s unexpected arrival interrupts the chaos with a disapproving remark, "I thought we'd stopped this cowboys and Indians crap." Despite Steve's insistence on medical attention, Rusty-James stubbornly refuses.

A Day of Consequences

The following day, ignoring his injury, Rusty-James attends school, dodges math, plays poker at lunch, and avoids gym. The coach, impressed by Rusty-James' bravado, offers him money to deal with a troublesome student. After school, the knife wound earns Rusty-James admiration at Benny’s. Steve appears with grim news about his mother’s hospitalization, prompting Rusty-James to leave.

He resorts to stealing hubcaps, leading to a chase that culminates in a risky rooftop jump, which leaves Steve terrified. The exertion and his injury cause Rusty-James to faint, provoking Steve’s tears and concern.

Family Ties and Tensions

Rusty-James returns home to an encounter with Cassandra, enamored with Motorcycle Boy. Despite her privileged background, she’s succumbed to addiction. Rusty-James tends to his wound, and their father, a detached figure, arrives home, somewhat sober. A passive man lost in books, he remains disconnected from his sons.

Later, with Smokey and his cousin, Rusty-James spends the night at the lake, drinking with girls. Upon returning home, his father warns him about a police officer's vendetta against him and Motorcycle Boy. Rusty-James skips school the next morning, opting for sleep.

Facing Expulsion

Rusty-James’s repeated offenses culminate in expulsion from school. The guidance counselor suggests a transfer to Cleveland High, notorious for its rough crowd led by his rival, Biff. Alternatively, he faces the prospect of the Youth Detention Center. Rusty-James decides to delay action, knowing bureaucracy will slow any consequences.

An argument ensues with Patty over his rumored misconduct, leading to their breakup. Though upset, Rusty-James suppresses his tears. He reconnects with Motorcycle Boy and plans a nighttime excursion over the river, reflecting on Motorcycle Boy’s California trip captured in a magazine photo.

Crossing Boundaries

That night, Rusty-James, Motorcycle Boy, and surprisingly, Steve cross the bridge into a rowdy area. Steve’s acceptance of a drink marks a turning point. They attempt to watch a porn film but leave after a disturbing bathroom encounter. Motorcycle Boy reveals he met their mother in California and divulges a childhood incident of abandonment.

Rusty-James grapples with this revelation and his fear of solitude, joining Steve in minor mischief, eventually stumbling into a party for more drinking.

Another Night, Another Fight

At a bar, further drinking leads to a mugging, from which the Motorcycle Boy rescues them. Rusty-James sustains a head injury, amplifying Steve’s fears.

The Impact of the Past

Rusty-James’s headache drives him to a clinic, but the prospect of hospitalization sends him fleeing to Steve's home. Steve, bruised from his father’s wrath, is receptive to Rusty-James’ suggestion of shadowing Motorcycle Boy. Yet, Steve voices concern for his own future, hesitant to follow Rusty-James down a path of aimless loyalty.

Their confrontation intensifies as Rusty-James realizes his hearing has faded, mirroring Motorcycle Boy’s condition. Steve’s parting words, "I've tried to help you, but I've got to think about myself some," mark the end of their friendship for years to come.

Conclusion of a Chapter

Back at Benny’s, Rusty-James awaits Motorcycle Boy’s arrival. Patty’s indifference and Smokey’s revelations about his schemes leave Rusty-James resigned. He passively concedes to Smokey’s ambitions and the loss of his reputation, acknowledging his inability to fight back.

Informed that the Motorcycle Boy is eyeing fish in a pet store, Rusty-James discovers that the fish—Siamese fighting fish, or "rumble fish"—would kill each other if placed together. "If you leaned a mirror against the bowl they'd kill themselves fighting their own reflection," Motorcycle Boy observes.

The Final Act

That night, they break into the pet store to liberate the fish, intending to release them into the river. However, their plan ends tragically when Officer Patterson fatally shoots Motorcycle Boy, and the fish perish, too far from the water. Rusty-James finds himself arrested, sharing his brother's color-blindness as he notices the gray hue of a police car’s red light.

In a fit of rage, he shatters the police car window, injuring himself on the glass shards.

Reflecting on Change

The story returns to the present, as Rusty-James encounters Steve once more. Steve, having escaped their troubled neighborhood, remains committed to his own success. He advises Rusty-James, "If you want to go somewhere in life you just have to work till you make it."

Rusty-James, however, is still searching for direction. Though Steve invites him to dinner, Rusty-James declines, aware that Steve represents a past he's struggled to leave behind. "I figured if I didn't see him, I'd start forgetting again. But it's been taking me a lot longer than I thought it would," concludes Rusty-James, signaling a complex journey of moving forward while wrestling with the echoes of his past.