Mitchell "Mitch" Adams, a de-commissioned U.S. Marine captain who returned from Vietnam a day earlier, wakes up with Kathy, his longtime girl friend, at her apartment. For his official homecoming, they drive to the expensive Minneapolis, Minnesota, home of Mitch's parents, Frank and Mary Adams. Frank, president of Adams Commodities, wants Mitch to join his brokerage firm, but Mitch explains that Vietnam changed his priorities, and now he wants to write a novel about the war. Having already chased Mitch's younger brother, Joey Adams, out of the house for being a conscientious objector, Frank dismisses the idea of his son being a writer, but he thinks Mitch will change his mind when he settles into civilian life. Mitch moves into his former bedroom, but spends most of his time with Kathy and avoids his father. He talks with Kathy about Vietnam and his difficulty getting close to people after seeing friends die.