Hally, a white South African adolescent, is stuck between his intolerant father's view of him and those of his caregiver, Sam, a Black waiter who is Hally's friend and teacher. Hally is required to laugh at his father's racist jokes; Sam exposes Hally is uplifting experiences. Hally has a memory of being terribly humiliated by his father; Sam shows Hally how to be proud of something he can achieve.