A destitute 14 year old (Noah Fleiss) struggles to keep his life together despite harsh abuse at his mother's (Karen Young) hands, harsher abuse at his father's (Val Kilmer), and a growing separation from his slightly older brother (Max Ligosh). Petty thefts for food grow into more major takes until he steals a cash box from the diner where he works. Although Joe uses the money to pay off some of his father's debts and to replace his mother's records that his father smashed in a fit of temper, Joe gets no thanks... Written by John Sacksteder