Danny and his friend Mingo, two young adults, spend the day before they join the army enjoying the California countryside. Danny's grandfather owns a small farm where the young men hunt for rabbits. They talk about the experiences of their families' immigration to the US from Mexico in the past and their hopes of marrying and starting families of their own after the war. That night, there is a going-away party planned at Danny's house. As the two friends take public transportation home, they see that people are giving them odd looks for their clothes. They have heard a little about the fighting between sailors and zoot suit gangs, but as they travel into Los Angeles, they learn just how bad it is. The newspaper boys have stopped talking about World War Two and are now talking about the zoot suit wars. Mingo and Danny, who wear zoot suits, worry for their safety. Luckily, they are wearing overcoats that hide them as they get off a streetcar and go onto the crowded streets. There is rioting all around them as they hurry to Danny's house. Mingo says that the streets look less like Los Angeles and more like Germany tonight. They see people being beaten all around them, some of whom are their friends. All Mexicans are being targeted, regardless of their gang affiliation. They hear that even one of their neighbors, an old man, was attacked. Mingo and Danny make it home safely. The rioters are not on their street yet, but they know they are coming. There are a few others there for the party, and Danny's mother is cooking in the kitchen. Someone looks out the window and sees that a mob has turned onto their street. All the girls hide in the kitchen with Danny's mother and the men prepare for a fight. When the soldiers bust into the home, they see the zoot suits and a brawl breaks out. Furniture and pictures are destroyed and people are injured. After a few minutes, some neighbors come to help drive out the sailors. In the aftermath, Mingo's head needs bandaging. Danny's mother is crying and trying to piece together her house again. Mingo says that he doesn't want to fight in the American army anymore, but Danny tries to convince him to stay. He says that not all Americans are like that, but Mingo is unconvinced. He says he might show up at the army office in the morning, but maybe not. Then he leaves to check on his girlfriend. Danny sits out on his front steps, hoping that this violence will end soon and that there will be peace in the future.