An intern (Michael Sarrazin) and his literary lover (Jacqueline Bisset) are consumed by their addictions to the drug called speed, methamphetamine.

Medical student Remy has a flair for making his patients comfortable. His genuine concern for the patients in his charge marks him as a hot prospect in his internship program. Pamela works at a children's-book publishing company. The two meet via Pamela's brother, who is also Remy's good friend. They fall in love and get an apartment in New York City's East Village. Soon after, they begin to indulge in speed and barbiturates, then become heavily addicted. Remy is thrown out of medical school and Pamela quits her job. Remy soon lands in debt to the local dealer, Stutter, who introduces his customer to heroin as a revenge for his late bill. Pamela faces the prospect of getting sober at her brother's clinic, but must leave behind a destitute Remy in order to go.—thustlebird