Billy Clyde Puckett (Burt Reynolds) and Marvin "Shake" Tiller (Kris Kristofferson) are professional football players who share a lush Miami apartment with Barbara Jane Bookman (Jill Clayburgh), the pretty young daughter of their team's owner (Robert Preston). When Barbara develops feelings for Shake and the two begin a relationship, he insists that she join him at B.E.A.T., a New Age training program run by the shady Friedrich Bismark (Bert Convy).