Sonny

A rural young man is drafted and leaves his mountain home, where his mother urges him to serve and equips him for the journey. He arrives at a large training post and experiences wonder, disorientation, and sharp homesickness as he confronts brusque noncommissioned officers, barracks life, and new comrades. An episode of unexplained lights failing in the barracks heightens tension and leads to punitive measures, while nighttime marches and hardening drills gradually blunt his loneliness. Routine, camaraderie, and the demands of training slowly shape his adjustment to military expectations.