[1] Teenager Gunther Wheeler has moved with his family from New York City to the small and quiet suburb of Pleasant Valley.

He also runs into three local bullies, Chad, Luke, and Wylee, who are offering two concert tickets to see a famous band.

On his first day on the route, Gunther runs into multiple unexpected nuisances, including pranks from bratty kids and an attack from a dog that jumps its fence.

For his last delivery, Gunther decides to cut through a backyard, not realizing it belongs to Crazy Man Cooper, a former military serviceman who has a habit of attacking intruders.

He goes up to the door to inform the recipient, and Ida Hansen, an elderly widow who loves baseball, kindly invites him in.

A fed up Gunther, determined to improve his service, wakes up early and devises a plan to counter the obstacles along his route.

He successfully tricks the unchained dog and outsmarts other rough customers, including a recipient who routinely stiffs him on payment.

Gunther improves spectacularly in his job and attitude and gets tipped generously, earning more than enough money to pay off Chad for the tickets.

Gunther visits with Mrs. Hansen, who says she misses him and asks why her papers haven’t been coming through the mail slot lately.

Feeling remorse for his treatment of Charlie and the paperboys, Gunther gathers the group together and hatches a plan to sabotage Chad and his friends.