Walter Williams (Brian Donlev) is an industry leader who worked as a sheet metal worker at a steel company in San Francisco. He loves his wife Irene (Helen Walker) very much, and they plan to take a drive vacation together. Irene canceled her appointment at the last minute, claiming a toothache, but asked Walter to drive her cousin Jim Torrens (Tony Barrett) to Illinois. Walter agreed, and he and Jim took off together, but later Jim knocked Walter unconscious and boarded the car, only to be killed by a truck. His body was burned beyond recognition. Walter was hiding in a small town in the Midwest feeling betrayed by Irene. He suffered a concussion and deep confusion until guilt and peer pressure forced him to return to San Francisco and tell his story to the police. But when Walter returned to San Francisco, a clever detective, Lieutenant Quincy (Charles Coburn), had discovered some facts about Irene and her cousin Jim. The police have been detaining Irene for the murder of her husband Walter, but considering that Walter was hiding for killing Jim, the police released her. In the process of uncovering the truth in court, Walter realized some cruel facts, namely, what he believed was valuable, and his trust in the people around him.