George LeMain's world is thrown into turmoil and doubt when his father Andy (Preston Foster) offers no resistance as he is beaten by mobster and standover man Al Judge (Howard St. John)...Enraged, he disappears into the city's underbelly to settle the score and prove his manhood. On his journey he meets an alcoholic college professor (Philip Bourneuf) and finds himself out of his depth among the shady characters he encounters. At his first opportunity for vengeance George squares up but can't bring himself to close the deal on his tormentor and thus loses him to the night. His pride shattered along with his nerve, George realises that his hunt has only just begun.