 Bernie La Plante is an amoral man and a hustler. He is facing criminal charges. His wife decides to limit his access to their son. Because he doesn t keep his promises. While on his way to his son s birthday, a plane crashes, and he is nearby. He goes onboard to steal what he can but in the process saves some people one of them television reporter, Gale Gayley. She doesn t get a good look at him but someone gets a photo of him but it s not clear. She then mounts a campaign to find him, that includes a reward of a million dollars. La Plante before hearing of this tells his experience to John Bubber. He also says that he doesn t want any recognition. La Plante s trial is taking place and La Plante upon hearing of the million dollars thinks that he has hit the mother lode but before he can claim it, Bubber claims it, and La Plante is sent to jail. Bubber then grows close to Gale. La Plante who stole her purse sells what he got in it, and when word of this reaches Gale she thinks La Plante is holding this over Bubber, and all sorts of chaos ensues.