The film is based on the story "Barber John's Boy" by Ben Ames Williams.

[1] John Martin Bolton, a barber, is paroled after serving time for killing a man who murdered his brother.

Feeling that people are judging him because of his father, Michael decides to leave town with his girlfriend, Emily.

Glade embezzles two thousand dollars from Michael's bank drawer hoping Mike will stand accused, thus ending any future with Emily.

Michael assumes his father stole the money as he visited him at the bank earlier in the day.