科林斯(Kevin Collins)以前是一位拳击手,体壮力大。在一次拳击比赛中发飙揍死对方,被“谋杀”的心理阴影笼罩,从精神病院逃出,成为流浪汉(drifter)。他搭车或行走在乡村道路上,直到在某个小镇遇见了借酒浇愁的寡妇菲(Fay Anderson),以及同样用度拮据的巴德叔叔("Uncle Bud")。 Uncle Bud在筹划绑架镇上富人家的小孩以获得大笔赎金,并极力把Collins拉入伙儿。Collins在莫名中被卷入整宗绑架案(用影片原话说,他感觉自己was set into a rut, untile follow it to the end)。An ex-boxer is drifting around after escaping from the mental hospital. He meets a widow who convinces him to help fix up the neglected estate her ex-husband left. Her Uncle talks them both...