Ralph Anderson makes his way back to his remote hometown in California, a place he hasn't visited in many years. Now a successful lawyer, Ralph has been estranged from his father, Lloyd, and brother, Tippy, ever since he took the blame for his brother's car theft and was sent to reform school as a youth.Upon his return, Ralph discovers that Lloyd has become the town sheriff, with Tippy serving as his deputy. Desperate to represent a wanted criminal, Ralph asks the law enforcement to turn a blind eye while a local airfield is used to help the mobster, Massonetti, flee the country. Lloyd, disgusted with Ralph's request, reluctantly agrees to help, but Tippy sees an opportunity to cash in on a big reward and decides to arrest Massonetti.Linda, Tippy's beautiful wife and Ralph's former love, regrets Ralph's long absence and is tired of Tippy's lazy and drunken ways, as well as Lloyd's domineering rule over the family.Massonetti arrives in town, accompanied by Davis, his top thug. Tippy and his deputies, Karger and Eddie, make a clumsy attempt to capture Massonetti, resulting in Lloyd getting shot and killed while trying to stop them. Ralph manages to get Massonetti behind bars at the town jail.The mob cuts off communication and highway access to the town. Ralph proposes a plan to drive Massonetti to the authorities in Barstow using the mobster's own fast car. Sensing the tension between the brothers, Massonetti taunts them and offers Tippy $25,000 to betray Ralph and set him free.On the road, deputy Eddie is ambushed, and the brothers discover that Linda has been kidnapped. They strike a deal to work together again, but Karger is killed, and the car breaks down. Ralph manages to get the four of them to a gas station, only to find the owner shot. In a struggle for the gun, Ralph gets grazed, and Tippy is seriously wounded.Borrowing a miner's jeep, Ralph drives Massonetti to a main highway, where two police officers take them into custody. However, it turns out that the officers are impostors who drive Massonetti to an airstrip where Davis is waiting with a plane. Ralph takes matters into his own hands and drives the car into the plane, causing it to overturn. He then drags Massonetti from the wreckage and holds him until the real police arrive.By the time Ralph returns to the gas station, he sees Linda watching Tippy's lifeless body being carried away.