A former prisoner of war, Frank Enley (Van Heflin), is hailed as a hero in his California town, but he has a shameful secret that comes back to haunt him when fellow survivor Joe Parkson (Robert Ryan) emerges, intent on making Frank pay for his past deeds. Janet Leigh plays Edith Enley, Frank's young wife, unaware of her husband's dark past, while Mary Astor and Phyllis Thaxter also appear in the film as Pat and Ann Sturgess, respectively.