On the morning of a small-town Labor Day picnic, drifter Hal Carter (William Holden) blows into town to visit an old fraternity buddy (Alan Benson) who also happens to be the son of the richest man in town. Hal is an egocentric braggart--all potential and no accomplishment. He meets up with Madge Owens, the town beauty queen, who is Alan Benson's girlfriend.