Delusional patient Gunther Wyckoff (Marshall Thompson) escapes from a mental institution intent on locating and killing Dr. John Faron (Sam Levene), whose testimony sent him to the asylum. After overpowering a bus driver and stealing his gun, Wyckoff heads to Terminal City, where he holds the patrons of a bar hostage, including a reporter (James Bell), a barfly (Virginia Field) and a used-car salesman (Leon Ames). After murdering the bartender, Wyckoff demands the police bring him Faron.