Al Roberts' life takes an unexpected and unpleasant turn when he decides to hitchhike to the West Coast in pursuit of his girlfriend Sue. When the driver who gave him a ride turns up dead, Al decides that the police wouldn't believe him innocent and decides to dispose of the body and assume the man's identity. Things go horribly wrong when he in turn picks up a hitchhiker name Vera who sees through his story and promptly begins to blackmail him. After agreeing to go along with her plans, he finds himself spiraling into darkness and despair.