Nickie Elkins and his girl friend, Mary Reyburn, a nightclub singer, are at the airfield when the governor's wife, Stella Bancroft, and his mother land. While talking to the press, Stella's hat blows off and Nickie graciously returns it. Nickie and Mary work for racketeer Buck Gordon, but are eager to lead decent lives, so when Gordon orders Nickie to murder a double-crossing jockey, Nickie refuses. Then Gordon tells Nickie that he is his father and that his mother is the governor's wife. Enraged, Nickie kills Gordon, and when he is arrested, he will not disclose his motive. Stella, who was once married to Gordon but believes her son is dead, feels a strong sympathy for Nickie and, along with the warden and Nickie's attorney, Bill Chase, pleads for a stay of execution when the boy is sentenced to hang. The governor speaks personally with Nickie, but he still refuses to talk. Mary goes to death row, where Nickie gives her a letter to give to Stella after the hanging. After he is taken to the gallows, Mary goes to wait at the governor's mansion. When the governor rises that morning, he discovers that someone has put through a stay of execution in his name. He sends for Nickie, and one of Gordon's thugs calls to reveal Nickie's identity. Stella reads the letter and embraces her son, after which the governor's mother admits that she called the warden on her son's behalf. Mary and Nickie are reunited, and the governor is confident that the state will issue a pardon.