To Stannard (Glenn Ford) the money is irrelevant, but when he realizes that paying the kidnappers will not guarantee his sons safety, he goes on nationwide television to announce that he will not pay the men who have taken his son; instead, he offers millions to anyone who can return his son unharmed and help capture the kidnappers. Now, as the FBI warns that his actions are foolish, his wife (Academy Award winner Donna Reed) opposes his choice and his sons bloody shirt is located, Stannard refuses to waver from his high stakes decision.