40-year-oldArnoldGardnerisputinchargeofthetalkshow"TheTwenty-fifthHour"afterthedeathoftheformerhostDuncanMackay.HisroleonscreencreatesimmediateinterestandtheprogrambecomesagreatsuccesswithTVaudiences.ThisprovestobeaperiodofgreatsatisfactionforArnold,buthischildhoodfriend,EddieGreenberg,suddenlycomesonthescene.Eddieisillandfrustratedbylackofsuccess,andissoresentfulandenviousofArnold'sfamethathewantshimtomakeafullpublicconfessionofa"sin"hecommittedinhisyoungdays.Arnolddoesallhecantodefendhimselffromhisfriend'sblackmail,butEddieissodeterminedtohavehis"poundofflesh"thathekillsaseriesofpeopletoshowjusthowseriousheis,thusforcingArnoldtorevealhissecretontelevision.