Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Harry Lane returns from the war and resumes his old job with Marty Floyd. Marty then sends him to Las Vegas with $20,000.

War Service Ends — Harry Lane returns from the war. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Unspecified wartime setting
Return to Gambling Work — Harry resumes his former job under bookmaker Marty Floyd. Characters: Harry Lane, Marty Floyd Location: Marty Floyd's bookmaker operation
Marty Gives the Assignment — Marty sends Harry to deliver $20,000 in Las Vegas. Characters: Harry Lane, Marty Floyd Location: Marty Floyd's bookmaker operation
Journey to Las Vegas — Harry travels toward Las Vegas carrying the entrusted money. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Route to Las Vegas
Gambling Opportunity — Harry encounters the gambling tables during the delivery mission. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Las Vegas gambling tables

Harry reaches Las Vegas and risks the entrusted money at gambling tables. His losses grow until a conman takes the remaining funds.

Gambling Opportunity — Harry encounters the gambling tables during the delivery mission. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Las Vegas gambling tables
First Wager — Harry foolishly risks part of the delivery money at gambling tables. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Las Vegas gambling tables
Money Begins to Vanish — Harry loses some of the money through gambling. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Las Vegas gambling tables
Desperate Continued Gambling — Harry continues gambling while attempting to recover the lost funds. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Las Vegas gambling tables
The Remaining Money Is Lost — Harry loses the rest of the money to a swindler. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Las Vegas gambling tables
The Swindler's Deception — A conman takes the remaining funds from Harry. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Las Vegas

Harry tries to recover the money from the conman. The effort ends with Harry accidentally killing him.

The Swindler's Deception — A conman takes the remaining funds from Harry. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Las Vegas
Harry Seeks Recovery — Harry begins trying to recover the money from the conman. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Las Vegas
Recovery Effort Escalates — Harry's attempts to recover the funds become increasingly dangerous. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Las Vegas
Accidental Killing — During the recovery attempt, Harry accidentally kills the conman. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Las Vegas
Murder Accusation — Harry becomes accused of murdering the man he confronted. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Las Vegas

The accidental death leaves Harry accused of murder. His situation appears increasingly difficult as the story reaches its crisis.

Murder Accusation — Harry becomes accused of murdering the man he confronted. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Las Vegas
The Case Against Harry — The accidental death places Harry under the burden of a murder accusation. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Unspecified legal setting
Flashback Reaches the Crisis — The flashback account reaches the point where Harry's fate appears sealed. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Unspecified setting
The Alleged Victim Reexamined — The status of the supposedly murdered man becomes subject to reconsideration. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Unspecified legal setting

The supposed victim is revealed not to have been a victim after all. This revelation clears Harry and resolves the accusation.

The Alleged Victim Reexamined — The status of the supposedly murdered man becomes subject to reconsideration. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Unspecified legal setting
Victim Was No Victim — It is revealed that the supposed victim was not actually a victim. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Unspecified legal setting
Harry Is Cleared — The revelation clears Harry of the murder accusation. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Unspecified legal setting
The Ordeal Concludes — Harry's journey from gambling loss to exoneration reaches its conclusion. Characters: Harry Lane Location: Unspecified setting

Story Breakdown

War Return — Harry comes back from the war and re-enters his former professional world.
- Harry Comes Home — Harry Lane returns from the war.
- Old Job Resumed — Harry resumes working for bookmaker Marty Floyd.
The Vegas Assignment — Marty gives Harry the delivery that launches the central chain of events.
- Marty's Dispatch — Marty sends Harry to Las Vegas.
- Twenty Thousand Entrusted — Harry carries $20,000 for delivery to a contact.
Gambling Spiral — Harry's gambling turns a professional assignment into a personal crisis.
- First Money Loss — Harry loses part of the funds at gambling tables.
- Funds Taken — A conman takes the remaining money.
Desperate Recovery — Harry attempts to undo the financial disaster created by his gambling.
- Pursuit Of Money — Harry tries to recover the lost funds.
- Fatal Confrontation — The recovery attempt accidentally kills the conman.
Murder Accusation — The accidental death transforms Harry's financial failure into a criminal crisis.
- Death Blamed On Harry — Harry is accused of murdering the man he confronted.
- Flashback Crisis — The film's flashback reaches Harry's apparent point of no return.
False Victim Revealed — The final revelation overturns the apparent murder and clears Harry.
- Victim Reconsidered — The supposed victim's status is reexamined.
- Harry Cleared — The revelation shows there was no true victim and Harry is exonerated.