
A "surfer bum","600 miles from a wave", is roaming the back-roads of the U.S. in his woody wagon when it breaks down. His "rescuers" include a small town sheriff who has a habit of his prisoners escaping and then being hunted down and murdered by his bloodhounds. When the surfer is seen as a threat to report the goings-on he is arrested and is next in line to "escape".
This story chronicles the court martial of a Korean War sergeant accused of treason. He is found guilty and sentenced to die, but his wife refuses to accept that her husband is a traitor and so persuades a prosecuting attorney to reopen the case and investigate further.
Sgt. Ryker is sentenced to death for treason, but prosecuting officer David Young asks for another hearing on the grounds that Ryker wasn't properly defended. The request is granted, but Young is ordered to handle the defense this time.