Chuck Tatum is a cynical and washed-up reporter, dismissed from numerous big-city newspapers for his unscrupulous behavior. Desperate for work, he finds himself in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he reluctantly takes a menial job at a small local paper. Struggling with his career's stagnation, Tatum eyes an opportunity for a big scoop when he learns about Leo Minosa, a man trapped in a cave-in while scavenging for Indian artifacts. Sensing a chance to craft a sensational story and resurrect his career, Tatum manipulates the rescue efforts, ensuring they are prolonged to milk the news for all it’s worth.

As the town becomes the center of media attention, a carnival-like atmosphere takes hold, attracting crowds and various profiteers. Tatum's ambition blinds him to the well-being of Leo, as his actions grow increasingly unethical. As the days pass and Leo's condition worsens, tensions rise among the rescuers and the gathered public. The manipulation transforms into a moral quagmire, revealing the dark, exploitative side of human nature in the face of tragedy. Through this intense and harrowing sequence of events, the story poses unsettling questions about integrity, ambition, and the cost of prioritizing personal gain over human decency.