A year after losing their daughter, The Reynolds, a well to do publisher and his wife lose their black poodle while out on an evening stroll. They receive an anonymous ransom note demanding $1000 dollars in cash in exchange for their poodle. The Reynolds immediately and discreetly contact law
enforcement, but few, if any officers seem to care about their case. The kidnapping catches the eye of a young and Idealistic Police patrolman (Clarence), who decides to investigate this crime without the explicit permission of his department.
Clarence is able to trace the letter to a disagreeable disabled man (Kenneth), living in a hovel but he is not able to find the poodle. The department is not able to pin the crime on Kenneth, but Clarence is determined to bring him to justice. Despite his limitations, Kenneth is always one step ahead of Clarence and the NYPD, who treats Clarence's intrest in the case with contempt and suspicion.
