In 1880, just outside of a small Western town, Jim Cannon, his wife
Ruth and young son Charlie are still hoping to find gold in an
abandoned mine. One day while Jim and Charlie are at the mine, a
mysterious object falls from the sky, killing Jim and leaving Charlie
seriously injured. Seven years later, Charlie has grown into a
strapping teenager, but because of the strange accident, has remained
childlike and developed hideous, hairy features.
Ruth (Anne Gwynne) kept
Charlie's survival a secret from the local townspeople, but despite
Ruth's best efforts to keep Charlie hidden, he often runs away. On
these escapades, Charlie unwittingly has killed sheep and cattle in an
attempt to play with them. One day after being confined in the mine
for an especially long period, Charlie escapes and throttles a man to
death when he refuses
to allow Charlie to pet his burro. When Charlie
returns to the cave, Ruth scolds him for running away and reminds him
that if he is ever caught, the authorities will take him away from
her. Soon after, Ruth and Charlie strike a rich gold vein in the mine.
Excited by the discovery, Ruth hastens into town with an ore sample to
have it evaluated by the assayer, Fred Fox. While awaiting Fox's
appraisal, Ruth dines with Bob the sheriff, a long-time admirer who
hopes that Ruth will finally move into town and consider his offer of
marriage.
Bob's deputy Ed interrupts the
couple's meal to report that a dead man has been found outside of
town. When Ed relates that the killing is similar to an unsolved
murder that occurred the year before, Ruth realizes with horror
that Charlie must be responsible.
When Ruth learns that the mine strike is legitimate, she arranges to
buy Fox's large,
modest house at the edge of town, hoping that living
in a real home will soothe Charlie. One day some weeks later, Ruth
departs on a date with Bob, causing Charlie to throw a tantrum at
being left alone. When Ruth does not return by dusk, Charlie goes
outside and attacks a neighbor and frightens several children. Charlie
then kidnaps waitress Kathy North and takes her back to the house
where his aggressive behavior causes Kathy to faint.
Meanwhile in
town, Ruth overhears Ed telling Bob about the new murder and several
children's description of a "monster" roaming the back roads. Bob
worries about Ruth
living alone on the town's outskirts, but she
refuses his offer of help. At home that evening, Ruth is mortified to
find Kathy passed out in the closet where a frightened Charlie has
hidden her. After reviving Kathy, Ruth confesses that Charlie is her
son and offers to pay Kathy $500 a month to remain silent about him.
When Kathy wonders how she could explain having so much money, Ruth
suggests that Kathy become her companion. Ruth then tells Charlie she
must lock him in the house for his own good. A few days later, Kathy
meets her boyfriend, Marv Howell, who is anxious to borrow some money.
Marv discovers the $500 in Kathy's purse and, believing that she has
stolen it, threatens to expose her and takes the money.
Angry, Kathy
returns to the Cannons where she tells Charlie of Marv's treatment and
convinces Charlie to kill him. Upon returning home after murdering
Marv that night, Charlie witnesses Bob kissing Ruth goodnight and,
overcome with jealousy, attacks Bob. Upon reviving, Bob asks Ruth to
describe the assault and she repeats the children's description of the
monster. Later, Ruth confronts Kathy about freeing Charlie and Kathy
brazenly admits to ordering Charlie to kill Marv. Kathy gloats about
her newly found wealth and threatens to blackmail Ruth for more money
to keep silent about Charlie.
Indignant over Kathy's callous greed,
Ruth refuses to sign a note promising to pay Kathy $20,000. Meanwhile
Bob and Ed discover Marv's body and decide to question Kathy, who was
known as Marv's girl friend. Kathy feigns ignorance, then using Bob's
presence to pressure Ruth, asks him to serve as witness to signing the
$20,000 promissory note. When Bob privately quizzes Ruth about Kathy's
recent activities, Ruth defends her. As Kathy and Charlie eavesdrop,
Bob reiterates his concern for Ruth and again proposes, but Ruth
remains evasive.
Kathy then rouses Charlie's anger at both Bob and
Ruth, by convincing him that Ruth wants to abandon him. Later,
however, Charlie is confused when he overhears Kathy scorn Ruth for
her self-sacrifice. That afternoon at Kathy's urging, Charlie follows
Bob and Ruth to the barn where Ruth turns down Bob's proposal,
explaining that she has other obligations.
When Kathy prompts Charlie
to attack the couple, Charlie becomes outraged and seizes Kathy,
dragging her away. While riding out to meet Bob, Ed sees Charlie and
Kathy. Bob, Ruth and Ed follow Charlie up a steep mountain where he
tells Kathy he hates her for using him against his mother. The others
watch in horror as Charlie then hurls Kathy off a cliff. Despite
Ruth's plea to save her son, Bob shoots Charlie, who then falls to his
death.
