On a train heading into the small mountain town of Tranquility, Danny Acuff kisses a beautiful woman before hopping off a still-moving car. At the Tranquility station, the woman, whose name is Constance Stevenson, her father and their lawyer, Wilson, detrain and introduce themselves as the Smiths, claiming that they are in town to fish in the lake. Station master Roy Acuff, who does not see his brother Danny sneak into town, is also enthralled by Constance. Immediately afterward, Stevenson reminds Wilson not to reveal that he is really the president of the railroad, and is actually in town to buy up the land around the lake in order to lay tracks through it, a plan which will desiccate area farms. At home, Roy brings Mom Acuff a birthday cake and she wishes that Danny were there, after his three years in jail for robbery. Just then, Danny slips into his seat and a warm family reunion ensues until Danny realizes that Roy works for the very railroad that Danny blames for framing him.