A miner moves to Cincinnati so his daughter can receive vital medical treatment, but struggles to find work due to his illiteracy. He realises that to support his family he must swallow his pride, and turns to a kindly Italian grocer and his daughter for help in learning to read. Drama, starring Johnny Cash, Brenda Vaccaro and Eli Wallach.

Jesse Hallum sells the family farm to see that his daughter receives the medical care she needs at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital. The big city challenges him, though, especially when his illiteracy is exposed.