Chloride, Arizona, Larry Dagger, forty years old, is an unemployed, ex demolition derby pilot, trying to support his wife and two children. Driving home one night, he saves a man, Johnny, who is Christlike in appearance and that he finds lying naked and wounded in the road. Vera, Larry’s wife, stitches, cleans his wounds. With no money, Johnny accepts to stay with the Daggers, convinces Larry to get back into derbying. Larry becomes obsessed with the idea of building a car for the next derby and Johnny starts having an affair with Vera. This stranger’s arrival in the Daggers home will change their lives forever.