Ian Rutledge earnings to his career at Scotland Lawn after years fighting with each other in the First World War. Unknown to his co-workers he’s still suffering from shell shock, and is burdened with the guilt of experiencing had executed a young soldier around the battlefield for refusing to combat. A jealous colleague provides discovered of his secret and has managed to have Rutledge designated to a hard case that could spell devastation for Rutledge whatever the results. A retired official has been murdered, and Rutledge fighting the torment of his illness goes to investigate. As he digs into the lives from the villagers, the witness who disturbs him most is usually a war-ravaged ex-soldier who chills Rutledge with the realisation that he could become like this man.