Small-town girl Jane Bradford falls for Nick, a guy from the big city who offers her the opportunity to get away from her small-town life. He also offers her "headache powder"--it's actually cocaine and he is a pusher. By the time they get to the city, she's hooked on her new medicine. Jane's brother Eddie goes to the city to look for her because she hasn't kept in touch with her family since she left. Eddie gets a job as a carhop at a drive-in and is befriended by drive-in waitress Fanny, who is one of Nick's customers and soon gets Eddie hooked on "headache powder." This vice soon sends Fanny's and Eddie's lives downhill; they are both fired, then unable to find new jobs. On the periphery of both Eddie and Jane's lives is Dorothy Farley, a drive-in customer from a wealthy family who throws her money around easily and is also willing to financially assist those in need. She becomes the one in need when she's kidnapped by ones of Nick's associates, who wants her to become another of Nick's steady customers. Jane, now known as Lil (she doesn't want her new life to sully her family's name), tries to get Eddie away from the city and back home. Jane also comes to Dorothy's aid, for a price, not before Dorothy learns the truth of her beau Dan's identity and the source of her family's wealth.