Johnny Clay develops a daring and cunning plan: to rob the hippodrome ticket office in broad daylight and win a big jackpot - two million dollars. The case involves a group of seven people: five will commit a robbery, and two will undertake a diversionary maneuver. A carefully planned operation has every chance of success. But unforeseen circumstances and the human factor change the situation dramatically. The novel served as the basis for the classic film noir directed by Stanley Kubrick.