Half-waythroughhis12-yearprisonsentenceforanincompetentarmedrobbery,JimmyHandsgetsaluckybreak:he'stransferredtoaprisonfromwhichhecanprobablyescape.Heconvincesthegovernortostageamusicalinanoldchapelnexttotheprison'souterwall.Heroundsupvolunteeractorsandputshisescapeplanintoproduction.Twootherbarriers,besidesthewall,confronthim:thearrivalofanastyinmate,JohnToombes,whoinsistsonjoiningtheescape,andJimmy'sfeelingsofattractionforAnabel,asocialworkerwhoagreestoappearintheplay.Openingnightapproaches:isthisJimmy'sbreakoutperformance?