Middle-aged Arthur Hamilton (John Randolph) is given the opportunity to start a completely new life when he receives calls from his old friend Charlie (Murray Hamilton). The only problem is that Charlie is supposed to be dead. Hamilton is introduced to a firm that will fake his death and create an entirely new look and life for him. After undergoing physical reconstruction surgery, Hamilton returns to the world in the form of artist Tony Wilson (Rock Hudson). He tragically finds that the life he had hoped for isn't quite what he expected.