711 Ocean Drive

Mal Granger, a telephone technician with expertise in electronics, is hired by gangster Vince Walters to expand his legitimate front for an illegal bookmaking operation. The expansion proves successful, and Granger develops a better system for gathering information at racetracks. He begins to demand a cut of the profits, threatening to leave if he isn't made a partner.

Vince Walters agrees to Granger's demand and makes him a 20% partner in the operation. This causes tension with other bookies who resist the new protection fees and financial arrangements, leading to violent repercussions. Granger starts gaining control over the wire service and the betting racket.

When Walters attempts to collect debts from a bookie, the bookie kills Walters and then commits suicide. Granger takes control of the wire service following these events, positioning himself as a key figure in the operation. His rise attracts police attention, especially from Lieutenant Wright.

East Coast mobster Larry Mason is sent by his boss to persuade Granger to join his syndicate. Mason's wife Gail becomes romantically interested in Granger, creating further complications. Mason begins to exert influence over Granger's operations.

Granger decides to form a 50/50 partnership with Mason's syndicate but faces opposition from some independent bookies who dislike the increased protection fees. These bookies are physically roughed up by syndicate goons for resisting the new arrangements.

Larry Mason physically assaults Gail, escalating tensions with Granger. In retaliation, Granger hires a hitman named Gizzi to kill Mason using a rifle. After executing the hit, Gizzi attempts to blackmail Granger, seeking to become his silent partner.

Gizzi demands money and threatens to expose Granger, prompting Granger to murder him by crushing his body against the railing of the Malibu Pier and throwing him into the water. This eliminates Gizzi as a threat and a witness.

To cover his tracks, Granger makes a phone call to Lieutenant Wright that falsely places him in Palm Springs during Gizzi's murder. Police later analyze the call and find inconsistencies, leading them to deduce Granger's actual location.

Police match paint from Granger's damaged car to Gizzi's murder scene. They gather evidence linking Granger to the killing, increasing the pressure on him as he prepares to escape the law.

Deciding to retire and escape prosecution, Granger plans to leave with Gail for Guatemala. Before leaving, he schemes to recover the money owed to him by tapping into a race betting operation in Las Vegas.

Using his telephone expertise, Granger and his accomplices intercept race results by tapping into a line at a Las Vegas betting parlor. They broadcast the race results with a short delay, giving them time to place large bets on winning horses.

Chippie, assisting Granger with the bets, is recognized by a man holding a grudge. The man informs Mason, who then tracks Chippie down and reveals Granger’s location to the police, leading to their impending arrest.

With the police closing in, Granger and Gail attempt to escape across state lines by heading toward Boulder Dam. They join a tour group and navigate into the dam, hoping to evade law enforcement.

As they try to cross into Arizona, Granger is shot and appears to be killed. Gail collapses from exhaustion during their escape, and their fate is left uncertain as law enforcement closes in.