The Talk of the Town

Leopold Dilg is arrested and charged with setting fire to Lochester's woolen mill and killing the foreman, Clyde Bracken. The accusation galvanizes the courtroom and the town, casting doubt on his guilt and igniting tensions around the case.

In the midst of the trial, Dilg makes a breakout from custody and heads for the remote cottage owned by Nora Shelley. Shelley is a former schoolmate who has rented the place for the summer, offering shelter to the fugitive. Dilg's escape sets off a chain of events that pulls Lightcap into the case.

Shelley hides Dilg in the attic to keep him out of sight. When Lightcap arrives, she passes him off as her gardener, Joseph, to avoid suspicion and maintain the ruse. The delicate balance between hiding a man and pursuing justice tightens the plot.

Senator Boyd arrives at the cottage and informs Lightcap that he is about to be nominated to the Supreme Court by the president. The news adds pressure to Lightcap's already murky situation with the hidden Dilg. The encounter raises personal and professional stakes for all involved.

Lightcap and Dilg engage in spirited debates about the law, contrasting academic theory with Dilg's practical view. Their conversations deepen their respect for one another and inadvertently fan the flames of attraction between Lightcap and Nora. The trio becomes entwined in both friendship and romantic tension.

Prompted by Shelley and Dilg's lawyer, Lightcap begins to suspect Andrew Holmes, foreman Clyde Bracken, and Regina Bush of complicity or cover-ups. He shifts from theoretical inquiry to an active investigation into the charges against Dilg. His doubts drive a dangerous push to uncover the truth.

To learn more, Lightcap romances Regina Bush, the girlfriend of the supposed victim, and discovers that Clyde Bracken is alive and hiding in Boston. The revelation redirects the pursuit from a courtroom rumor to an on-the-ground search. Shelley, Lightcap, and Dilg prepare to confront the truth.

The trio travels to Boston to locate Bracken and compel his confession. They succeed in bringing him back to Lochester and force him to admit his guilt and implicate the mill owner. The confrontation tests their resolve and unity.

Bracken captures them unawares, knocks them unconscious, and escapes. The town's fury over the case grows as the threat of mob justice looms. The trio's plan to bring the truth to light is temporarily derailed.

With the mob closing in, Lightcap retrieves a gun from the cottage and takes Bracken to the courthouse at gunpoint. He fires to draw attention and presents Bracken as proof that the menace still exists, then delivers a passionate speech on the rule of law. The criminal charges against Bracken and the mill owner are pursued, and Dilg is ultimately set free.

Lightcap's intervention galvanizes the case as Bracken and the mill owner are indicted and Dilg is set free. The community's faith in the legal process is restored through his impassioned defense. Lightcap's actions mark a turning point in the town's justice.

Soon after, Lightcap is appointed to the Supreme Court, fulfilling his long-held dream. Shelley visits him in his chambers and he speaks of the achievement as a shared victory for everyone involved. He notes that the only thing left is to see his friends happy, particularly by seeing Nora and Dilg together.

Shelley visits Lightcap and he suggests that she should marry Dilg, expressing a desire to secure happiness for all his friends. The conversation reveals a sense of resolution and hope for the couple and their allies. The suggestion marks a shift from professional conflict to personal reconciliation.

During the first seating of Lightcap as Associate Justice, Dilg interprets an affectionate look between Lightcap and Shelley as a sign that Shelley has chosen to marry Lightcap. He leaves the courtroom, overwhelmed by the potential loss. Shelley chases after him, setting the stage for the final realization.

Shelley follows Dilg after he exits the courtroom, and he finally realizes that she has chosen him over Lightcap. The film closes on their renewed understanding and the promise of a hopeful future.