You Only Live Once

Eddie Taylor, an ex-convict, believes he has reformed and deserves a break. He marries Joan, the woman who never stopped believing in him, and begins to build a stable life. Stephen, Joan's boss and public defender, helps him land a steady job and gives them hope they can buy a house.

His new life is disrupted when he is fired for arriving late after the inn booked for their wedding night recognizes his picture and ejects him. The dismissal shatters his sense of security and triggers a sense of instability. Eddie feels the setback threaten the progress he has made.

Old gang members tempt Eddie to join bank robberies, promising a quick path back to easy money. He resists the lure and doubles down on seeking legitimate work instead. The moment reinforces his struggle between reform and temptation.

A bank robbery unfolds during which six people are killed, and Eddie is framed for the murders. He is convicted and sentenced to death by electrocution based on the setup. The injustice becomes the fuel for his fight to prove his innocence.

On the eve of his execution, Eddie escapes from the prison infirmary with a smuggled gun. A stay of execution is issued, but his freedom remains precarious and psychologically fraught.

The getaway vehicle is recovered from a lake along with the stolen money and the body of the real murderer, casting doubt on Eddie's guilt. The new evidence throws the case into question and sparks questions about justice and truth.

The prison chaplain, whom Eddie has trusted, tries to convince him the reprieve is real. In a desperate moment, Eddie shoots and kills the chaplain to escape further confinement.

Eddie and a now-pregnant Joan go on the run, becoming infamous as the alleged criminals in every town they pass. They remain a pair bound by love and a stubborn hope for safety in exile.

After the baby is born, Joan meets Stephen and her sister Bonnie. They arrange for Joan to board a boat to Havana with the infant while Stephen continues to work on clearing her name.

Joan refuses to leave Eddie behind and insists they face the consequences together. They push on, trying to outrun the law while clinging to each other.

The couple is ambushed by the police and killed. In his last moments, Eddie hears the chaplain's voice telling him he is free.

The closing echo of the chaplain's words lingers as Eddie's dream of freedom ends with their deaths.