Ben Weldon is an ambitious businessman on the fast track to success. The company he works for expects him to live the upper class suburban lifestyle on a middle management salary in order to prove himself worthy of advancement. With two kids, a new house, club dues, etc. Ben and his wife Ginny find themselves stretched to the breaking point financially. Ben's coworker Hal Crady suggests he settle for a regional management position, as he hopes to do. Ben dismisses this as ""a dull routine job"" and keeps playing the game since he knows the boss has a promotion for him lined up. Hal suggests he sees a ""crack C.P.A."", J. J. Semmons, who tells him he needs to either get a raise or quit the game.

At work he is eager to head a new test computer operation by commuting to Chicago while his finances get shakier. Finally he asks his boss, Mr. Mallory for a raise. After expressing disappointment in Ben, Mallory at first tells him to manage with his ""income bracket."" Ben refuses to be brush