It is morning in a wealthy enclave of San Marino, California, and Walter Whitney wants to make love to his wife, Vivian. Although she refuses, Walter insists, but is interrupted by the new maid bringing breakfast, followed by his step-daughter, Mary Ann. Nelson Longhurst, Walter’s father-in-law and boss, scolds him after Vivian complains about Walter’s attempted “rape,” and Nelson suggests that Walter look for sexual fulfillment outside the marriage. Walter’s secretary announces that Roger Porter, the son of an old college girlfriend, Lorraine Porter, waits outside. When they meet, Walter does not like Roger, a seventeen-year-old African American teenager, but is sorry to learn that Lorraine has recently died. Walter is shocked to discover that Roger is his son and wants to keep the relationship secret, but Roger wishes to be legally adopted by Walter. Flustered, Walter drives to the office of his best friend and lawyer, Victor Bard, and shares the backstory: Walter lived with Lorraine during college but moved away after graduation to make money at Unielectron. Walter planned to marry Lorraine, but was immediately successful at his job and Nelson took an interest in him. Nelson persuaded Walter that, in order to be successful, he would have to change his last name from Weisenthal to Whitney, and could not marry an African American woman. Walter changed his name, sent a letter of regret to Lorraine and married Nelson’s daughter. Victor suggests that his friend persuade Vivian to charitably “adopt” an orphaned African American teenager for the summer, without telling her Roger is Walter’s son. Walter convinces Vivian to start a trend among her friends, who will be jealous and want to adopt their own underprivileged teenagers. As they drive to the mansion, Walter asks Roger if he is in school, but Roger has not attended high school for nearly a year. When Roger has dinner with the family, Mary Ann asks if he has been arrested and Roger admits he was detained for participating in a protest march. Vivian declares the family will vote to approve Roger’s “adoption” in the morning, but Walter reminds her there was no vote when he adopted Mary Ann. When Vivian insists that was a different situation because Mary Ann is her natural child, Walter wonders aloud if Vivian could accept Roger as his natural son. Vivian thinks Walter is joking, is stunned to learn the truth, and declares that God will never forgive Walter for having a black child. Later, Vivian’s doctor, minister and father arrive to console her. Nelson informs Walter that their world favors “white, not black, and Whitney, not Weisenthal,” then takes Vivian and Mary Ann to his home. When Walter arrives at work the next day, the security guard will not admit him, Walter’s company car and credit cards are confiscated, and he is fired. Calling home, he learns from Roger that his personal possessions are being dumped on the front lawn, and asks his son to put everything in a cab and meet him at Victor’s office. However, Victor is no longer Walter’s lawyer, having chosen to represent Vivian in the divorce. Victor sends him to Bob Garvey, an African American lawyer, who assesses Walter’s dire situation; all his money and property are in Vivian and Mary Ann’s names, leaving Walter with only the $68 in his pocket. Walter and Roger check into an inexpensive motel, and Walter seeks work and a bank loan. However, Vivian told everyone about the situation and no one in their community will help Walter. He sees a white father and son playing basketball, and offers to play a game with them, winner takes $5. Walter assumes Roger will be an excellent player and brings him to the court, but Roger does not play well and they lose the money. Walter learns Roger bought a used car to drive across country to find him, and although it barely runs, it is better than nothing. They are down to 85 cents when Walter remembers there is money in his safe at home. He wakes Vivian as he breaks into his former bedroom. Assuming the masked intruder wants to have sex with her, Vivian insists that he perform, and Walter consents. The next day, Walter joins street laborers waiting for work and a stable manager hires him to shovel manure. At the end of the day, Walter can barely move, but clutches a handful of cash. Roger pawns Walter’s golf clubs for down payment on an apartment and drives his father to their dingy new place in the African American neighborhood, Watts. Roger shows Walter the box of love letters that Lorraine had saved and announces he might take a short-order cook training class. Walter agrees to stay until Roger completes the class and gets a job, then they can go their separate ways. Upset, Roger goes for a walk before Nelson and Vivian unexpectedly arrive. Nelson admires Walter for not breaking under pressure and wants Walter to rejoin their life in San Marino, suggesting that he send Roger into a military career. Vivian admits she knew Walter was the intruder and wants to reconcile. After they leave, Walter hears gunfire and sees Roger chased by police, who mistakenly believe he is a thief. Walter hides Roger in the apartment, screams at the police, leads them away from his son and is arrested. Later, Roger visits Walter in jail, admitting he was surprised that Walter got arrested for him. He reveals that he did not want anything from Walter, except respect for being Lorraine’s son. Roger admits that he became angry when Walter focused only on the color of his skin and argues that his mother deserved a better life. When Walter agrees and admits he loved Lorraine, Roger realizes Walter is not a bad guy and leaves, suggesting that Walter return to his family. The next day, Walter returns to his office, informs Nelson that everyone should be allowed to succeed and disputes Nelson’s racist theories. Walter calmly leaves as Nelson threatens to destroy his son-in-law. Later, Garvey drives Walter to catch up with Roger, who is returning to Northwestern University for his second year on a pre-med scholarship, having graduated from high school early. Walter realizes that he was prejudiced when he first met his son because he automatically assumed Roger was a high school drop-out. They find Roger working on his car by the side of the road. Walter announces that he plans to accept a job near Northwestern so he can get to know his son, and the two decide to make the drive together.