- A deserted wife, Irene Kemp, successfully raises her daughter Thea by running a sly grog house, but when she becomes involved in a robbery and blackmail the whole structure of her life is threatened.
- The police are searching for a man who has escaped from a Sydney prison after they receive information that he may be hiding out in Melbourne. The man, Len Thorpe (Guy Le Claire), is a villain who has a habit of bashing women, and he has come to Melbourne figuring that he can hide out with an ex-girlfriend and her 14 year old daughter.
The ex-girlfriend is Irene Kemp (Bettina Welch), who runs an after-hours drinking establishment. By overcharging for drinks and other purchases, she is able to make a lovely amount of money. The house also has an occasional "working girl" hanging around it. Being a little greedy, Irene isn't adverse to imposing some blackmail on some of her "over-served" customers.
The blackmail draws Irene to the attention of the Yarra Central police, who visit the grog house over that matter. When Len shows up wanting some cash from Irene, it only adds to her problems. Len is also interested in the budding teenage daughter, Thea Kemp (Jacki Weaver).
Irene decides that Len has to go, so she offers him a job pulling a robbery on a liquor warehouse. Len takes the bait, needing the money, and Irene lets the police know what time and day the robbery will happen, hoping that they will be able to take care of Len.
The idea doesn't come off in the manner that was planned, which results in Len returning to the grog house with murder on his mind, but the police make it there and rescue Irene and Thea from Len in the nick of time.
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