When the shootings of two juvenile inmates bring public protest, a psychologist is brought in to see if he can do anything to control the problems peacefully.

Unpopular at school because of his high I.Q., neglected by his weak and alcoholic father, Marvin is easy prey for the campus vamp, Betty, who pretends an interest in Marv only so that he will write her term paper. When the two are discovered cheating by their professor, the longed-for scholarship recommendation is withdrawn. Meanwhile the jealousy of Betty's boyfriend has been aroused and when Marv learns that he can only hold the girl's affections by offering her riches, he plans a million dollar robbery. Even the professional gangsters with whom he works are amazed at the brilliance of the young genius.