****SPOILERS**** Being diagnosed with a brain tumor that if not operated on will eventually kill him Chicago Bear star quarterback "Terrible Terry" Dunne, Neville Brand, opts to take his chances in not going under the knife and use his super brain power, he has an IQ of well over 180, to use to cure himself. This insane plan by Terry has the neurologist Doctor Ben Casey, Vincent Edwards, who's to operate on his brain feel that the tumor is taking effect on Terry's brain a lot sooner then anyone, even Dr. Casey, ever realized. As it turns out Terry had insured himself for $75,000.00 the year before and when he got the good news, for him that is, that he hasn't long to live if he doesn't get operated on instead of getting help, like a life saving brain operation, or planning his funeral he planned to celebrate his upcoming demise in, by painting the town red, grand style!
Besides the very concerned Dr. Casey Terry's both estranged wife Laura, Sally Grace, and teenage son Terry Jr, Lee Kinsolving, try in vain to talk Terry into not killing himself by not getting operated on since at age 40 he's got a lot of years left in the tank and could start in a new profession in what he majored in collage and got perfect scores in as an English professor at the prestigious Chicago University. Stubborn as a mule and, excuse the language, as dumb as one as well Terry made up his mind to die without a fight so he can finally get after all the pain he took playing football, as well as abuse from his nagging and ball busting wife Laura, the long deserved peace & quiet, in the local cemetery, that he sought for all these long and terrible years!
****SPOILERS*** The usual stern and take no BS Dr. Casey uses his kind and sweet bedside manners to get Terry, who's content in dying, to see things his way in getting the operation that could save his life. The I'm always the center of attraction Terry Dunne is finally convinced that he's not the unfeeling husband and father that he thought that he was when both his son Terry Jr and wife Laura came to his bedside pleading that he not kill himself even if it means they'll get $75,000.00 in insurance money if he did! Finally realizing that there's life after football Terry decides to get operated on so he can live to see a another day as well as, as a spectator not participant,another professional football game!