Willum Cubbert has it all: He has a promising career as an architect, devoted friends and, hopefully, a serious girlfriend. He has often told his friends about the debt he owes to Rick Steadman, a fellow ex-GI whom he has never met but who saved his life. But Willum's peaceful life is shattered when Rick arrives unannounced on his doorstep. Rick is a hopeless "nerd"— a bumbling oaf with no social sense, little intelligence and less tact.

Rick stays on and on, his continued presence among Willum and his friends leads to one uproarious incident after another.