Ralph Burton is a miner who has been trapped in a cave-in for several days. When he finally manages to dig himself out, he realizes that all of mankind seems to have been destroyed in a nuclear holocaust. Determined to survive, he travels to New York City only to find it deserted. Making a life for himself there, he is flabbergasted to eventually find Sarah Crandall, who also managed to survive. Together, they form a close friendship until the arrival of Benson Thacker, who has managed to pilot his small boat into the city's harbor. At this point, tensions rise between the three, particularly between Thacker, who is white and Burton, who is black.
