Power Without Glory

John West, retrenched from his job in a Carringbush boot factory, lives in poverty with his widowed mother. Falsely arrested as an accomplice in a petty theft, and humiliated in his mothers home, West vows revenge. With the help of his friends, Sugar, Barney and Paddy, he decides to 'fix' pigeon races and run a book on them in the pubs in and around Carringbush.

John West's elder brother Arthur is released from goal after serving a twelve year sentence for rape. Arthur is embittered, and the family reunion falls flat. John has become attracted to the lovely young Catholic girl Nellie Moran, and attends the church bazaar so that his generosity will impress her. But while he is at the bazaar, the police organise a secret raid on the Tote.

The newly appointed head of the gaming squad, Detective Sergeant O'Flaherty sees an opportunity to break West. He persuades police pimp Bob Standish to give him betting slips from the Tote. Standish gets the evidence, and West tries to buy him off. Sugar Renfrey, the man destined to remain West's lifelong friend, now enters West's life, and John decides it is time to propose to Nellie Moran.

Caught trying to bribe a police spy, West is arrested and brought to trial. As a result, he is late for his enagagment party. Wily Lawyer David Garside is confident he can find loop holes in the Gaming Act to protect West's tote, and his suggestions on how to do this make West's activities look like children's games.

Nellie suffers last minute doubts about the wisdom of marrying John West and in despair her mother sends her to consult Father O'Toole. John interprets her unease, as being interest in another man. He has another major problem. How to prevent Standish, the police witness from giving evidence at West's trial.

The marriage takes place, and returned from the honeymoon, West learns from Garside that the conservative State Government is contemplating anti-gambling legislation which would mean the end of West's Tote. Garside urges West to extend his influence within the Parliament, which suggests to West an extension of bribery.