Norman Pitkin works as an assistant to Mr Grimsdale, an old-fashioned family butcher. A mutual respect exists between the two, but it is understood that Mr Grimsdale does the thinking and Norman the work. When the shop is held up at gunpoint, Mr Grimsdale, at Norman’s suggestion, puts his most priceless possession, his gold watch, in his mouth for safekeeping. When a shot rings out, he swallows the watch. After accompanying him to hospital, Norman believes he has found his true calling and that he must aid people. Trying to persuade an increasingly exasperated board of medical officers, however, is not an easy job.