'His name's Judd Hogan.Please call him that so I can find him again,' Judd's mother calls as she gently puts the newborn baby on a chair in the vestibule of the McDonald Boys' Home, outside Brisbane, and dashes out the door. And so Judd's battles begin. He's not welcome at the Home where they house only boys who can earn their keep by working in the potato fields surrounding the Home. But they are made to keep him and a kindly screw, Miss Smackie, takes on the extra task of rearing the neglected baby. He is bronchial and is fed oxygen which helps him develop into a very strong little boy. He is also an excellent student and is soon sent to the local school where he's befriended by pretty Mata Molnar. Conditions at the home get worse and Judd receives a beating because of what he tells Mr. Molnar about the Home. Concerned, the Molnars take the boy into their home as a brother for Mata but, as they grow, Judd and Mata realize that they're in love. The Molnars see this and when Judd and Mata get to university age, spirit Mata to relatives in Hungary and away from Judd. Angered,he speeds through his University studies in record time and gets a job at the Government betting agency. Judd is a skilled computer specialist and he immediately begins embezzling funds for his Recover Mata Fund. He reaches his goal and is ready for Europe when he finds that a young married friend, with children, has been thieving also but not as skilfully as Judd. When the Police arrive Judd confesses to his theft and returns his hoarded money, covering his friend's theft. He is jailed for four years and, while there, learns that Mata has been married in England so gives up on her. Judd is under threat in prison because of the money but, by now, is a very strong and a skilled fighter, so fights off the threats and becomes king of the yard. His big Samoan cellmate protected him in the jail at first but becomes ill and asks Judd to help him conceal it. Judd looks after him, passing up parole to care for him until he dies. He is then sent to a prison farm where he learns some rural skills and, on release, goes to a small country town seeking work. He finds work at a pub and quickly meets a beautiful young cattle heiress, Madonna Bellamy. They fall in love and are soon married. They have a loving two years travelling and trying to have a baby and, on their second anniversary, Madonna tells Judd that she's pregnant at last. They go out to dinner to celebrate and have a small run-in with a former beau of Madonna. He is always around but wary of Judd. They head happily home but Judd sees a car approaching on the wrong side of the road. He puts out a hand to protect Madonna, calling to her...
