In 1965, Miami, Florida, has more cases of infectious syphilis than any city in America a fact the Chamber of Commerce and the Miami Health Department conspire to cover up. Into this sticky wicket stumbles Allen Kravass, who gives up a cushy job in his father’s bank to pursue a career in syphilis eradication with the federal government. Kravass aspires to be a VD mana sleuth for syphilis. But he is opposed by his boss, Howard Stepman, who would like to fire him.
While desperately trying to keep his job, Kravass meets Emily Norden, a healthy nurse in the VD Clinic. Norden accidentally spills Kravass’ blood while instructing him in the technique of drawing blood from patients. This leads to an office romance which may not bode well for his new career.
Kravasss quest is also threatened by the conflicting ambitions of others in Miami’s quirky world of syphilis investigation. His fellow investigators wish him well, but are primarily interested in advancing their own careers. Not everybody succeeds in becoming a VD man. Sometimes, it comes down to the luck of the draw.
