Dr. Bernard Abrams (Jerry Lewis) is a content husband to Shirley (Patty Duke), a loving father to 6-year-old Felice (Jaclyn Bernstein) and a prosperous optometrist. His world crumbles, however, when Felice develops a rare form of epilepsy that is almost impossible to treat. Bernard learns of a British drug that's effective but hasn't been approved in the U.S. yet, and he resolves to help Felice even if it means breaking the law.