Twenty-six-year-old Harry Engstrom, nicknamed Rabbit, lives in Mount Judge, near Bruer, PA. He is married, he has a son Nelson, but there is no family happiness at all. Family obligations greatly weigh the hero. Janice’s wife is drinking, and her pregnancy doesn’t fill the Rabbit with pride from the knowledge that replenishment awaits their family. Once, back in school, he played basketball perfectly, and the accuracy of his shots became a legend that stepped outside the boundaries of his native district. But Rabbit did not make a sports career, instead he advertises various kitchen appliances such as a miracle grater, and memories of past feats only reinforce the hero’s longing and feeling that his life has decisively failed.

Another quarrel with his unloved wife leads him to get into the car and drive wherever he looks, as if hoping to break out of the vicious circle of worldly worries and troubles. But, having reached West Virginia, the Rabbit still can not stand it and, turning the car around, returns to his native Pennsylvania. Not wanting, however, to return to the disgusted house, he comes to Mr. Totero, his former school coach, and he lets him spend the night. The next day, Totero introduces him to Ruth Lenard, with whom Rabbit has a relationship, however, in no way resembling love at first sight.

Meanwhile, Janice, worried about the sudden disappearance of her husband, moves to his parents. Her mother insists that the police be connected to the fugitive’s wanted list, but her husband and daughter are against it. They prefer to wait. They come to the aid of a young priest of their arrival, Jack Eccles. In general, he is distinguished by his desire to help his parishioners by deed, among whom too many need comfort. Sparing neither time nor energy for those entrusted to his care, Eccles is a stark contrast to the priest of the Engstroms parish. Old man Kruppenbach does not approve of the “fuss” of his young colleague, believing that the clergy’s true duty is to set a positive example for his flock with his own exemplary behavior and unshakable faith.

Eccles, however, is eager not only to return the Rabbit to the bosom of the family, but also to help him find himself. He invites him to a golf party, listens attentively, and asks about life. He finds a temporary job for him - to look after the garden of one of his parishioners, and although it does not promise gold mountains, this is a good help for the Rabbit who has fallen from the ordinary existence.

Relations between Ruth and Rabbit are slowly being established, but when something similar to closeness arises between them, Eccles's call returns the hero to the past - Janice was in the hospital and about to give birth. The rabbit informs Ruth of his decision to return to his wife and try to help her in this difficult hour. This departure becomes a real blow for Ruth, but Rabbit does not intend to change his mind. The birth takes place safely, Janice gives birth to a girl, and soon the family reunites again - already four. But family idyll is short-lived. Mr. Totero, one of the few people in this world who the Rabbit trusted and who, as it seems to him, understood him, gets seriously ill, and then dies. Well, a relationship with Janice can’t get better. The quarrel follows the quarrel, and finally the Rabbit leaves the house again.

For a while, Janice hides this from her parents, but she fails to keep a secret for too long. This quarrel returns her to alcohol again, and soon something irreparable happens. In a state of extreme intoxication, Janice drops the baby in the bath, and she chokes. Harry Engstrom returns again - in order to take part in the funeral ceremony.

Decency seems to be respected, but there is no peace between the spouses. Another quarrel takes place right at the cemetery, and Rabbit, as has happened to him more than once, flees again, and in the most literal sense. He runs through the cemetery in zigzags, maneuvering between the tombstones, and Eccles's voice is heard after him, who in vain tries to stop the hero.

He returns to Ruth, but she does not want to see him anymore. She cannot forgive his departure: one night he informed her of a desire to return to his wife. It turns out that she became pregnant, really needed the support of the Rabbit, but did not receive it. She was going to have an abortion, but did not find the strength in herself to complete her plan. The rabbit persuades her to leave the child, says that it is wonderful, that he loves her. But Ruth directly asks if he is ready to marry her. The rabbit mutters, “With pleasure,” but Ruth’s new questions baffle him. He does not know what to do with Janice, how to leave Nelson. Ruth says that if they get married, then she is ready to leave the child, but if he continues to spare everyone - and nobody, then let him know: she died for him, as well as the unborn child.

The rabbit leaves Ruth in complete confusion. He understands that it is necessary to make some decision, but to commit a constructive act beyond his strength. He walks around the city, and then goes on a run. He runs, as if trying to escape from problems, to leave behind all the difficulties, painful contradictions that poison his life.

And he runs, runs ...