BARON & THE KID, THE

William “The Baron” Addington (Johnny Cash) is a former pool pro whose lifetime of boozing has cost him his career and family. In an attempt to straighten out his life, he quits drinking and plays pool only for charity.

Billy Joe “The Cajun Kid” Stanley (Gregg Webb) is a brash young pool player with immense potential. Managed by Jack Streamer (Darren McGavin), he travels from hall to hall swindling opponents.

After a series of chance revelations, “The Baron” finds out that “The Kid” is really his son. This discovery presents “The Baron” an opportunity to make amends for the errors of his life. He determines to try to guide the boy while not revealing the true nature of their relationship. After some coaxing, “The Kid” agrees to let his father be his coach, knowing it means choosing “gentleman’s pool” over hustling. Meanwhile, to provide a positive role model for the boy and to regain his lost self-respect, “The Baron” begins, once again, to enter prestigious pool tournaments.

Seeing that he is losing control of “The Kid,” Streamer sets out to destroy “The Baron.” When one of the Baron’s opponents is drugged during a competition, all fingers point to “The Baron.” The boy, feeling disillusioned and betrayed, leaves his father and returns to Streamer.

However, in a climactic moment, the truth, as well as the identity of his father, are revealed to “The Kid.” His faith restored, “The Kid” and “The Baron” are reunited and a new family is born.