Interior decorator Marjorie Scott moved with her then two young adolescent children Victoria and Martin from Chicago to Santa Rita, California thirteen years ago following her pianist husband MacKenzie Scott's passing - or so she has told everyone, including the children. In reality, she knows Mack is still in Chicago in prison, he caught in a circumstance beyond his control which led to a man being killed, the reason for his prison term. Mack convinced Marge to get a divorce so as not to carry him as baggage in her life despite she still loving him. So when Marge is thinking about getting remarried to wealthy businessman Philip Ames, Marge wants to tell Mack just in confirming that they have no future, again despite her love for him. In doing so, Mack, in turn, doesn't tell her that he is being pardoned in still wanting her to move on with life without him. However, Mack wants to see his children one last time before moving on. In stopping in Santa Rita and ingratiating himself with a group of musicians - harmonica players - down by the working class docks called Fish Town, Mack gets involved in his children's lives more than he he was planning, he making a connection especially with Vicky, who has inherited his musical genes. Vicky likes this new kindly man she only knows as "The Professor" much more than her imminent stepfather in Philip trying to buy Vicky and Marty's affections and wanting to control their lives to his narrow, staid standards. The question then becomes what will happen with Mack and his family, especially as he tries to keep his identity from everyone, especially Vicky and Marty, with Marge being the only person knowing who he truly is if she saw him.
—Huggo
