Foster brothers John and Charlie work as transit cops patrolling the New York City subway. On Christmas, they chase a mugger into a subway tunnel. All trains traveling in their direction are halted but transit captain Donald Patterson allows the money train to continue. John and Charlie avoid getting hit by the train and the mugger, a teenage boy, is shot dead at the next station by transit cops guarding the money train. This triggers a brawl between John, Charlie and the other transit cops. Patterson blames the two for causing the money train to arrive late.