The 'hero, ' Ernest Cabbage, is angry with his life, even before the day begins and his wife, Rita, awakens him. Work is scarce and he only took the job as a used car sales man at Rita's urging. His boss, Nick, doesn't make it any easier for him by being a mean old drunk. Rita annoyed him by reminding him that Nick said he would fire him if he was late one more time, so he reluctantly arose and headed out for work. But as fate would have it, being late wasn't what changed his life. What happened, in fact, was that Ernest found a Brown Fedora left on the bus stop bench which he claimed for his own, since no one else admitted to owning it. When he arrived at work sporting the Fedora, Nick looked enviously at his appearance and proceeded to order him about with his usual tirade, increasing Earnest's anger. The day went unusually well, however, as Earnest sold several cars and even cheated Nick out of a little money by jacking up the selling prices and pocketing the difference. He went home happy, bringing gifts and telling Rita how lucky his day had been. He even contemplated quitting the job. But Rita convinced him to return and wait until things were a bit better off. Ernest cheerfully left for work the next day. He even inquired if anyone had left a hat on the bench, but no one laid claim to one. With his lucky headpiece on, he had another profitable day selling cars and irritating Nick. Meanwhile, a down on his luck insurance broker, out of a job and plagued by a disintegrating marriage, is missing his lucky hat. The one he just bought at a Goodwill store while looking for clothes for job interviews. He had needed something to change his life from what it had sunk to since he gotten fired, lost his wife, and ended up in a small studio, visiting bars with other local losers looking for work - and he thought he'd found it in the Fedora. After he wore it, he impressed the boss at his first interview and was hired on the spot, starting the very next day. But in the interval, he lost the hat. Then his new car broke down, he lost his temper, lost his aura, and subsequently lost his job when the new boss saw a crazed 'nut' coming to work instead of the well polished, articulate man he had hired the day before. Angry, depressed and vengeful, he blamed his problems on the loss of the Fedora, and determined to find it at all costs and regain his good luck. He discovered in his acutely agitated state that the mirror in his room had a personality that actually demanded he do just that. The mirror had a Voice that became his own voice and began to control his life. Finding that it was Ernest who had his hat, he kidnapped Rita and her daughter and held them as ransom for Ernest to return the hat. Nick, however, had by now stolen the Fedora, and Ernest could not find it to return it to The Voice. And Nick, benefiting from a run of luck with it, certainly was not in any mood to return it. Shortly after Ernest confronted him about the hat, Nick is shot by a disgruntled former customer, and although Ernest is able to retrieve the hat, The Voice refused to deal with him now for fear of police involvement. Ernest cannot find Rita and his daughter but also cannot return home for fear of being arrested, so he takes a room in a local motel. Making friends with a pizza delivery boy, Joey, the two proceed to discover where Rita and his daughter, are held. By smart thinking and planning they eventually rescue the captives and The Voice is tried and convicted of kidnapping, resulting in a long prison sentence. But Jonathan, The Voice, now has time to plan revenge and has one thing on his mind - to get his Brown Fedora back.