RalphBurtonisaminerwhoistrappedforseveraldaysasaresultofacave-in.Whenhefinallymanagestodighimselfout,herealizesthatallofmankindseemstohavebeendestroyedinanuclearholocaust.HetravelstoNewYorkCityonlytofinditdeserted.Makingalifeforhimselfthere,heisflabbergastedtoeventuallyfindSarahCrandall,whoalsomanagedtosurvive.Together,theyformaclosefriendshipuntilthearrivalofBensonThackerwhohasmanagedtopilothissmallboatintothecity'sharbor.Atthispointthetensionsrisebetweenthethree,particularlybetweenThacker,whoiswhiteandBurton,whoisblack.