When his bus breaks down just outside of town, the driver is upset. He leaves his vehicle by the road and goes into a nearby field in order to have a drink from his flask of brandy. He passes a scarecrow on his way to a stream, and when a stone falls into the creek, it seems portentous. When he recovers the stone, it has a significant look to it. Passing the scarecrow, its blank cloth head looks like it needs a nose, so he paints one on it. When he returns to town, he tells the story of his experiences, thinking little of them. However, his hearers take the story quite seriously, and when mysterious calamities begin occurring, they are attributed to the scarecrow. The driver determines to eliminate this superstitious nuisance once and for all, and goes out to confront and destroy the scarecrow.~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide