In Triple Play, Daniel Cobbs, a distinguished newspaper publisher and the city's political boss, steps into the mayor's office with a plan to secure his future. He meets with the current mayor, Leslie Bryan, and convinces him to retire, promising to support him in his decision. Cobbs's charm and confidence mask a ruthless ambition; he intends to run for mayor himself, believing he can easily defeat his rival, Stump Reynolds. As he prepares for his campaign, Cobbs's feelings for Patricia Wolcott, the mayor's secretary, complicate matters, revealing his vulnerability beneath the facade of power.