Johnny Alexander was a black bus conductor who lost his job when Len Fairclough argued with him over payment of his fare. When Len confessed to inspector Harry Hewitt that he hadn't paid his fare after all, Johnny was offered his job back but he refused to take it as he didn't want to work somewhere where he wasn't trusted. Len's friends and neighbours believed Len to be racially motivated in his dislike of Johnny, and Harry was particularly angry as he was the one who'd reported Johnny, taking the word of his friend Len on face value.