When Holly Anderson (Lana Turner), neglected by her wealthy socialite husband (John Forsythe), is romantically pursued by Phil Benton (Ricardo Montalban), tragedy strikes. Constance Bennett in her last film rôle, playing Holly's mother-in-law, turns nemesis, forcing her to leave her husband and infant son to protect their reputation. Travelling the world in a haze of drugs and alcohol for twenty years, Holly returns to her home town, only to meet more trouble, which ends with her facing a jury on a charge of murder.