Martha is married to Jack, a good-natured businessman, and she lives comfortably but it is not enough to satisfy her. Against her better judgement, Martha makes love to Arthur, a neighborhood janitor, and soon after discovers she is pregnant. She cannot cope with the news. Meantime, her husband tries to make an attempt to reconcile with her, but is rebuffed. Even her own sister, Alice, whose own life is an emotional ruin, tries to offer her help without success. Unexpectedly, Irene, Arthur's mother is the one that finally steps up to the plate.