蒂娜·巴尔瑟（Tina Balser）是一位无聊的纽约家庭主妇，嫁给了乔纳森（Jonathan），乔纳森是一位自命不凡的喜欢社交和攀登的律师，他在孩子们面前嘲笑她，批评她所做的或所穿着的一切。 她开始与乔治·普拉格（George Prager）发生婚外情，乔治·普拉格是一位潇洒、成功的作家，他有严重的虐待倾向。

Brooks Wilson is in crisis. He is torn between his wife Selma and two daughters and his mistress Grace, and also between his career as a successful illustrator and his feeling that he might still produce something worthwhile.