Alice was expensively educated, but disappoints everyone by choosing to trek round the world, keeping the company of lame ducks. When she decides to marry Chris Warren, who owns a fast car and a beautiful house, Alice's mother breathes a sigh of relief. However, although Alice professes to love Chris, it transpires she knew when she married him that all was not well. Her friends and family can only watch helplessly while she ferrets into his past, risking her life, until she herself forces the tragic climax.