When book publisher Bob McKellaway is informed by his attorney, Oscar Nelson, that he will have to justify some of his income tax deductions, Bob reluctantly asks his recently divorced wife, Mary, to come to New York and help allocate the canceled checks signed during their marriage. Although Bob is apprehensive about seeing Mary again, his fiancée, Tiffany Richards, is curious to see her. Once Mary arrives, she attracts the attention of Dirk Winston, a fading Hollywood star and former war buddy of Bob's. Since Mary is unable to obtain a hotel reservation, she decides to use Bob's apartment while he and Tiffany are visiting Tiffany's parents. A blizzard forces him to return home, however, and he arrives to find Mary kissing Dirk. Because of the bad weather, Bob spends the night alone with Mary, but after a violent argument, Mary decides to go to New Orleans with Dirk. Realizing that he still loves her, Bob locks Mary in a closet to prevent her departure. Dirk leaves without her; Tiffany exits, having sensed the truth of the situation; and Bob and Mary are reunited.