Young veteran Timmy Cleary returns to his Bronx home at the end of World War II and is soon disillusioned to find his parents' marriage filled with discord, quarreling, and recriminations. Previously his mother Nettie's pride and joy, Timmy now establishes rapport with his salesman father, John, and attempts to reconcile his parents without taking sides. While returning to the apartment after a day with his father at the family's summer cottage, Timmy picks up a bouquet of roses for Nettie and suggests that John take credit for the idea. Nettie is deeply touched by the gift and joins her men for a nightclub tour of Broadway; later, however, John's drunken attempts at lovemaking disgust her, and she smashes the vase of roses, whereupon he tells her that it was Timmy who bought them. The next morning, John is angered to learn that Timmy no longer attends Sunday mass and leaves for church alone. After Timmy accuses Nettie of trying to make him side with her against John, she disappears for awhile to collect her thoughts but later returns home to find a worried and accusing John quarreling with their half-drunk son. Aware that everyone shares blame for their domestic situation, Timmy decides the next morning that he must leave home to make a life of his own. Although saddened by his announcement, both parents realize it is best for him, and when he changes his mind at the last minute, John insists that he go. United at least temporarily by Timmy's parting, the family has breakfast together.