Young New York reporter Jimmie Lee proposes marriage to Mary Howard, a successful novelist whom he has long loved, but is refused. Suspicious that she is becoming involved with her married publisher, Rogers Woodruf, Jimmie tells Mary that the ending of her latest book, in which a mistress confronts her lover's devoted wife and receives her blessing, is unbelievable. Mary dismisses Jimmie's complaints, however, and quietly arranges with her best friend, widow Bridget Drake, to spend the weekend in the country with Woodruf. After Jimmie deduces Mary and Bridget's plans, he offers to introduce Woodruf to a famous, elusive writer, whose books Woodruf desperately wants to publish, during the weekend. Later, Jimmie interrupts an intimate moment between Woodruf and Mary when he climbs Mary's balcony and drunkenly calls to her. Still conniving, Jimmie plays a game of golf in the country with Woodruf's wife Clare and, confident that Woodruf already has left for Bridget's retreat, telephones his publishing company and states that if Woodruf wants to meet with the famous author he must do so immediately as he is about to leave New York. While Woodruf scurries back to the city, Jimmie tells Clare about his ill-fated romance and asks her to pretend to be his "date" in order to make Mary jealous. Amused, the oblivious Clare agrees to the sham and introduces herself to Mary, Bridget and her gigolo boyfriend, Walter Manners, as "Mrs. Clare," Jimmie's "cousin." As hoped, Mary and Clare immediately take to each other and, while a storm rages outside, exchange thoughts about life, love and the ending to Mary's novel. At first, Clare confirms Mary's conjectures that a loving wife could give up her husband if she were convinced that he would be happier with another woman. Later, as the two women talk in Mary's bedroom, Clare reveals that for years she has been aware of her own husband's affairs and senses that he is yet again involved with another woman. Clare then confesses that if this woman were to ask her what Mary's protaganist asks of the wife in Mary's novel, she would wish the woman dead and hang on to her husband at all costs. At that moment, Woodruf bursts into the bedroom calling to Mary, and his relationship to both Mary and Clare is revealed. Stricken, Clare asks Woodruf to choose between the two of them, but a chagrined Woodruf refuses to comply. In disgust, Clare tells Mary that she is willing to give up Woodruf after all and prepares to leave the house. Later, Woodruf confesses to Mary that his intentions toward her are not as serious as she has perceived them and tries to make up with his wife. After Clare tells Woodruf that she no longer loves him and leaves, Jimmie counsels his rival to go after his wife and find a way back into her heart. Then, while a bemused Bridget tries to make sense of the evening's goings-on, Jimmie consoles a heartbroken but wiser Mary with his love-filled jokes.