Nickie Ferrante and Terry McKay meet on an ocean liner and fall deeply in love. Though each is engaged to someone else, they agree to meet six months later at the Empire State Building if they still feel the same way about each other. But a tragic accident prevents their rendezvous, and the lovers' future takes an emotional and uncertain turn.

Set in Depression-plagued England, Grant, who has never had to toil a moment in his wastrel existence, bets a bundle that he can earn his own way for one year and never touch the cash that has been willed to him.