Alfred Eaton (Paul Newman) returns home after World War II, driven to be as successful as possible out of hatred toward his wealthy father (Leon Ames). He is unendingly ambitious: founding an aircraft construction company with his friend Lex (George Grizzard), marrying a socialite (Joanne Woodward) and leveraging a fortunate encounter with a powerful financier (Felix Aylmer) into a new career. When he meets the beautiful, truthful Natalie (Ina Balin), Alfred has a crisis of conscience.