Eager to obtain a journalism position, Adam White began working as a newspaper columnist providing advice. His editor, Shrike, delights in terrorizing his drunken wife Florence's past adultery and assigning his employees journalism jobs that they have little ability or interest in. Shrike egged Adam on to meet Fay Doyle, one of his reporters, a tearful, self deprecating woman who did a scene for him. Adam is in a dilemma between his loyalty to the newspaper and his daughter Justy.
