By allowing themselves to be guided in their attitude toward a young couple by a "how to" book instead of their real emotions, the parents appear indifferent to their children's wish to get married.

James Dean portrays a young warehouseman with a wife and sick child. Gene Lockhart, also employed at the warehouse, dreams of winning a newspaper-sponsored lottery so that he can journey back to Ireland. When Dean, desperate for money to buy medicine for his child, gambles away his earnings, Lockhart, having won the lottery, gives the money to Dean and his wife.

A young wife believes that she is not good enough for her successful husband.

A shy woman sets her mind on finding Mr. Right, but when she does she has to tackle the problem of a proposal.