Acclaimed author Kit Marlowe (Bette Davis) returns to her small hometown and reconnects with her melodramatic friend Millie Drake (Miriam Hopkins), who's now married to Kit's old crush Preston (John Loder). Trouble brews when Millie gets inspired to publish a trashy novel she's wrtten. When Millie's newfound fame outshines Kit's, the once-contented Preston becomes disillusioned with his wife's new ego -- and finds himself attracted to Kit.