The minister of a rural Texas town has died and his son Chad has no tears for him. Sarah, who now calls herself Salome, is pregnant by Chad, who has no job, no money, and no future, so she leaves town on the train heading East. On that train she meets Tony, who is heading back to Yale. Tony and his sister Catherine are both young, rich, and bored with their lives. Salome goes to Yale with Tony and they soon marry, but she doesn't tell him about Chad or her pregnancy. Ruby takes Chad to New York, where he plays trumpet and makes a name for himself. Catherine leaves school and moves in with Tony and Salome, creating tension between the young couple.