Albert Ingram, a down-on-his-luck newspaper reporter, gets a hot tip for a story that could propel him back into the big time. Acting on information that the socialite wife of a millionaire recluse is returning to New York City after 15 years separation from her husband, Ingram is determined get the story even though he caused the estrangement between husband and wife when he printed details of the businessman's tawdry past.