A couple move to Sydney from Melbourne, and soon become lured by the bright lights of the big city. Colin, the scriptwriter husband, is corrupted by his editor and then falls for the girlfriend of his writing partner, while Colin's wife Kate begins to lose sight of her ideals in a new world of hustlers and cynics.

An old boyfriend, Tony (Joe Petruzzi) turns up at the home of Wendy (Kim Deacon), catching her by surprise as she tends to the washing on her Hills Hoist.