Charles (Van Johnson) returns to Paris and looks back to his life at the end of World War II in Paris. He was a writer for 'Stars and Stripes' at the time when he met Marion (Donna Reed) and Helen (Elizabeth Taylor). They are the daughters of a once rich man, James. Helen still likes to live the lifestyle even though they are broke. Charles and Helen fall in love and after dating and her recovery of pneumonia they get married. They settle in Paris and have a daughter named Vickie. However, Charles is not successfull and does not get published. This puts a toll on him -- he gets more and more frustrated and starts to drink. Helen and Charles grow apart -- this ends in a tragedy.