Chris Dale is the chief trial deputy for the district attorney. He is a sharp-tongued, egocentric man who is dominating and abusive to his wife. He learns that Ellen Randle Dudley, accused of murdering her husband with an ax, has been captured in the town of Evanston--which is outside of his jurisdiction. Dale promptly travels to Evanston, rides rough-shod over the local sheriff, and settles down to an intense, grueling interrogation of the woman. It becomes clear that the woman's relationship to her husband mirrored Dale's own marriage. As he comes to realize this, Dale is both repulsed by and attracted to the woman.

Wealthy Tom Graham arrives home from work and is informed by his wife that their younger daughter Terry, at college in San Francisco, has just called home to say that she is pregnant by one of her professors. Terry, who is very impetuous, is contemplating an abortion--or suicide. Graham rushes to San Francisco to try and cope with the situation.

Big Mitch lives in a dream world that begins to collapse when his daughter announces her plans to marry.

An exiled member of the Mafia promises to testify before a crime hearing, if the U.S. government will escort him safely to this country for a brief visit with his son.