Manchester draftsman Vic Brown becomes involved with Secretary Ingrid Rothwell, who works at his firm. After they sleep together, she gets pregnant. Vic feels a sense of responsibilityalthough he's not really in love with her and proposes marriage. The couple is forced to live with Ingrid's mother, who treats Vic with contempt because of his working-class background. But, when tragedy strikes, Vic must decide what his new wife means to him.