The story follows Murray Van Rensselaer, a wealthy, reckless driver who anxiously waits in a hospital after an automobile accident that critically injures a young woman he recognizes as Bessie Chapparelle. Scenes alternate between antiseptic hospital corridors and the polished comforts of Van Rensselaer's home, highlighting class contrasts and his mounting guilt. As relatives, medical staff, and social obligations converge, the narrative examines the consequences of careless privilege, the burden of responsibility, and the moral choices the characters must face.