Raised by her aunt in a small town, Nelly (Inga Landgré) is surprised by the sudden appearance of her mother, Jenny (Marianne Löfgren), who has been absent for 18 years. Though Ulf (Allan Bohlin), a local suitor, begs her not to go, Nelly leaves for a new life in the city with Jenny. There, she meets and falls for dashing playboy Jack (Stig Olin), but it isn't long before she unearths a secret about him that shatters her views on her mother, urban living and her recent sexual awakening.