Jerome Callaghan, the highly talented son of an English bus driver, is determined to remove himself from the restrictions of his working class environment. He wins a scholarship to Cambridge, but before entering university, decides to fulfill his two-year military service. His posting to Singapore means he will be separated from his young girl friend, Rebecca, for almost two years. Mrs. Millden, independently wealthy, and married to a successful lawyer, disapproves of her daughter's relationship, and sees this separation as an opportunity to end it. She intercepts and destroys Jerome's letters to Rebecca, and succeeds in convincing her that Jerome has doubtless fallen for some "native" woman. A disillusioned Rebecca ends the relationship. Three months later, in Singapore, Jerome meets Francine, the attractive daughter of a mixed marriage. Their friendship blossoms into love, which remains strong and committed during a three-year separation while Jerome completes his university studies. Francine and her parents attend Jerome's graduation ceremony, and a few days later, Jerome and Francine are married. Shortly after, to sad farewells, the two immigrate to America, where Jerome has a job with Safeco Insurance, in Seattle, Washington, and his success continues.