High school student Kitty and her working-class family live in a slum area. She is attracted to lawyer Eddie, but her father makes a deal with Mike: if Kitty marries Mike, he’ll pay them a weekly allowance to raise their standard of living. When Kitty’s younger brother is arrested, Eddie makes a passionate defense and gets him released in Kitty’s custody. Kitty says she’s going to marry Eddie, not Mike.; Ruth and Jim get engaged before he leaves for service in the war. Jim’s friend Ted keeps Ruth company, but she suspects he wants to be more than a friend. When Jim comes home, Ted gives him a job as a salesman, which keeps Jim away from Ruth. Ted also suggests Jim is unfaithful to her. Jim catches Ruth and Ted together and—after a fight—the beaten Ted confesses he was scheming to break them up. Ruth and Jim reconcile.; Anne becomes the writer for radio commentator Eric, but rejects his romantic advances. Eric gets engaged to socialite Barbara. Anne’s work suffers and Barbara dumps Eric because it’s obvious he loves Anne. Anne and Eric reconcile the competing demands of love and a career by getting married and starting a radio show called “Breakfast with Eric and Anne.”; Department store clerk Pat envies the local college students, especially athlete Stan. Pat attends the prom with her would-be boyfriend Joe (attending college on the G.I. Bill), but uses the opportunity to meet Stan. They date, but Stan dumps her for a fellow student at the college. Pat reconciles with Joe.; Female athlete Bobbie says “no man will ever tame me!” and vows to become an architect “as good as any man!” During summer vacation she meets Larry, who says he loves her. Bobbie will “never submit to becoming a dishevelled drudge and humble wife as long as I’ve a chance for a profession that will bring me respect and dignity!” Bobbie challenges Larry to a mountain-climbing contest, but when he falls and breaks his leg, she realises she loves him.