Karen Newman feels like her world is coming undone and has soured on the idea of marriage.
Bill moves out of the family home and plans to go to Las Vegas to file for divorce, much to Ellie's delight and Karen's consternation.
When Karen's older brother, Jeff, finds out that Bill is going to Las Vegas, he argues with Ellie and runs away.
Bill postpones his trip to Las Vegas to help find him, which, instead of bringing him closer to Ellie, causes him to quarrel with her even more violently than before.
Karen tries every possible way she can think of to stop the divorce from happening, including sending anniversary cards and feigning illness, but her efforts are ultimately fruitless.