Eighteen-year-old Richard Gordon is a student at St Francis boarding school and is looking forward to eventually being ordained a Roman Catholic priest.

His mentor Father O'Malley summons him with news that his father is remarrying (Richard's mother had died years ago) and wishes Richard to return home and study in a prestigious university.

O'Malley advises him that he should see a bit of life before making his decision to enter the clergy.

Dick eventually falls in love with his stepsister who is ten years older than he is.

In the meantime he falls in with a fast crowd at his university and World War II is on the horizon....