The title comes from a red-colored dress shown through the film, meant to symbolize the main character's occupation as a "scarlet woman" (a prostitute).

Gabrielle shoots Howard Blaine in the back as he is buying a wedding ring, then asks forgiveness and expresses her love to his corpse as she awaits arrest.

A mirror vision of herself in bridal attire gave way to a red dress, indicating she was entering prostitution.

The prosecutor suggests she shot Blaine in jealousy that he was going to marry another; she acknowledges this idea and says he was buying the ring with money she earned.

Beverly Fontaine, a society matron who gets publicity by helping reformed criminals, invites her to live at her house.

She loses her job as a maid when she gets upset at seeing her defense attorney's wife wearing the ring she had had to give him as her fee.

Starving and desperate, she telegraphs her friend Clara in the brothel in New Orleans to send her the train fare to return.

Recovering in hospital, Gabrielle hears that, due the flu pandemic and U.S. entering World War I, they desperately need nurses and helpers.

285, 297 P. 91 (1931)) the court stated "any person living a life of rectitude has that right to happiness which includes a freedom from unnecessary attacks on his character, social standing or reputation.