Philip Carey (Leslie Howard), a club-footed medical student, falls for a pretty waitress Mildred Rogers (Bette Davis). To Philip's dismay Mildred does not return his affection, instead she suffers his attentions, while treating him with contempt. As desire leads to infatuation, Philip, ever the gentleman, finds himself on the receiving end of her lies and mockery, but finds it impossible to kick her out of his life. As Mildred's cruel and uncompassionate personality drags her inevitably into find out more...
It's the off-season at the lonely Beauregard Hotel in Bournemoth, and only the long-term tenants are still in residence. Life is stirred up, however, when the beautiful Ann Shankland arrives to see her alcoholic ex-husband, John Malcolm, who is secretly engaged to Pat Cooper, the woman who runs the hotel. Meanwhile, snobbish Mrs Railton-Bell discovers that the kindly if rather doddering Major Pollock, played by David Niven, who won an Oscar for his performance, a retired officer who likes to find out more...
