In 1938, handsome, irresponsible playboy Johnnie Aysgarth meets dowdy Lina McLaidlaw on a train in England and charms her into elope despite the strong disapproval of her wealthy father, General McLaidlaw. After a lavish honeymoon and returning to an extravagant house, Lina discovers that Johnnie has no job and no income, habitually lives on borrowed money, and was intending to try to sponge off her father. She talks him into getting a job, and he goes to work for his cousin, estate agent Captain Melbeck.