A secretary falls in love with her boss; but his wife has an
abortion and kills the man blackmailing them, while the secretary's
father misunderstands.
Newspaper editor Gustave Palm discusses how to increase Sweden's
birthrate and is told housing is too limited; but Frederick Bergstrom
(Victor Sjostrom) says the problem is lack of love. Clary Borg
(Karin Kavli) tells her husband Johan Borg (Lars Hanson) she does
not want a child. Lena Bergstrom (Ingrid Bergman) reviews her
diary and her feelings toward her boss. She tells Johan Borg she
is leaving to spend more time with her father. Clary asks her
doctor for an abortion; but he advises against it. Johan wants
to spend Walpurgis Night (April 30) with his wife Clary, but she
says she is busy. Frederick tells Lena he has to work. Lena says
good-bye to Johan, who is sad she is leaving and invites her to
dinner, implying his wife left him. Clary has her pregnancy terminated
by Dr. Smith. Lena dances with Johan and is seen by Svensson (Sture
Lagerwall). Johan says he loves her, and she runs out; but in
the car they kiss.
Frederick won't cut the spring articles and is shown a photo
of Lena with Johan; he buys it so it won't be printed. Gustave
says abortion doctor Smith was caught. Frederick asks Lena about
Johan, and she admits she loves him. Editor Gustave wants Dr.
Smith investigated. Frederick is worried about Lena. Johan promises
Clary he'll pay the 5,000 and keep it secret but insists on separation
despite her change of heart. Roger demands 2,000 more from Johan
and pulls a gun. They fight, and Clary shoots Roger dead in defense
of Johan, who drops his pen. Svensson sees Johan's name on it
and tells Frederick. Svensson learns that Johan's secretary is
Frederick's daughter and gives Frederick an hour before he goes
to the police, and he burns Clary's card. Frederick calls on Johan,
calls him a murderer, and demands he leave Lena alone; Johan agrees
to do so. Svensson ditches the pen and tells Frederick, who just
called the police. Lena gets messages to come home from her father
and to forget Johan. Frederick castigates Lena for going to Dr.
Smith but believes her when she denies it.
Johan has disappeared, and Clary asks a man to go away with her.
Lena tells her father she can't forget Johan. The man tells Clary
he isn't going with her because of his son. Frederick learns that
Clary left a suicide note saying she killed Roger. Frederick is
unable to find Johan, who has joined the foreign legion but wants
to go home. On Walpurgis Night Johan goes to police and then finds
Lena. In the final scene he and Lena have a child.
This drama affirms family values as the woman having the
abortion ends up destroying herself while others are proud of
their children.