Neither Sarah Gannon, an elderly hotel owner, nor Dave, her son, can sleep. Just like his father, he has always yearned for the great soul of the earth, the beauty and glory of nature for its own sake. Two weeks ago, a small, energetic, hardy man by the name of Professor Ridge drove up to her hotel and asked for a room. A botanist and a lifelong traveler, he introduced himself as a free man. Incidentally, this is how old Gannon, her husband introduced himself to her. He always remained free -- so one day, he left to see the world. He's never come back, but she still hears from him now and again, and he still loves her. Soon, Dave began to spend his days with Ridge, and Kathryn, his girlfriend, grew worried when she saw the peace that came upon the two men together. When Dave told them Ridge had offered to take him on as an assistant, meaning a five-year trip through El Salvador, and asked what they think he should do, Kathryn begged him to stay out of love, but Sarah gruffly turned aside and told him to decide. In Dave, though, conscience snares. Knowing that Ridge will leave that morning, Sarah walks upstairs and orders her son to pack. At first, he refuses out of love for his mother and Kathryn, but she exclaims that he needs to be a man -- he needs to make his own place. In the lobby, she and Kathryn face off, a mother sacrificing and a lover loving. Sarah finds Dave and Kathryn in his room. Here, she wins her final victory -- she won't let anyone take her hotel away from her, even Dave, and orders him to leave. He can't come back until she can be proud of him, she says. She leaves as she sees the light come on in Dave's eyes and the tears fall from Kathryn's. As Sarah descends the stairs, drained, she thinks of old Gannon -- the world is wide, but at evening, the wanderer turns his face toward home.