Dick Markham Jr. narrates how his father was once energetic, humorous, and charming before World War II. However, that all changed after World War II. Markham’s wife remarks how he changed into a serious businessman after June of 1945. The elder Markham would spend all day working in his office at Integrity Office Supplier, a company that makes clerical supplies.  Dick Markham Jr. remembers receiving a phone call from one of his father’s co-workers who reports that his father was banging on the door of an office that he had mistaken to be his own. The elder Markham had been screaming to allegedly free his secretary whom he believed to be held hostage. Dick Jr. goes to comfort his father and take him to the correct floor. He also realizes that Ms. Green, the secretary, has been covering for Markham’s increasing errors in memory. He takes Ms. Green to the side and tells her to let his father face reality and see a doctor due to his failing mental state.  The elder Markham is finally forced to retire and mopes around the house, driving his wife, Betty, crazy while she struggles to stay afloat financially. However, Markham begins to get violent, and Betty helplessly sends him to a care facility.  Dick Jr. reaches out to Miss Green and visits her at an old-age home to tell her about how his father is doing. She looks different, and Dick Jr. recognizes her forties-style hairdo and heels had been for the sake of keeping Markham satisfied with her "appropriate" 40s attire. Once he is forced into retirement, Markham becomes a burden to his wife, Betty, who gives up her social life to take care of her despairing husband. The elder Markham’s begins to turn violent, which causes Betty to consider surrendering their savings in order to put him in a care facility. Dick Jr. has the idea of recreating his father’s office at Integrity in a spare bedroom using items from the Salvation Army. He and his mother make the elder Markham put on work clothes and pretend he is walking into his old office. His father can feel the falsity of his surroundings, but he plays along and is soon filing papers. His father becomes peaceful again and Betty soon returns to her social life and feels happy again.  When Dick Jr. finally feels trusting enough in his parents to go on vacation with his own immediate family, he gets a call from his mother saying that his father has passed away, but happily, in his office.