A nun named Sister Irene is hired at a Jesuit university to teach literature. A Jewish male graduate student named Allen lobbies to enter her literature course. Although she is irritated by Allen, Sister Irene grows fond of his energetic intellect. Allen turns in an assignment a day late, and to make up for it writes 30 pages instead of fifteen. Although Allen is egotistical and frenetic, Sister Irene is drawn to him. Allen fails to attend class and goes to his family's estate, where his father is ill. Allen invites Sister Irene to his home. Sister Irene meets Allen's parents, who are exasperated that they cannot control Allen, who has been dealing with mental illness and was recently committed to a luxury mental institute. Allen asks Sister Irene to lend him money to run away to Canada. Allen becomes hysterical and violent; Sister Irene leaves. The semester passes, and Allen commits suicide in Canada.