Russell Kent has always wanted a good, diligent, orderly life, and he has more or less achieved it. He and his wife, Evelyn, are respected in their community and have many great friends. They are so great, in fact, that one night, Evelyn insists that she and Russell stay at a party with them until 2 a.m. He takes the babysitter home, but on the way, he stops to wonder at the beautiful moon rising over a beach. Later that night, a policeman bursts into their house to question Russell: he is looking for a rapist, and Russell has no alibi because he was at the beach when the crime was committed. The victim reported a license plate that matches his and, when faced with him in the driveway, identifies him as the perpetrator. Russell spends the night in jail after his friend in politics refuses to help him, and the lawyer whom he knows doubts his innocence. He goes home after the police find the real culprit, but the damage has been done. The paper has reported his arrest, and all of their friends know. Later that night, Russell and Evelyn go to a party at one of their clubs. No one will dance with him, and he feels their judgmental stares wherever he goes. Four shots of whiskey later, he breaks a glass in rage and mumbles to Evelyn that it's time to go home.