Diane is a teenage girl who comes back home to East Hampton from her boarding school in Connecticut. Her father, a wealthy lawyer, picks her up and takes her home. Diane is worried about coming home because she has recently gotten into trouble at school: she has been accused of stealing packages from the mail room in which she works. However, she says nothing to her father. At home, she greets her father's new wife, whom she can only think of as Miss Martin; for, the woman used to be her father's secretary. All does not seem well with their marriage, however. Miss Martin was a much more competent secretary than she is a housewife. Diane's mother has been away for some time now. She is currently living in France with the lover she ran off with. One day, when Diane's dad is at the office, she finds Miss Martin in the kitchen and the two of them have a long talk. It turns out that Miss Martin fixed the issues Diane was having at school regarding the missing mail by making a large donation to the boarding school Diane also learns just how unhappy Miss Martin is with the marriage. In turn Diane shares how her father used to molest her when she was little. This is the reason why she was, after finally convincing her mother of the truth of the situation, sent off to boarding school. Diane and Miss Martin decide to do something to help themselves. One day, they trap Diane's father in the newly-renovated loft, leaving him no ladder to use to get down. They then go and treat themselves to a nice day. When they get home, they find that Diane's father has tried to escape by jumping to the main floor, only to injure himself. Miss Martin reminds him that Diane is a capable young woman who should be left unbothered. Then, after emptying her joint account with Diane's father, she runs off.