Blonde 'doll' Christine Carroll finds too late that her fiancTe Mike is a gangster and she's his unwitting accessory. Emerging from prison with dark hair and an interest in nursing, she becomes a nurse's aide in a war hospital where her good looks quickly arouse the interest of battle-fatigued, 'melancholic' patient Steve Kimberly. When it's clear that Steve has fallen hard, she faces the dilemma of what and when to tell him. Her decision has melodramatic consequences...

The night before their wedding, racketeer Mike Monroe tries to protect his fiancée, Christine Carroll, from the police by sending her out to his car. As she unknowingly carries his envelope full of drug money, however, she is arrested and imprisoned for years. In jail, Chris works hard to earn her high school degree and learn nursing. Once released, she becomes a nurse's aide in a veteran's hospital in Long Beach, California, where she meets wounded pilot Steve Kimberly. Attending physician Dr. Breen informs Chris that during the war, Steve relived the memory of his parents' death and as a result now suffers emotional as well as physical wounds. Having noticed the attraction between the two, he warns Chris that too much strain may cause Steve to have a mental breakdown. The next day, Chris visits Mike in jail to inform him that she no longer loves him, and though he responds callously, he is obviously hurt. Back at the hospital, Steve's sister, Susan Arnold, visits and asks Chris not to hurt her brother. As she is afraid to admit her past to him, Chris requests a transfer to another hospital, which crushes Steve. As soon as he can leave the hospital, he tracks her down and confesses his love, and although Chris admits she loves him too, she still cannot bring herself to reveal her prison record. The two become engaged, and when the hospital throws them a party, Dr. Breen informs Chris that she will have to put off the wedding for a few months until Steve is stronger and can take her confession. She cannot convince Steve to listen to her, however, and agrees to marry him only if they keep their marriage a secret. On their wedding night, she admits that there was another man before him, and he eventually forgives her. Months later, Chris receives her discharge from parole, and immediately announces her marriage. By Christmas, they are expecting a child. Three years later, Chris's happy home life is interrupted by a visit from Mike, who has just been released from prison and wants Chris to accompany him to Mexico. Although he claims that he is leaving the country and merely needs an escort, he is actually running drugs again, and threatens to hurt Chris's daughter Kim if Chris does not help him. When the police try to stop them on their way back into America, Mike crashes the car and dies. At the hospital, Steve overhears reporters discussing the story, and days later, divorces Chris and is awarded full custody of Kim. Despondent, Chris is forced to work as the assistant to a traveling magician. At every children's show, she searches the audience for Kim. Her talent grows over the years and she soon becomes half of "The Marvels" magic show. One day, Chris learns that Steve is visiting Paris and rushes to see Kim at his estate in Philadelphia. There, Susan is throwing a children's birthday party, and recognizes Chris. She informs her that Kim, now seven years old, is a melancholy child with few friends. Chris joins the magic show in order to convince Kim to smile, and although she succeeds, Susan's husband asks her to leave. Soon after, Susan visits to ask Chris to pose as Kim's nurse, "Marvy." Kim improves under her beloved nurse's care and soon is happy and well-adjusted. Steve returns early from Paris, however, and discovers Chris. Before he can fire her, he sees her flee the estate, stopping to hug Kim tearfully. Kim immediately becomes depressed again and a doctor tells Steve that the child needs feminine love. He decides to marry his girl friend, Rosemary Balder, but just as they kiss, Kim announces she has received a letter from Marvy. As Steve reads the letter, in which Chris asks Kim to hide her unhappiness from her father to protect him, Rosemary realizes he still loves Chris and leaves. Steve rushes to find Chris at her parents' farm and asks her if they can start over again. Overjoyed, she falls into his arms.