Gilda, an actress, is playing the part of Laura, a woman who struggles between staying true to her love or taking the easy way out and accepting the offer of another man who can help her career. A girl in the audience calls for Laura not to give in, and though the play ends with Laura taking the easy way out, Gilda wonders about the example she is setting for the young women by playing characters like Laura. She tells her manager that she will not act in that play again or in another play that glorifies immorality, because life and people are more important than art.