The dairy of Warren Winslow, a novelist of considerable prominence and success, who has hit a low spot of irritability and impotence in his work (his last book is rejected) and in his relationship with his younger wife who inspires an aggrieved and unreasonable suspicion on his part. His jealousy of John Bailey, an old friend, who seems to taunt him- and haunt him- provokes him to murder, but the crime does not soothe his furies and a second attempt to kill writes the finish to the progressive deterioration of obsession....A buildup to a breakdown which has a cosmetic, cinematic finish.