Emotionally distraught, Betty Preisser, a 24-year-old receptionist for a New York City clothing manufacturer, leaves work early, taking some typing to finish at home. Her boss, Jerry Kingsley, a widower of 56 who lives with his spinster older sister Evelyn, needs the document she took, so he drops by the apartment Betty shares with her mother and younger sister to pick it up. Although they are professional, rather than personal, acquaintances, Betty ends up telling Jerry all about her loveless marriage to her musician ex-husband, George, who called her the previous night to say he wants to get back together. Jerry, who has a married daughter, Lillian, about Betty's age, listens attentively to Betty's story and gives her some fatherly advice, which, her own father having walked out on her family when she was young, helps cheer her up. After this encounter, Jerry begins to feel other-than-fatherly feelings for Betty, and he eventually works up the nerve to invite her to dinner. Though Betty tries to end the relationship several times, saying she does not want to hurt Jerry, Jerry is always able to talk her through these periods, and they continue to see each other. As they get more serious about each other, both Jerry and Betty are nervous about how their friends and relations will respond to their
May–December romance, and, as they feared, the females in their lives, in particular, disapprove of the relationship. Betty's mother calls Jerry a "dirty old man" the first time they meet, Betty's friend Marilyn tries to convince Betty to get back together with George, Evelyn calls Betty a "fortune hunter" and Jerry a fool, and, when Lillian's husband Jack offers Jerry his congratulations, Lillian tells him to mind his own business. However, Jerry's business partner Walter Lockman, who is trapped in a long and unhappy marriage and spends his time chasing after young "tootsies", urges Jerry pursue any chance at happiness. One night, Betty comes home after arguing with Jerry about his growing jealousy to find George waiting for her. Her mother and sister excuse themselves, and George tries to persuade Betty to return to him. In a moment of weakness, Betty gives in, and they have a romantic tryst, but she regrets it and tells Jerry what happened the next day, explaining that it meant nothing to her emotionally. Jerry feels humiliated and hurt, however, and says he no longer wants to see Betty. Evelyn observes how depressed Jerry is when he returns home and tries to talk with him, but he says he does not want her to see him in the state he is in. The phone rings, and Walter's wife tells Jerry that Walter just called her from a hotel, saying he is going to kill himself. Dealing with this crisis makes Jerry's feelings clear to himself, and he decides to take Walter's advice and pursue what makes him feel alive. Jerry goes to Betty and tells her that he loves her, and they embrace. ==Cast==