Falling in love
Peter Hoskins, a conservative and self-conscious employee of a Chicago publishing house, attends a party. He meets Rita Boyle, a liberal, seemingly free-spirited part-time bartender who wants to be a graphic designer. The two begin a relationship and fall in love. Peter finds himself experiencing greater confidence and optimism with Rita. Falling in love with Peter, Rita reveals her carefree attitude hides a pessimistic fear of the world. She is afraid to invest too much joy in life when things can go wrong and people can be cruel. For these reasons, she refuses to be a mother and bring children into an unjust world.