Mary Marshall, serving six years for accidental manslaughter, is given a Christmas furlough to visit her closest relatives, her uncle and his family in a small Midwestern town. On the journey, she meets Zach Morgan, a troubled army sergeant on leave from a military hospital. Although his physical wounds have healed, he suffers from PTSD and is subject to panic attacks. The pair are attracted to one another and, in the warm atmosphere of the Christmas season friendship, blossoms into romance, but Mary is reluctant to tell him of her past and that she must shortly return to serve the remainder of her sentence.

Ginger Rogers
as Mary Marshall

Joseph Cotten
as Zachary Morgan

Shirley Temple
as Barbara Marshall

Spring Byington
as Mrs. Marshall

Tom Tully
as Mr. Marshall

John Derek
as Lieutenant Bruce

Chill Wills
as Swanson

Kenny Bowers
as Sailor on Train

Gary Gray
as Franklin (uncredited)

Eddie Hall
as Charlie Hartman (uncredited)