A tennis pro's moral decay as he pursues wealth and love, culminating in murder and unpunished consequences.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
The Golden Opportunity
Chris Wilton enters high society through a tennis club job and meets Nola Rice. Their immediate attraction sets the stage for a dangerous entanglement.
Key Events
Chris Hired as Instructor — Chris secures a teaching position at an upscale club. Characters: Chris WiltonLocation: London Tennis Club
Chris Meets Nola — Chris and Nola experience immediate mutual attraction. Characters: Chris Wilton, Nola RiceLocation: Family Gathering
Chris Joins Family Circle — Chris integrates into the wealthy Hewett lifestyle. Characters: Chris WiltonLocation: Country House
Nola's Career Rejection — Eleanor criticizes Nola, causing her to leave in a storm. Characters: Nola RiceLocation: Country House
Wheat Field Affair — Chris and Nola confess feelings and sleep together. Characters: Chris Wilton, Nola RiceLocation: Wheat Field
The Affair and the Trap
Chris marries into wealth but begins a secret affair with Nola, which escalates when she becomes pregnant. He becomes trapped between his marriage and his desires.
Key Events
Wheat Field Affair — Chris and Nola confess feelings and sleep together. Characters: Chris Wilton, Nola RiceLocation: Wheat Field
Chris & Chloe Marry — Chris marries Chloe, securing his social status. Characters: Chris WiltonLocation: Wedding Venue
Nola's Pregnancy Panic — Nola reveals pregnancy, causing Chris to panic and lie. Characters: Chris Wilton, Nola RiceLocation: Office
Chris's Dual Deception — Chris distances himself from Chloe while hiding the affair. Characters: Chris WiltonLocation: City
The Double Murder
Facing exposure, Chris stages a burglary, kills Mrs. Eastby, and murders Nola. He then faces a tense police interrogation while maintaining his facade.
Key Events
Nola's Ultimatum — Nola threatens to expose Chris to Chloe. Characters: Chris Wilton, Nola RiceLocation: Office Exterior
The Murder Setup — Chris plans to kill Nola by staging a burglary. Characters: Chris WiltonLocation: Nola's Building
Eastby's Death — Chris shoots Eastby and stages a robbery. Characters: Chris WiltonLocation: Eastby's Flat
Nola's Execution — Chris kills Nola as she returns home. Characters: Chris WiltonLocation: Hallway
Theatre Date — Chris calmly attends the theatre with his wife. Characters: Chris WiltonLocation: Theatre
Police Dismissal — Detectives attribute the crime to a drug addict. Characters: Detective BannerLocation: Street
Evidence Disposal — Chris throws stolen items into the river. Characters: Chris WiltonLocation: River
Police Interview — Chris lies to detectives but admits to the affair. Characters: Chris Wilton, Detective BannerLocation: Police Station
Diary Revelation — Banner shows Chris Nola's diary detailing their affair. Characters: Detective BannerLocation: Police Station
Case Closed — Detectives accept Chris's story and close the case. Characters: Detective BannerLocation: Station
The Unpunished Secret
Critical evidence is lost, detectives close the case, and Chris secures his future. The narrative concludes with chilling normalcy and suppressed guilt.
Key Events
Case Closed — Detectives accept Chris's story and close the case. Characters: Detective BannerLocation: Station
Ghostly Warning — Apparitions of Nola and Eastby warn Chris of consequences. Characters: Chris WiltonLocation: Apartment
Banner's Dream — Banner dreams Chris committed the murders. Characters: Detective BannerLocation: Home
Ring Found — A murdered addict is found with Eastby's ring. Characters: Detective BannerLocation: Street
Baby's Arrival — Chloe gives birth to a baby boy. Characters: Chris WiltonLocation: Home
Tom's Blessing — Tom wishes luck rather than greatness for the nephew. Characters: Tom HewettLocation: Nursery
Chris's Guilt Suppression — Chris reflects on his crimes and suppresses his guilt. Characters: Chris WiltonLocation: Home
Final Status Quo — Chris and Chloe maintain their affluent, untroubled life. Characters: Chris WiltonLocation: Home
Story Breakdown
Social Ascent — Chris leverages his tennis career to infiltrate London's upper class.
Club Employment — Chris secures a teaching position at an upscale venue.
Family Integration — Chris marries into the wealthy Hewett family.
Forbidden Romance — Chris pursues a passionate affair with Nola despite his marriage.
Initial Attraction — Chris and Nola connect immediately at a social gathering.
Secret Liaison — They begin a clandestine relationship in a wheat field.
Paternity Crisis — Nola's pregnancy forces Chris to confront his double life.
Pregnancy Reveal — Nola announces she is carrying Chris's child.
Emotional Distance — Chris withdraws from both women to manage the fallout.
Calculated Murder — Chris orchestrates a brutal double killing to protect his lifestyle.
Burglary Staging — Chris breaks into Eastby's flat to fabricate a robbery.
Hallway Execution — Chris shoots Eastby and waits to kill Nola.
Police Investigation — Detectives probe the murders while Chris manipulates the inquiry.
Station Interrogation — Chris lies to detectives but admits to the affair.
Evidence Disposal — Chris discards stolen items into the river.
Moral Aftermath — The case closes, leaving Chris to live with suppressed guilt.
Case Closure — Detectives attribute the crime to a random addict.
New Life — Chris and Chloe welcome a baby, maintaining their facade.
Chris, a former tennis pro, takes a job as an instructor and befriends his wealthy young student, Tom. After being introduced to his family, Chris is soon engaged to Tom's sister, Chloe. Despite the professional and financial advantages that this relationship affords him, Chris becomes obsessed with Tom's fiancee, American actress Nola.
