The Women in His Life

In the opening, Barry Barringer glides through a case with charm, winning an acquittal for a clearly guilty man. He shrugs off the grateful thanks, insisting the credit belongs to him alone. His playboy lifestyle continues as he courts Molly and Cathy.

Barry juggles relationships, romancing Molly while keeping Cathy in the mix. He shows a photo of a mysterious woman, explaining she is his ex-wife and a reminder that love is a lie.

Doris Worthing begs Barry to help her father, Thomas Worthing, who is on trial for murdering her mother. Barry initially dismisses the case as ordinary, showing his habitual detachment from true justice.

Doris spots Mrs. Steele at a Times Square lingerie shop and realizes she is Madame Celeste. Barry sends Doris to follow and identify the elusive woman.

In court, Barry engineers a stunt as Madame Celeste impersonates Mrs. Steele on the stand, confusing witnesses. The tactic leads to Mrs. Steele's acquittal and demonstrates Barry's courtroom brilliance.

After the trial, Barry prepares to escape to Florida with Cathy, maintaining emotional distance. He coldly tells her the woman in the photo is his ex-wife, reinforcing his belief that love is a lie.

Back in New York, Barry arrives in a drunken haze. Roger shows him a photo of Doris's murdered mother, which is actually Barry's ex-wife, leaving him stunned.

Overwhelmed with guilt, Barry visits his ex-wife's grave and breaks down, admitting that he still loved her. This moment triggers his descent into alcoholism.

Doris's father's trial proceeds without Barry's help while Barry battles pneumonia in the hospital. He learns that Thomas Worthing has been sentenced to death and, in a painful confession, tells Doris and Roger that the mother was his ex-wife and that her death shattered him.

Barry reveals that Tony Perez had romantic ties to Doris's mother months before she married Thomas, suggesting a possible motive. The revelation deepens the crisis and fuels Barry's guilt.

Barry vows to quit drinking in his search for redemption but relapses, prompting Roger to quit and threaten to report him to the Bar.

Disbarred and desperate, Barry teams with Cathy to trap Perez, using his legal knowledge and underworld contacts to set up a sting operation.

In a tense sequence, Barry obtains Perez's confession, and urgent calls avert the execution just in time.

Barry reopens his law practice and reconciles with Roger. He marries Cathy, Roger marries Doris, and Lester proposes to Simmy as they head off on honeymoons in Florida, Bermuda, and Sheep's Head Bay.