Top Secret Affair

The President appoints Melville Goodwin, a decorated U.S. Army general, as chairman of the Joint Atomic International Commission. The move signals the administration's trust in him as a key national security figure. The announcement sets the stage for a high-stakes political battle over his reputation.

Media mogul Dottie Peale schemes to derail Goodwin's rise by leveraging her influence and contacts. She aims to install a friend of her father in the role and begins to orchestrate a smear campaign. Her plan centers on catching him in compromising situations during a staged interview and photo session.

Dottie assigns a cameraman to photograph Goodwin in compromising moments. She hopes to expose weaknesses that could ruin his credibility in the eyes of the Senate and the public. He resists the traps, showing his professionalism.

Dottie accompanies Goodwin to a nightclub in a bid to get him drunk and trap him on film. The plan is to photograph his vulnerability and wreck his image. He remains unflustered, preserving his reputation.

Back at the estate, Dottie, a little tipsy herself, falls off the diving board. Goodwin rescues her from the pool, and the incident sparks a night of romance between them. The near-miss together softens her feelings toward him.

Dottie's attitude shifts as she becomes emotionally invested and plans to marry Goodwin. The romance creates a public-stakes complication given his position. She believes they could be a powerful couple.

Goodwin tells Dottie about a love affair with Yvette, an undercover contact who turned enemy spy. He reveals that he ordered her shot when he discovered her true allegiance. The revelation forces Dottie to reconsider her attack plan.

Dottie becomes determined to ruin him and commissions a magazine story titled Blabbermouth Goodwin. The piece claims scandalous behavior and triggers scrutiny. The revelation about Yvette's spy status remains top secret at this stage.

The story prompts a Senate inquiry into Goodwin's conduct. The Yvette spy case is still top secret, so officials cannot discuss it publicly. The inquiry focuses on the newly public allegations.

The President intervenes, prompting the declassification of the Yvette case. With declassification, Goodwin is able to respond and defend himself. The move restores public trust in his leadership.

Goodwin delivers a successful defense of his behavior, and the inquiry clears him of wrongdoing. He is recognized as a bigger hero than before. The political tide shifts in his favor.

In front of a gaggle of Washington reporters, Goodwin drags a protesting but eager Dottie into a waiting car. The gesture signals that their romance is back on. The moment cements his renewed standing and their complicated relationship.