The "new wave" actors in London's West End are rapidly establishing themselves as an integral part of the contemporary artistic scene. Frequently of proletarian background, their vitality and their disregard for conventional morality border on the existential, but their very way of life is in danger of becoming as much of a cliche as that of their chinchilla-trailing predecessors in the theatre. Annie Fox, of Stepney Jewish origin, is the star of the moment, the centre of a big West End success and of a cotrie of friends, some syncophantic, some sincere. She is disturbed by her own blend of anarchy and plebian sentimentality and embarrassed by the attentions of her own mother, who having led Annie into the limelight is now less than happy to be following her daughter's career at some distance. For Annie craves independance, most of all in love. Her current lover is Paddy Killmartin, star of another London success and himself a new-style actor. They are both ambitious and extremely talented, yet jealous of each other's attainments. However, they feel that they cannot seperate, and deciding to marry Paddy, Annie rejects the New York offer. Paddy is offered a new part in an important new film to be made in Israel and when he declares that Annie shall go with him, she realizes just how self-centred her is. There is a violent argument and Paddy walks out on her. Annie goes to pieces and realizes she cannot go on that night. Yet when she sees how terrified and incapable her understudy is she relents and plays the performance. The New York impresario dies and the proposed American production is cancelled, leaving Annie feeling utterly desolate, but Paddy returns and tells her he will give up going to Israel for her. She soon leads him to confess that the film part was too small for him anyway, but retaliates by telling him she will give up her New York show for him. Willy, a friend, reveals that the production has been cancelled and the two stars, aware of each other's egotistical devotion to the theatre, yet not bearing to part with each other, decide to remain together.