네디(Neddy Merrill: 버트 랭카스터 분)는 오랜만에 코네티컷주 교외에 나타나다.
그가 살던 집 주위의 부유한 친구들은 찾아다니며 생활하던 중 친구의 딸 줄리(Julie Hooper: 자넷 랜드가드 분)를 만나게 된다.
Well-off ad man Ned Merrill is visiting a friend when he notices the abundance of backyard pools that populate their upscale suburb.
Ned suddenly decides that he'd like to travel the eight miles back to his own home by simply swimming across every pool in town. Soon, Ned's journey becomes harrowing; at each house, he is somehow confronted with a reminder of his romantic, domestic and economic failures.
