Clayton Otherson is aging and becomes impaired in judgment and technical skills in his career as a world-famous, New Orleans surgeon. Mike Bordeaux, chief of service at hospital, must discipline Clayton who has been his mentor and teacher. Attempts as rehabilitation by Mike are resisted by Clayton, and Mike involves the family in recovery, falling in love with Clayton's much younger wife, Catherine. Clayton angers, threatens, and seeks revenge, and his career crumbles injuring more patients. Mike and Catherine fail to conceal their love; Catherine is shunned in New Orleans society and Mikes career is in peril as they struggle to preserve their love and survive in the hostile world Clayton breeds.