A celebratory party in middle-class, suburban New Jersey turns sour when a guest molests the young daughter of host David Sheerin. He and three neighborhood men chase down the offender. Rather than calling the police, however, they opt to beat the offender severely. The men and their wives are unaware that the molester has been found dead on a bus until later they hear a news report of an investigation. The couples caucus and agree on silence. David concurs for the sake of protecting his child from public attention, but is influenced also by peril to a new job. He cannot, however, endure his conscience. When he announces his intention to come forward the other men raise fierce objection and threaten to put all blame on him. As each of the couples confronts the crisis in their individual ways, David proceeds anyway and faces prison and the prospect of having to testify against his friends. The ascendancy of chance is a sub-theme in the story.