Doreen Ashworth, a local girl well known to Parkin, comes to the police house late at night claiming she has been attacked. Parkin is suspicious of her story, believing she wants a convenient excuse for her father, but agrees to take her home and explain. He finds that Doreen's father has little sympathy for her, but begins to wonder if she hadn't been telling the truth. Still not believed by her father, Doreen reveals she knew her attacker - her father's new lover, Mrs Chappell, seeking to drive him to throw out his daughter.