Mary Marshall, serving a six year term for accidental manslaughter, is given a Christmas furlough from prison to visit her closest relatives, her uncle and his family in a small Midwestern town. On the train she meets Zach Morgan, a troubled army sergeant on leave for the holidays from a military hospital. Although his physical wounds have healed, he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and is subject to panic attacks. The pair are attracted to one another and in the warm atmosphere of the Christmas season friendship blossoms into romance, but Mary is reluctant to tell him of her past and that she must shortly return to prison to serve the remainder of her sentence.
Ginger Rogers
as Mary Marshall
Joseph Cotten
as Zachary Morgan
Shirley Temple
as Barbara Marshall
Spring Byington
as Mrs. Marshall
Tom Tully
as Mr. Marshall
John Derek
as Lt. Bruce
Chill Wills
as Swanson
Kenny Bowers
as Sailor on Train
Gary Gray
as Franklin (uncredited)
Eddie Hall
as Charlie Hartman (uncredited)
Olin Howland
as Train Vendor (uncredited)
Dorothy Stone
as Saleslady (uncredited)
