The Road to Reno plot
"Ripping the Lid Off America's Hot Spot"
Manhattan wealthy Jackie travels to Reno to arrange a divorce from her fourth husband, Robert Millet. Robert and Jeff, Jackie's teenage son from a previous marriage, are not happy about this. Jeff sees Robert as a father he never had before. Jackie's daughter Lee isn't happy with her mother's decision either, but she travels with her to Reno anyway. Along the way, Lee meets newly graduated mining engineer Tom Wood, who is on his way to San Francisco for a job interview, and she falls in love with him. Tom can work in Burma and he writes letters to Lee. When Lee doesn't answer his letters, Tom travels to Reno. Tom is disappointed to discover that Lee has plunged into the nightlife with her mother. Lee also makes Tom jealous by hooking up with married bon vivant Jerry 'Ken' Kenton. Ken is in Reno to divorce his young wife Elise and actually has a soft spot for Jackie. The jealous Elise calls Robert and Jeff in New York and tells them that Lee is having an affair with her husband. Jeff then travels to Reno, which has profound consequences for some involved.