After the mill girl, Julie Jordan, marries that handsome, but uncivilized carousel barker, Billy Bigelow, things turn sour for the couple. Billy cannot find a job and he and Julie are forced to live with their cousin, Nettie. Further, Billy has taken to using violence against her. Nevertheless, Julie continues to love her husband. Meanwhile, Julie's best friend, Carrie Pipperidge has found a different kind of man. She is marrying Enoch Snow, a kind fisherman. In the end, after Billy discovers that Julie is pregnant, disaster strikes. In a desperate ploy for money, Billy's friend, Jigger Craigin, convinces Billy to help him assault and rob David Bascombe, the mill owner. After this plan fails, Billy kills himself instead of spending the rest of his life in prison. Nevertheless, fifteen years later, Billy is allowed one more visit to Earth fifteen. He attempts to show his love for his daughter, Louise, and Julie - but he is unable. Even still, Julie can sense his love and Billy witnesses Louise graduating from high school.