It's New Year's Eve. Ed is out of work, seeing himself as a man descending. He sees his wife Victoria as hopeful, still ascending. He thinks she may be carrying on with Howard, her psychologist. They get to the party, Ed drinks copious amounts of scotch as Victoria and Howard dance and then steal away. Ed makes off-putting remarks to others at the party, and, when his wife and the shrink return with a bag of ice after the stoke of twelve, Ed decides to pick a fight. What Victoria does in response brings in the new year.