Emotionally aloof Soames Forsyte, a well-to-do solicitor, becomes enamoured at first sight of Irene Heron, but she declines his marriage proposal,

Irene consents to marry Soames on the proviso that he will make her happy. When it is apparent that she is not, he hires Phillip Bisonney to design them a unique country house.

Realising he has lost Irene, a vengeful Soames sets out to ruin Bosinney's architectural career by charging him with mismanagement.

Soames forces himself on Irene just before his lawsuit with Bossiney comes to court, with tragic consequences.

Many years have passed since Irene left, and Soames has now decided that he wants a divorce. He's met attractive young Annette Lamotte, who, with her mother, runs a restaurant in Soho. Soames calls on Young Jolyon, trustee of the legacy his father left Irene, to ask if she can provide him with grounds for divorce.

Soames sends Jolyon to Irene in order to secure a divorce so he can remarry a French girl, but the cousins have a falling out.