Impoverished student Victoria Young finds wealthy William Thompson at a charity gala and asks him to sponsor her education at Excelsior University, which he funds. He agrees, and Victoria becomes arrogant, acting like the university board chairman's daughter. She fires the admissions director, treats the principal like a lackey, bullies a cafeteria vendor couple, and even humiliates the real chairman's daughter, Emily Thompson. In a dire moment, Victoria tries to drown Emily in a sink, but William arrives just in time to stop her.