Rain by W. Somerset Maugham. Short summary

5 seconds

A married couple of missionaries return to their assigned neighborhood. Here Mr. Davidson meets Sadie Thompson, whom he accuses of inappropriate behavior.

1 minute

Dr. McPhail and his wife travel by ship to Upolu. They are accompanied by missionaries, the Davidsons, who were returning to their assigned area, which includes islands in the South Pacific.

The ship is delayed at Tutuila for two weeks because of an infectious disease. The passengers spend the night at the home of Horne, a merchant. Sadie Thompson has come to the island to work as a cashier. Davidson is concerned about Thompson’s lack of decency. He believes the woman is a prostitute.

Davidson wants to kick Thompson out of the house, but the woman has no other accommodation. He pressures her and other residents of the island to have Thompson abide by his standards of behavior. He intimidates the woman and she tries to behave quietly so as not to anger the missionary.

Davidson convinces the governor to deport Thompson on the next ship off the island. The woman learns that the ship is going to San Francisco. She refuses to go there because she faces a three-year prison sentence. Davidson decides to deport Thompson to San Francisco.