the fly in the ointment is gable's second wife ria. metro-goldwyn-mayer studio chief louis b. mayer fears any publicity about his affair with lombard will jeopardize gable's career, and since he is mgm's most valuable player, mayer becomes protective of his star. gable and lombard fish, play practical jokes on each other, laugh, fight, and have fun making up. his wife finally grants him a divorce, and the two wed. the happily ever after ending is thwarted when lombard is killed in a plane crash while promoting the purchase of defense bonds during world war ii.