What is the plot of The Cost?

A woman's journey through love, deception, and the consequences of defying family wisdom

What are the key story phases in The Cost?

The story of The Cost progresses through these phases: The Seduction, The Union, The Reckoning.

Name: The Cost
Genre: drama
Released: 1920
Rating: 4

Pauline meets John despite warnings, drawn to his charm

Pauline Meets John — Pauline meets charming John Dumont Characters: Pauline Gardner, John Dumont Location: Social gathering
Father's Warning — Colonel warns Pauline about John's reputation Characters: Pauline Gardner, Colonel Gardner Location: Gardner home
John's Promise — John promises to reform his wild ways Characters: Pauline Gardner, John Dumont Location: Private meeting

Tense wedding and early married life with false hope

Tense Wedding — Wedding amidst family disapproval Characters: Pauline Gardner, John Dumont, Colonel Gardner, Mrs. Gardner, Hampden Scarborough, William Fanshaw Jr., Leonora Fanshaw Location: Wedding venue
John's Public Vow — John publicly promises to change Characters: John Dumont, Pauline Gardner, Wedding guests Location: Wedding venue
Married Life Begins — Pauline creates loving home environment Characters: Pauline Gardner, John Dumont Location: New home
Hopeful Early Days — Marriage filled with optimism Characters: Pauline Gardner, John Dumont Location: Home

John's past resurfaces and the true cost of Pauline's choice emerges

First Doubts — Warning signs emerge in John's behavior Characters: Pauline Gardner, John Dumont Location: Home
Past Resurfaces — John's philandering past reappears Characters: John Dumont, Olivia, Suzanne Location: Social setting
Cost Revealed — Consequences of Pauline's decision unfold Characters: Pauline Gardner, John Dumont, Colonel Gardner Location: Home
Final Confrontation — Pauline faces the true cost of her choice Characters: Pauline Gardner, John Dumont, Colonel Gardner Location: Home

The Seduction — Pauline meets John despite warnings
- First Encounter — Pauline meets charming John
- Father's Objection — Colonel warns about John's reputation
- False Promise — John vows to reform his ways
The Union — Wedding and early married life
- T Ceremony — Wedding amidst family disapproval
- Public Vow — John promises change to guests
- New Beginning — Pauline creates loving home
The Reckoning — Consequences of Pauline's choice
- Hopeful Period — Early marriage filled with optimism
- Warning Signs — John's true nature emerges
- Past Resurfaces — John's philandering connections return
- True Cost — Consequences fully revealed

Against her father's wishes, Pauline Gardner marries John Dumont, a young philanderer, on his promise that he will reform.