Joseph Greer's business ambitions and family crisis lead to personal collapse, followed by recovery through Jenny's loyalty and a new partnership.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
The Invention and the Trap
Joseph Greer develops a new linen-making process and seeks financing from Williamson and his associates. Their apparent business opportunity conceals an intention to swindle him.
Key Events
Greer Develops Linen Process — Greer invents a new process for making linen. Characters: Joseph GreerLocation: Greer's workplace
Financing Proposal — Greer asks Williamson and associates to finance his invention. Characters: Joseph Greer, Violet WilliamsonLocation: Business meeting
The Financing Trap — Williamson and his associates intend to swindle Greer. Characters: Joseph Greer, Violet WilliamsonLocation: Business offices
Jenny Receives Her Assignment — Greer asks Jenny to watch Williamson and his associates. Characters: Joseph Greer, Jenny McFarlanLocation: Greer's office
Marriage Separation Continues — Greer's separated wife wishes to obtain a divorce. Characters: Joseph GreerLocation: Greer's residence
A Daughter Entering Society
Greer summons the eighteen-year-old daughter he has never seen, gives her an automobile, and introduces her into society. His separated wife simultaneously wishes for a divorce.
Key Events
Daughter Is Summoned — Greer sends for his eighteen-year-old daughter, whom he has never seen. Characters: Joseph GreerLocation: Greer's residence
Automobile Gift — Greer gives his daughter an automobile after bringing her into his life. Characters: Joseph GreerLocation: Greer's residence
Society Introduction — Greer has his daughter introduced into society. Characters: Joseph GreerLocation: Society gathering
The False Accusation
Mrs. Williamson attempts to make love to Greer, but he rejects her. She falsely tells Williamson that Greer forced his attentions on her, strengthening Williamson's campaign against him.
Key Events
Mrs. Williamson Approaches Greer — Mrs. Williamson attempts to make love to Greer. Characters: Joseph GreerLocation: Social setting
Greer Rejects Her — Greer repulses Mrs. Williamson's advances. Characters: Joseph GreerLocation: Social setting
False Accusation Delivered — Mrs. Williamson tells Williamson that Greer forced his attentions on her. Characters: Violet WilliamsonLocation: Williamson's residence
Williamson Escalates His Plan — The accusation strengthens Williamson's resolve to break Greer. Characters: Violet Williamson, Joseph GreerLocation: Business offices
A Family Crisis
Greer leaves on business and places his daughter in Jenny's charge. The daughter attends a wild party, is rescued by her chauffeur, and is later found intoxicated by Greer.
Key Events
Greer Leaves on Business — Greer leaves on a business trip and places his daughter in Jenny's charge. Characters: Joseph Greer, Jenny McFarlanLocation: Railway departure point
Wild Party Begins — Greer's daughter goes to a wild party while under Jenny's charge. Characters: Jenny McFarlanLocation: Party venue
Chauffeur Rescues Her — The chauffeur rescues Greer's daughter from the wild party. Characters: Jenny McFarlanLocation: Outside the party venue
Greer Finds Her Intoxicated — Greer returns and finds his daughter intoxicated. Characters: Joseph GreerLocation: Greer's residence
Chauffeur Is Discharged — Greer discharges the chauffeur after finding his daughter intoxicated. Characters: Joseph GreerLocation: Greer's residence
Collapse and Recovery
The daughter runs away and marries the chauffeur, while Williamson succeeds in breaking Greer. Greer drinks and disappears, but Jenny locates him; he returns, reunites with his daughter, and chooses a new life with Jenny.
Key Events
Daughter Runs Away — Greer's daughter runs away and marries the chauffeur. Characters: Joseph GreerLocation: Greer's residence
Williamson Breaks Greer — Williamson succeeds in breaking Greer. Characters: Joseph Greer, Violet WilliamsonLocation: Business offices
Greer Turns to Drink — After his collapse, Greer begins to drink. Characters: Joseph GreerLocation: Unknown drinking place
Greer Disappears — Greer disappears, prompting Jenny to search for him. Characters: Joseph Greer, Jenny McFarlanLocation: Unknown
Jenny Locates Greer — Jenny locates Greer after his disappearance. Characters: Joseph Greer, Jenny McFarlanLocation: Unknown location
Greer Returns Home — Greer returns and is reunited with his daughter. Characters: Joseph Greer, Jenny McFarlanLocation: Greer's residence
A New Partnership — Greer decides to begin a new life with Jenny as his partner. Characters: Joseph Greer, Jenny McFarlanLocation: Greer's residence
Story Breakdown
Linen Invention — Greer's new process creates the business opportunity that drives the initial conflict.
New Process — Greer invents a new linen-making process.
Financing Request — He asks Williamson and his associates to finance the invention.
The Swindle Scheme — Williamson's apparent financing interest conceals a plan to defraud Greer.
Hidden Intent — Williamson and his associates intend to swindle Greer.
Jenny Watches — Greer assigns Jenny to monitor Williamson and his associates.
Broken Marriage — Greer's long separation from his wife adds personal instability to his situation.
Years Apart — Greer has been separated from his wife for years.
Divorce Wish — His wife wishes to obtain a divorce.
Daughter's Arrival — Greer brings his previously unseen daughter into his household and social world.
Summoned Daughter — Greer sends for his eighteen-year-old daughter.
Society Debut — He gives her an automobile and introduces her into society.
Social Manipulation — A rejected advance becomes the basis for a damaging accusation against Greer.
Rejected Advance — Mrs. Williamson attempts to make love to Greer, who repulses her.
False Story — She tells Williamson that Greer forced his attentions on her.
Party Disaster — The daughter's unsupervised social episode produces a serious family rupture.
Wild Party — The daughter goes to a wild party while Greer is away.
Chauffeur Rescue — Her chauffeur rescues her from the party and loves her.
Family Rebellion — Greer's response to the party crisis pushes his daughter toward a decisive escape.
Chauffeur Fired — Greer finds his daughter intoxicated and discharges the chauffeur.
Secret Marriage — The daughter runs away and marries the chauffeur.
Greer's Collapse — Williamson's campaign and the family crisis leave Greer emotionally and professionally broken.
Business Defeat — Williamson succeeds in breaking Greer.
Disappearance — Greer begins to drink and finally disappears.
Jenny's Recovery — Jenny's loyalty brings Greer back from disappearance and supports the final reconciliation.
Greer Located — Jenny locates Greer after he disappears.
New Partnership — Greer returns, reunites with his daughter, and begins a new life with Jenny.
Joseph Greer is a wealthy businessman in New York City with all the trappings including a prim-and-proper secretary, Jenny McFarlan, who takes dictation during working hours and, at night, minus her eyeglasses, serves as his nightclub companion and mistress. Then his daughter,Beatrice, whom he has never seen, shows up and moves in with him. Beatrice is a grown-up flapper who loves jazz, pool parties, flaunting prohibition and carrying-on in general. Most of her carrying-on is with the family chauffeur and her father does not approve, says so, and fires the chauffeur. His parental-guidance technique backfires as Beatrice ups and elopes with the chauffeur. Later, the father has some problems with his business associates and loses his business and most of his fixtures and disappears. But Beatrice locates him and there is a happy reunion between father and daughter, especially since daughter has brought along Jenny to cheer him up.
