Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
New Beginnings
Connie graduates from boarding school and moves in with her wealthy relatives, facing initial challenges and hostility from her cousin Barbara.
Key Events
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Connie Graduates — Connie completes boarding school education Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding
Location: Boarding School
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Moves to Clintons — Connie moves in with wealthy relatives Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding, Walter Clinton, Grace Clinton, Barbara Clinton
Location: Clinton Residence
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Barbara's Hostility — Barbara begins mistreating Connie Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding, Barbara Clinton
Location: Clinton Residence
The Impossible Dream
Connie is excluded from the family ball but receives unexpected help from her uncle James, allowing her to attend in disguise.
Key Events
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Ball Announcement — Family announces plans for social ball Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding, Barbara Clinton, Walter Clinton, Grace Clinton
Location: Clinton Residence
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Connie Excluded — Barbara arranges for Connie to stay home Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding, Barbara Clinton
Location: Connie's Room
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Uncle's Help — James Clinton offers to help Connie attend Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding, James Clinton
Location: James Clinton's Study
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Ball Preparation — Connie prepares for the ball in disguise Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding, James Clinton, Miss Wiggins
Location: Connie's Room
Fairy Tale Romance
At the ball, Connie meets and falls in love with Ted, unaware he's Barbara's boyfriend, before her identity is discovered.
Key Events
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At the Ball — Connie attends the social ball Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding, Ted Drake, Barbara Clinton, Walter Clinton, Grace Clinton
Location: Grand Ballroom
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Love at First Sight — Connie meets and falls for Ted Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding, Ted Drake
Location: Grand Ballroom
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Barbara Discovers — Barbara recognizes Connie at the ball Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding, Barbara Clinton
Location: Grand Ballroom
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Connie Flees — Connie leaves the ball abruptly Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding
Location: Grand Ballroom
Truth and Reconciliation
Connie's secret is revealed, leading to confrontation with Barbara, but ultimately resulting in family acceptance and her happiness with Ted.
Key Events
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Ted's Search — Ted searches for the mysterious girl Characters: Ted Drake, Mike the Cop
Location: City Streets
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Reconnection — Connie and Ted meet again Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding, Ted Drake
Location: Public Garden
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Truth Revealed — Connie reveals her true identity Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding, Ted Drake, Barbara Clinton
Location: Clinton Residence
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Family Reconciliation — Family accepts Connie Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding, James Clinton, Walter Clinton, Grace Clinton, Barbara Clinton
Location: Clinton Residence
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Happy Ending — Connie and Ted together Characters: Constance (Connie) Harding, Ted Drake
Location: Garden
In this reworking of Cinderella, orphaned Connie Harding is sent to live with her rich aunt and uncle after graduating from boarding school. She's hardly received with open arms, especially by her snobby cousin Barbara. When the entire family is invited to a major social ball, Barbara sees to it that Connie is forced to stay home. With the aid of her uncle, who acts as her fairy godfather, Connie makes it to the ball and meets her Prince Charming in Ted Drake, her cousin's boyfriend.
