A post-war romance tested by class prejudice and frontier hardship, culminating in courage and familial acceptance.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Dancer's Ascent
Palma May navigates post-war loneliness and builds a successful dance career in New York. She reunites with Lieutenant John Tabor, sparking a deep friendship that blossoms into romance.
Key Events
WWI Return & Visit — John visits Palma after returning from war, finding her alone. Characters: Lieutenant John Tabor, Palma MayLocation: New York City
Career Pursuit — Alone after her brother's death, Palma seeks dance work. Characters: Palma MayLocation: New York City
Cabaret Success — Palma quickly rises to prominence in a chorus line. Characters: Palma MayLocation: Cabaret Stage
New York City — Urban backdrop for post-war life and dance career. Location: New York City
Cabaret Stage — Venue where Palma performs and gains prominence. Location: Cabaret Stage
Secret Union
The couple marries quietly despite Jarvis Tabor's class-based opposition. A sudden letter summons John to a volatile lumber camp, forcing them to leave their comfortable urban life behind.
Key Events
Cabaret Success — Palma quickly rises to prominence in a chorus line. Characters: Palma MayLocation: Cabaret Stage
Reunion & Friendship — They meet again and quickly become fast friends. Characters: Lieutenant John Tabor, Palma MayLocation: Cabaret
Secret Wedding — Couple marries quietly despite father's known opposition. Characters: Lieutenant John Tabor, Palma MayLocation: Tabor Estate
Father's Prejudice — Wealthy father opposes marriage to a dancer without meeting her. Characters: Jarvis TaborLocation: Tabor Estate
Camp Summons — Order arrives for John to quell labor troubles at the camp. Characters: Lieutenant John TaborLocation: Tabor Estate
Cabaret Stage — Venue where Palma performs and gains prominence. Location: Cabaret Stage
Tabor Estate — Wealthy family home where the secret wedding occurs. Location: Tabor Estate
Camp Hardships
Living in a rough shack, Palma faces extreme discomfort and temptation from her old manager. Tensions rise as labor troubles threaten John's authority and test their marriage.
Key Events
Camp Summons — Order arrives for John to quell labor troubles at the camp. Characters: Lieutenant John TaborLocation: Tabor Estate
Shack Hardship — Couple lives under trying conditions far from city life. Characters: Lieutenant John Tabor, Palma MayLocation: Lumber Camp Shack
Manager's Temptation — Former manager tempts Palma to return to her old dancing life. Characters: Palma MayLocation: Lumber Camp Shack
Gang Ambush — John is attacked by a gang of rebellious lumberjacks. Characters: Lieutenant John TaborLocation: Camp Grounds
Palma risks her life to save John during a violent attack. Jarvis joins the defense, witnesses her courage, and finally accepts her, uniting the family through shared trial.
Key Events
Gang Ambush — John is attacked by a gang of rebellious lumberjacks. Characters: Lieutenant John TaborLocation: Camp Grounds
Courageous Rescue — Palma rushes into the fight to save her husband. Characters: Palma May, Lieutenant John TaborLocation: Camp Grounds
Jarvis Reinforces — Father joins the defense alongside his son and daughter-in-law. Characters: Jarvis Tabor, Lieutenant John Tabor, Palma MayLocation: Camp Grounds
Workmen Repelled — Together they successfully beat back the rebellious workers. Characters: Jarvis Tabor, Lieutenant John Tabor, Palma MayLocation: Camp Grounds
Prejudice Overcome — Father witnesses her finer qualities and accepts her. Characters: Jarvis Tabor, Palma MayLocation: Camp Grounds
Family Reconciliation — Shared trial unites the family and resolves class conflict. Characters: Jarvis Tabor, Lieutenant John Tabor, Palma MayLocation: Lumber Camp Shack
Camp Confrontation Ground — Site of the labor dispute and final battle. Location: Camp Grounds
Story Breakdown
Post-War Reunion — Lieutenant John Tabor returns home and reconnects with Palma May after the war.
WWI Veteran Returns — John comes back from the front lines.
Palma's Brother Dies — Leaves Palma alone in the world.
Initial Visit — John calls on Palma and offers help.
Dancer's Ascent — Palma builds a career in New York and crosses paths with John.
Cabaret Chorus Position — Palma secures a dance job in NYC.
Rising to Prominence — She quickly gains fame on stage.
Fast Friendship — John and Palma develop a close bond.
Secret Union — The couple marries against Jarvis Tabor's class-based wishes.
Quiet Wedding Ceremony — They marry without family approval.
Father's Prejudice — Jarvis opposes the dancer marriage.
Letter to Camp — John receives orders to the lumber site.
Frontier Hardship — The newlyweds relocate to a rough lumber camp environment.
Shack Living Conditions — Couple endures poverty and isolation.
Manager's Temptation — Old manager offers Palma a way out.
Labor Troubles — Work unrest threatens camp stability.
Violent Uprising — A gang of lumberjacks attacks John, escalating camp tensions.
Gang Ambush — Rebellious workers assault John.
John's Vulnerability — He is outnumbered and in danger.
Palma's Decision — She chooses to intervene despite risk.
Courageous Defense — Palma and Jarvis join forces to repel the attackers.
Plunging Into Fight — Palma rushes to save her husband.
Jarvis Reinforces — Father joins the defensive line.
Workmen Repelled — Together they defeat the rebellious gang.
Familial Reconciliation — Jarvis overcomes his bias after witnessing Palma's bravery.
Witnessing Finer Qualities — Father sees her true character.
Prejudice Overcome — Class bias dissolves through action.
United Family — The Tabor family finds harmony.
Returning from France after the war, John Tabor informs Palma May of her brother's death and offers the penniless girl his help, but she refuses it, preferring to work as a cabaret dancer. Later, John and Palma meet again, marry, and go west to manage a lumber camp, as instructed by John's wealthy father, Jarvis Tabor. Displeased by John's choice of wife, the elder Tabor tests the couple with difficult living conditions, which eventually discourage Palma, and she accepts the party invitation of Keith Merwyn, manager of the cabaret where she starred. Meanwhile, Merwyn effects a disturbance among the lumbermen, endangering John.
