A returning veteran struggles between sensational journalism, compassion for a helpless woman, and the moral consequences of choosing money over conscience.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
A Veteran Without A Place
Geoffrey returns from World War I but cannot find a satisfying civilian position. He joins a scandal-focused newspaper while waiting for the outcome of his corporate lawsuit.
Key Events
Return From War — Geoffrey returns from World War I and receives a soldier's welcome. Characters: Geoffrey FarnellLocation: Home city
Lawsuit Remains Pending — Geoffrey waits for the outcome of his lawsuit against a corporation. Characters: Geoffrey FarnellLocation: Court system
Newspaper Employment — Geoffrey takes an uncongenial position on a scandal-hunting newspaper staff. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, Job HardcastleLocation: Newspaper office
Hardcastle sends Geoffrey after a fallen society divorcee. Instead of exploiting her decline for a story, Geoffrey rescues her and brings her to his apartment.
Key Events
Assignment To Find Mops — Hardcastle sends Geoffrey to locate the society divorcee known as Mops. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, Job HardcastleLocation: Newspaper office
Mops At The Concert Hall — Geoffrey finds Mops reduced to working as a cabaret dancer. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, 'Mops' CollinsLocation: Cheap concert hall
Mops Pleads For Help — Mops begs the manager not to send her to a hospital to die. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, 'Mops' CollinsLocation: Cheap concert hall
Geoffrey Chooses Compassion — Moved by pity, Geoffrey takes Mops away from the concert hall. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, 'Mops' CollinsLocation: Street outside the concert hall
Shelter In His Apartment — Geoffrey brings Mops to his apartment after she staggers into the street. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, 'Mops' CollinsLocation: Geoffrey's apartment
Reporter Admits Failure — Geoffrey reports that he failed to obtain the expected story about Mops. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, Job HardcastleLocation: Newspaper office
The Story With A Price
A damaged veteran in court offers Geoffrey a sensational identification. Geoffrey struggles between journalistic success and the money needed to protect Mops.
Key Events
Geoffrey Asks Another Chance — Geoffrey promises to find a genuine story if Hardcastle gives him one more chance. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, Job HardcastleLocation: Newspaper office
Damaged Veteran Appears — A shell-shocked war veteran with no recollection of his identity is brought to court. Characters: Geoffrey FarnellLocation: Courtroom
The Sensational Identity — Geoffrey realizes the damaged man may be a supposedly dead and decorated war hero. Characters: Geoffrey FarnellLocation: Courtroom
A Conflict Of Loyalties — Geoffrey hesitates because publishing the identity would affect someone he loves. Characters: Geoffrey FarnellLocation: Newspaper office
Money Becomes Necessary — Geoffrey needs money to keep Mops, his helpless charge, out of the hospital. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, 'Mops' CollinsLocation: Geoffrey's apartment
Story Given To Editor — Geoffrey gives up the identity story in order to obtain money for Mops. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, Job HardcastleLocation: Newspaper office
Remorse Against Publication
After handing over the story, Geoffrey regrets his decision and tries to stop its publication. His attempt produces a violent confrontation with Hardcastle.
Key Events
Remorse Changes His Course — Overcome by remorse, Geoffrey decides to stop publication of the story. Characters: Geoffrey FarnellLocation: Street
Fight In The Office — Geoffrey fights Hardcastle while trying unsuccessfully to prevent publication. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, Job HardcastleLocation: Newspaper office
Arrest Threatened — Geoffrey faces arrest for assaulting the editor. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, Job HardcastleLocation: Newspaper office
Too Late For Redemption
Mops dies while Geoffrey faces disgrace and possible arrest. His lawsuit is finally settled, and the ending offers understanding and a late restoration of hope.
Key Events
Mops Lies Dead — The friendless woman Geoffrey tried to help is found dead in the next room. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, 'Mops' CollinsLocation: Next room
Fortune Arrives Too Late — Geoffrey's lawsuit is settled and he inherits his fortune after the tragedy. Characters: Geoffrey FarnellLocation: Court system
Shame And Understanding — Geoffrey faces shame, while the young woman understands him and Hardcastle becomes abashed. Characters: Geoffrey Farnell, Job HardcastleLocation: Newspaper office
A Late Happy Ending — Despite the earlier moral disaster, the story concludes with a happy ending. Characters: Geoffrey FarnellLocation: Home city
Story Breakdown
War Veteran Returns — Geoffrey comes home to public recognition but lacks a satisfying civilian direction.
Soldier's Welcome — Geoffrey returns from World War I and receives a soldier's welcome.
Pending Corporate Lawsuit — He waits for a lawsuit against a corporation to be decided.
Newspaper Pressure — Geoffrey enters a scandal-focused newsroom where his editor demands more sensational work.
Uncongenial Employment — Geoffrey joins the staff of a scandal-hunting newspaper.
Demand For Pep — The editor criticizes Geoffrey's stories and orders him to pursue a stronger subject.
Mops Needs Rescue — A reporting assignment becomes a humanitarian crisis when Geoffrey finds Mops destitute and gravely vulnerable.
Concert Hall Decline — Geoffrey finds Mops working as a cabaret dancer at a cheap concert hall.
Apartment Shelter — Moved by pity, Geoffrey takes Mops from the street to his apartment.
The Sensational Discovery — A court appearance creates a major journalistic opportunity involving a damaged war veteran.
Courtroom Stranger — A shell-shocked man with no memory is brought to court on a drug-peddling charge.
Heroic Identity — Geoffrey realizes the man may be a supposedly dead and decorated war hero.
Conscience Versus Need — Geoffrey must choose between publishing the story and obtaining money for Mops's care.
Story Sold — He gives the story to the editor because money is needed to keep Mops out of the hospital.
Remorse Returns — Geoffrey changes course and tries to stop the publication.
Shame And Resolution — The consequences of Geoffrey's choices culminate in death, disgrace, financial reversal, and eventual understanding.
Fight And Arrest — Geoffrey fights the editor and faces arrest for the assault.
Late Fortune — Mops dies, the lawsuit is settled too late, and the ending finally offers understanding and happiness.
Jeff Farnell, forced by circumstances to take a job on a New York scandal sheet while he awaits the settlement of his claim against a steel company. Job Hardcastle, the hardened city editor of the paper, sends Jeff to get a story on "Mops" Collins, a society divorcée who has been reduced to dancing in a cabaret. Jeff takes pity on Mops, who is dying of consumption, and takes her into his apartment, telling Hardcastle that he could not find her. Afraid of losing his job, Jeff hunts for a big story, finding it when he discovers that Clive Ross-Fayne, a friend he thought lost in the war, has been arraigned on charges of narcotics peddling. (Pamela Short)
