A comedic legal and romantic entanglement resolved through deception and familial guidance.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
New Orleans Prelude
Burton Williams and the sisters enjoy a holiday in New Orleans before their planned move to Haiti. Clarice's impulsive Mardi Gras night leads to a shocking morning revelation.
Key Events
Holiday in New Orleans — Sisters and Burton Williams enjoy a holiday before departing for Haiti. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New Orleans
Mardi Gras Night Out — Clarice goes out for Mardi Gras while Burton Williams stays home. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New Orleans Streets
Morning Revelation — Clarice returns drunk and reveals she married Stephen Cormack overnight. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Home
Bigamy Crisis — Clarice forgets she is already married to Michael Andrews, creating a bigamy risk. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Home
Travel Preparation — Burton Williams prepares for the journey to Haiti alongside Paula. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Home
Departure from New Orleans — The group prepares to leave New Orleans for Haiti. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New Orleans
Crisis and Deception
A bigamy scandal emerges when Clarice reveals her secret marriage. Burton Williams and Paula devise an impersonation scheme to avoid prison and manage the legal fallout.
Key Events
Bigamy Crisis — Clarice forgets she is already married to Michael Andrews, creating a bigamy risk. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Home
Solicitor Visit — Cormack's solicitor mistakes Paula for Clarice and offers a divorce settlement. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Home
Impersonation Plan — Burton Williams and Paula decide Paula will impersonate Clarice temporarily. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Home
Travel to New York — Burton Williams and Paula travel to New York to manage the situation. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
Meeting Michael — Burton Williams meets Michael Andrews, who agrees to play a role in the scheme. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
Deception Scheme — Burton Williams hatches a plan for Michael to pose as Paula's lover. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
Annulment Process — Burton Williams works to secure the annulment of Clarice and Michael's marriage. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Legal Office
Solicitor's Offer — The solicitor offers $5000 to divorce Cormack, mistaken for Clarice. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Home
Legal Consultation — Burton Williams and Paula discuss the legal implications of bigamy. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Home
Michael's Demand — Michael demands payment for his role in the deception scheme. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
New York Intrigue
The plan unfolds in New York as Michael plays a fabricated lover to provoke Cormack. Paula navigates the deception while securing funds and winning the children's affection.
Key Events
Deception Scheme — Burton Williams hatches a plan for Michael to pose as Paula's lover. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
Children's Demand — Michael demands payment from Cormack's children to break up the marriage. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Cormack Residence
Financial Acquisition — Paula acquires the required funds without questioning their purpose. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
Deception Continues — Paula maintains her virtue and secret identity while bonding with the children. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Cormack Residence
Brawl Over Paula — Cormack gets into a physical altercation with Michael over Paula. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Cormack Residence
Children's Affection — Cormack's children begin to like Paula and want her as their mother. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Cormack Residence
Scheme Execution — Burton Williams oversees the implementation of the deception plan. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
Michael's Demand — Michael demands payment for his role in the deception scheme. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
Fund Transfer — Paula secures the $15,000 required by the children without inquiry. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
Cormack's Jealousy — Cormack's jealousy over Paula leads to a physical confrontation. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Cormack Residence
Scheme Oversight — Burton Williams monitors the deception plan's progress in real time. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
Resolution and Union
Clarice returns with an annulment, files for divorce, and clears the path for Paula and Cormack. Burton Williams successfully guides the family through the legal storm.
Key Events
Clarice Returns — Clarice arrives back with news that her marriage to Michael is annulled. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
Divorce Lawsuit — Clarice sues Cormack for divorce, clearing the path for Paula and Cormack. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
Final Union — Cormack and Paula are left to be together after the legal complications resolve. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
Annulment Confirmation — Clarice confirms the annulment of her marriage to Michael. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Legal Office
Divorce Filing — Clarice files for divorce against Cormack, resolving the legal entanglement. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: Court
Final Resolution — The legal and romantic complications are fully resolved. Characters: Burton WilliamsLocation: New York City
Story Breakdown
Setup and Inciting Incident — Introduction to the family dynamic and the shocking bigamy revelation.
Holiday Prelude — Burton Williams and sisters prepare for Haiti relocation.
Mardi Gras Revelation — Clarice returns drunk and reveals her secret marriage.
Bigamy Threat — Clarice forgets her prior marriage, risking prison.
Deception Strategy — Burton Williams and Paula devise a plan to navigate the legal crisis.
Solicitor Offer — Cormack's lawyer mistakes Paula for Clarice and offers divorce money.
Impersonation Plan — Paula agrees to pose as Clarice temporarily.
Legal Consultation — Burton Williams works to annul Clarice's marriage to Michael.
New York Execution — The scheme unfolds in New York with external collaborators.
Michael's Role — Michael agrees to pose as Paula's lover to provoke Cormack.
Children's Demand — Cormack's children pay Michael to break up the marriage.
Fund Acquisition — Paula secures the required money without questioning its use.
Complications and Tension — The deception creates jealousy and physical conflict.
Cormack's Jealousy — Cormack becomes enraged over Paula's perceived infidelity.
Physical Brawl — Cormack and Michael engage in a fight over Paula.
Children's Bond — Cormack's children grow fond of Paula and want her as mother.
Resolution and Aftermath — Legal complications are resolved, allowing true pairings to form.
Clarice Returns — Clarice arrives with news of the annulment.
Final Union — Cormack and Paula are left to be together after the storm.
Burton Williams Arc — Burton Williams serves as the strategic and moral backbone throughout.
Godfather Role — Provides familial guidance and stability to the sisters.
Legal Advisor — Manages annulment processes and legal risks.
Strategic Planner — Orchestrates the deception scheme to protect the family.
It's bad enough that Clarice Kendall Andrews, Paula's irresponsible sister, comes home from celebrating Mardi Gras and drunkenly mentions that she got married during the festivities. What's worse is the fact that Paula knows that Clarice is still married to an equally irresponsible gigolo. Paula learns that the man Clarice married, Stephen Cormack, is on his yacht and his lawyer, thinking that Paula is Clarice, offers the older woman $5000 to annul the marriage.
