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The
Lucasta family—father Joe, mother Theresa, their
two children Stanley and Stella and their spouses Frank and Katie—receives
a letter from Joe's old friend Strobel, stating that his son Rudolf is
coming to their city in Pennsylvania. The friend asks Joe to find a
good wife for Rudolf and mentions that he will arrive with $4,000. In
order to get the money for themselves, Theresa suggests that Anna, their
"black sheep" daughter, be brought home as a prospective wife for Rudolf.
Joe, who hates Anna, refuses to consider the idea until Frank beats him up.
Anna, meanwhile, is working at a Brooklyn bar called Noah's
Ark when sailor Danny Johnson, a regular customer, tells her that he has
saved enough money to go back to taxi driving. Contrary to Anna's
expectations, Danny does not ask her to marry him. While Anna is
dancing with Danny's friend Buster, Joe arrives and asks Anna to come home.
Because she is broke and locked out of her apartment, Anna agrees to return,
and quickly learns the reason for Joe's request. When Rudolf arrives,
the family is surprised to learn that he is not a naïve man from the
country, but a college graduate who plans to work the family farm in
addition to teaching at the local school.
After Stanley and Frank are fired from their jobs, they
unsuccessfully try to con Rudolf out of his money. Rudolf is attracted
to Anna, despite Joe's drunken warning to keep away from women like her.
Insulted by her father, Anna escapes to the hotel bar for a drink.
Rudolf follows, and the two dine together.
The next day, Rudolf takes Anna on a tour of the farm and
proposes marriage. Anna does not answer, however, and that night,
recalls the event that caused her to leave home. Having been locked
out of the house after a dance, she gets a spare key from the shed.
There, her date kisses her, and they are found by her father, who angrily
vows never to let her date again.
This unpleasant memory compels Anna to leave town but, while
she is waiting for the train, Rudolf arrives and persuades her to marry him.
Before the wedding, Rudolf gives Anna his money, which is later stolen.
While all the Lucastas except Joe are attending the wedding,
Danny comes looking for Anna. His presence convinces Joe of Anna's
worthlessness and, when Anna and Rudolf return, Joe tells her that he took
Rudolf's money and vows to expose her past to the school principal and ruin
Rudolf unless she leaves immediately with Danny. Vowing never to see
her jealous father again, Anna leaves with Danny.
Some time later, Rudolf searches Brooklyn for Anna. He
waits for her to return to Noah's Ark, but eventually gives up, leaving
behind a letter that discloses Joe's death. When Anna arrives at the
bar, Noah, the bartender, reads the letter to her and then dials the number
of Rudolf's hotel. After learning that Rudolf has checked out of the
hotel, Anna leaves for the night, believing that she has lost her chance for
happiness. Rudolf is waiting outside, however, and calls her name.
The two walk off together. |
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