Paul Lee; Cora Miller [Coral Delancy]; Gary Long [Gary Thomas]; Mr. Jones; Doug; Mrs. Lee; Mrs. Long
Synopsis
Cora and her alcoholic mother live in the slums of Easterling. At school, Cora meets Gary, who doesn’t care about her poverty. After high school, they elope. Gary’s mother feels an early marriage will ruin Gary’s future, and offers Cora $10,000 to get an annulment. Cora accepts because she loves Gary but lies to him. Cora reinvents herself as “Coral,” getting a good job. “Harvard man” Paul proposes to Cora, but when their work takes them back to Easterling, Cora is recognised by her mother and Paul dumps her. Cora is reunited with Gary, who is in charge of a slum clearance project there.
"Steady” Jud proposes to Tabby but she stalls and tells “exciting” Roy, who feels pressured into marrying her even though he’s “not ready to be married yet!” The couple gets into financial trouble and Roy blames Tabby for rushing him into marriage. A drunk Roy commits suicide. Tabby gives birth to Roy’s son; Jud pays the bills and even sends her away on vacation. When she returns, Tabby meets a young woman who says Jud wants to marry her but feels he must care for Tabby. Because she doesn’t want to ruin Jud's life, Tabby lies to Jud, saying she’s met another man, and leaves his life forever.
War widow Myra and her young daughter Lonnie move back to her home town. When Lonnie runs away, Bob brings her home and asks Myra for a date. Bob and Myra fall in love, but Myra is worried that he resents Lonnie’s presence. Myra insists that Lonnie accompany them to the house that’s being built for the new family, and Lonnie is injured. Myra blames Bob and breaks up with him. However, Myra discovers Bob has been visiting Lonnie in the hospital every day and the little girl considers him her new father, so Myra and Bob reconcile.