Nearly Married
Summary
In a delightful convolution of matrimonial misadventure, 'Nearly Married' unfolds the caprices of Betty Griffon, a woman whose fierce familial devotion inadvertently triggers a marital maelstrom. On the brink of uttering her vows to the patient Harry Lindsey, Betty impulsively halts the ceremony, her steadfast brother Dick's tardiness proving an insurmountable obstacle to her sense of propriety. Fate, however, intercedes with a cruel twist: Dick suffers an accident, propelling Betty into an unwavering vigil. She vows to forgo her honeymoon until his complete recovery, a pronouncement that strains Harry's already tested patience. His remonstrations, however mild, are met with Betty's indignant accusation of insensitivity, culminating in a dramatic, unilateral demand for divorce. To his credit, or perhaps his folly, Harry acquiesces, enlisting his friend Tom Robinson to play the ignominious role of corespondent in a perfunctory separation. Yet, the ink barely dries on the decree before the estranged pair, caught in the throes of a poignant realization, acknowledge the enduring flame of their affection. A reconciliation is swiftly sought, but the very legal machinery they set in motion now thwarts their reunion: the divorce papers explicitly forbid Harry from remarrying. Undeterred by this bureaucratic impediment, and with a charming disregard for New York's restrictive statutes, the resourceful duo journeys to New Jersey, a sanctuary where their love can legally flourish anew, thus ensuring a conclusion as joyously convoluted as its premise.
Synopsis
Betty Griffon delays her wedding to Harry Lindsey, because her brother Dick is late for the ceremony. Upon learning that her dear brother has been injured in an accident, Betty refuses to leave on her honeymoon until he has recovered. When Harry objects, Betty proclaims that he is insensitive and demands a divorce. To oblige his wife, Harry hires his friend Tom Robinson to testify as corespondent in a divorce case, and a separation is granted. Betty and Harry realize that they really love each other too late and decide to remarry, but are prevented from doing so by the divorce papers which forbids Harry from marrying again. They finally decide to circumvent the New York law by becoming really married in New Jersey, and all ends happily.
