Summary
Paul Worden, a celebrated playwright, seeks pastoral solitude in a country bungalow, intending to immerse himself in a new dramatic work alongside his leading actress, Marjorie Sinclair, who conveniently resides nearby. This idyllic creative retreat is abruptly shattered by the tempestuous arrival of Diana Ardway, the imperious, adolescent daughter of a steel magnate. Initially affronted by Worden's unsolicited intervention during a horseback riding mishap, Diana's wounded pride swiftly morphs into an intense, all-consuming fascination with the older artist. Her burgeoning obsession manifests in a series of increasingly bold and disruptive acts: clandestine surveillance, a visceral confrontation culminating in a hair-pulling skirmish with Marjorie, and a destructive rampage through Worden's study, provoked by his condescending dismissal. Desperate to extricate himself, Worden enlists his brother, Tad, a notorious womanizer, to divert Diana's relentless attentions—a ploy she decisively rebuffs. With her formidable father's return from Europe imminent, Diana orchestrates a scandalous public declaration of her engagement to Worden through the Associated Press, subsequently abducting him to fabricate an inescapable narrative of compromise. Upon her father's arrival, Worden, emotionally and physically battered by Diana's relentless machinations, undergoes a profound, bewildering psychological shift, recognizing a nascent affection for his captivating tormentor and ultimately, surrendering to the audacious, self-engineered destiny she has meticulously forged for them.
Synopsis
Famous playwright Paul Worden takes a country bungalow to write a new work and rehearse with Marjorie Sinclair, his leading actress, who is staying nearby. When riding one day, Paul helps his neighbor, Diana Ardway, the spoiled teenage daughter of a steel magnate, when her horse gets the better of her. Diana, at first insulted by Paul's interference, develops a passionate interest in him, leading her to spy on him, provoke a hair-pulling fight with Marjorie, and destroy one of Paul's rooms after he treats her like a child. When Paul wires his brother Tad, known for his successes with women, to relieve him of Diana's attentions, she rejects Tad. Knowing that her father will return soon from Europe, Diana gives the Associated Press an announcement of her engagement to Paul and kidnaps him to make it appear that he compromised her. After her father returns, Paul, thoroughly beaten, realizes his love for her and accepts his fate.
