Summary
In a narrative steeped in the moralistic fervor of its era, 'The End of the Road' starkly delineates the divergent paths forged by pedagogical candor versus prudish obfuscation. Childhood confidantes Mary Lee and Vera embark upon disparate journeys, their destinies irrevocably shaped by the 'facts of life' imparted by their respective matriarchs. Mary Lee, recipient of an unvarnished account of human biology, blossoms into a compassionate nurse, her intellect and empathy leading her to a profound, reciprocal love with a dedicated physician. Conversely, Vera, shielded by a veil of euphemism and romanticized falsehoods, is left vulnerable to the predatory machinations of the world. Driven by her mother's counsel to secure a wealthy spouse, she succumbs instead to the illicit, venereal allure of a dissolute, moneyed rake, a liaison that plunges her into profound physical and moral decay. It is Mary Lee and her enlightened partner who ultimately intervene, their medical expertise and unwavering compassion serving as a beacon of salvation, not merely for Vera, but for the wider public through harrowing, didactic portrayals of syphilis's ravages. The film culminates with Mary Lee and her new husband, embodying a spirit of altruism and civic duty, volunteering their invaluable skills to aid the Allied cause amidst the harrowing battlefields of France, thereby extending their personal crusade against ignorance and suffering to a global stage.
Synopsis
Childhood friends Mary Lee and Vera receive two different versions of the 'birds and the bees' from their mothers: Mary Lee gets the facts; Vera gets a prudish fairytale version. Their lives separate after graduation, Mary Lee becomes a nurse who falls in proper love with a Doctor, whereas Vera follows her mother's advice and seeks to marry a rich man, but falls for the unlawful, syphilitic charms of a wealthy cad. Mary Lee and her Doctor rescue Vera and help her get proper care after a series of revelations showing actual patients of the loathsome disease. Finally, Mary Lee and her new husband volunteer to help our boys fighting the Huns in France.
