Summary
In the opulent yet suffocating confines of Edward Woodruff's estate, a grim tableau unfolds as his demise looms, sparking avaricious machinations among his kin. Nina Leffingwell, alongside her brother Frederic and cousin Basil—her intended spouse—orchestrates a cunning deception. Capitalizing on Woodruff's poignant, recurring pleas for a long-estranged daughter's child, a granddaughter he believes exists, Nina enlists Doll, a vibrant Follies performer, to masquerade as the lost heir. The plan is simple: Doll will ingratiate herself with the ailing patriarch, secure his immense fortune, and then be discreetly compensated, leaving the bulk to the conniving relatives. However, Doll's genuine warmth and tender ministrations surprisingly rekindle Woodruff's will to live, leading to his remarkable recovery. This unforeseen vitality throws the conspirators into disarray. To salvage their scheme, Nina summons Woodruff's disowned grandson, Ned, banished for an unsuitable marriage, hoping his disdain for imposters will expel Doll. Yet, fate intervenes with a romantic spark between Ned and Doll, further jeopardizing Nina's ambitions. Driven by desperation, Nina exposes their secret meetings in the estate lodge to Woodruff. A dramatic confrontation ensues, not revealing a simple liaison, but the heartwarming truth: Doll and Ned are not only married but are also parents to a cherubic baby boy. Overwhelmed by joy and the unexpected expansion of his lineage, Woodruff's heart softens, culminating in a joyous reconciliation that shatters the cynical plots and restores harmony to the family.
Synopsis
The relatives of dying Edward Woodruff, Nina Leffingwell, her brother Frederic, and her cousin Basil, whom she wants to marry, scheme to inherit Woodruff's wealth. Since Woodruff continually calls for an imagined granddaughter, the child of his daughter who died before they could patch up a quarrel which estranged them, Nina gets Doll, a Follies girl, to impersonate the granddaughter, try to endear herself to Woodruff, and thus inherit the money. Doll would then be paid off and the relatives would get the inheritance. When Doll's administrations cause Woodruff to recover, Nina sends for Woodruff's grandson Ned, whom he disowned for marrying beneath him, hoping that Ned will send Doll away. When Ned seems to fall in love with Doll, Nina tells Woodruff that Ned and Doll are secretly meeting in the estate lodge. Woodruff investigates and finds that Doll and Ned are married and have a baby boy. Delighted, Woodruff forgives Ned.
