A Kiss for Corliss

Playboy Kenneth Marquis is divorcing his third wife, who is represented by her attorney, Harry Archer. The arrangement sets Marquis up as a charismatic figure facing a stern legal mediator. The stage is set for a clash between Marquis's lifestyle and the Archers' guarded expectations.

Corliss, Archer's teenaged daughter, becomes smitten with the charismatic Marquis and his free-wheeling lifestyle. Her crush promises excitement and social allure, pulling her away from her father's approval. The romance introduces a central tension between Corliss and Archer from the outset.

Marquis sends a box of candy to Corliss, a gesture that delights her yet inflames Archer. Archer interprets the sweet gift as a jab at his settlement demands and a sign Marquis is meddling in his family. The moment intensifies the conflict between the couple and their guardian.

Archer prohibits Corliss' boyfriend, Dexter, from dating her after spotting him at the Penguin Club. The club, which doubles as a gambling joint, becomes a flashpoint for the lovers and their guardian. Archer uses the club's reputation to justify his protective stance.

Corliss manipulates Dexter into taking her to the Penguin Club, but police raid the venue just as they arrive. They hide in the basement and are temporarily trapped, heightening the sense of danger and secrecy. The incident forces them to confront the consequences of their secret outing.

Corliss returns home late and feigns amnesia to cover the truth from her parents. Archer presses for an honest account, but Corliss's invented lapse buys her time. The ruse deepens the rift between Corliss and her father.

Archer reads Corliss's diary, which contains her imaginary romantic trysts with Marquis. The diary’s contents, along with the candy gift, give the parents fodder to suspect Marquis and question Corliss's judgment. The scene sets the core question of truth versus fabrication.

Raymond Pringle, publisher of a neighborhood paper, shows Marquis some diary entries and threatens to publish them unless Marquis buys advertising. Marquis considers leveraging the scandal by purchasing space and shaping the narrative. The blackmail raises the stakes of the personal feud.

Marquis visits the Archers and proclaims that every word in the diary is true, declaring his love for Corliss and his intention to make her his fourth wife. Archer erupts in anger at the audacity and the manipulation he perceives. The confrontation escalates the conflict and tests the family’s loyalties.

Corliss reveals that the diary is not true and explains why she was out late. Marquis persists in claiming the diary’s truth, while Dexter arrives and ultimately agrees with Corliss's version. Despite Dexter's stance, Archer and the Archers remain unconvinced about Marquis's intentions.

Marquis announces his engagement to Corliss in the newspaper, signaling a calculated move to sue the Archers for breach of promise when the engagement is cancelled. The public declaration turns a private dispute into a matter of social spectacle. The Archers brace for the legal and reputational consequences.

The Archers delay rescinding the engagement to avoid the appearance of an immediate breach, dragging out the uncertainty. The delay keeps Marquis’s leverage alive as he pursues the settlement and the wedding plans. The family walks a fine line between pride and pragmatism.

Marquis continues to send gifts for Corliss while Archer is hounded by the media for comments. Glimpse, a national magazine, runs photos of Marquis and Corliss, amplifying the scandal. The couple's relationship becomes fodder for public consumption.

Glimpse, a national magazine, runs photos of Marquis and Corliss, elevating the public interest in their romance. The exposure compounds the Archers' frustration and Marquis's confidence. Public visibility reshapes how the dispute is perceived.

Uncle George, a Navy chaplain, visits and offers to perform the wedding, signaling a potential resolution. At the wedding rehearsal held in the Archers' home, Dexter reveals he has a witness who can corroborate Corliss's version. Marquis's lie is exposed, and a confrontation outside leaves all parties bloodied, with Marquis departing with a blackened eye.