Ever in My Heart

In 1909 in Archedale, Mary Archer meets Hugo Wilbrandt, a German chemist who knows her cousin Jeff. They quickly fall in love and decide to marry soon after, starting a family.

Mary and Hugo marry and settle into life together in Archedale. The newly formed family blends American and German heritage as they begin their life.

Hugo enthusiastically adopts his new country and becomes an American citizen just before the war begins. He embraces American life but the coming conflict tests his loyalties.

As Allied propaganda fuels anti German sentiment, Hugo loses his professorship at the local university. The family endures growing hardship as opportunities shrink.

The Wilbrandts pain deepens when their young son Teddy dies. Mary and Hugo struggle to hold onto hope amid grief.

A local group of boys kills the family dachshund in a cruel act. The tragedy adds to the sense of fear and sadness in the household.

Hugo convinces Mary to return to her parents home, promising that he will follow soon. She leaves their home with a heavy heart, hoping to reunite after the war ends.

Hugo sends Mary a letter stating that although he is now a citizen, he is not being accepted as American. He informs her that he plans to return to Europe to fight for his people.

Devastated by the letter, Mary divorces Hugo. The break marks a turning point as she shifts focus to supporting the war effort.

Mary volunteers her time in a USO like organization supporting the American war effort. Her work shines as the war intensifies.

Mary goes to France to aid soldiers and meets Martha Sewell and Serena Honeywell, who fear capture by the Germans. Mary confiscates their pistol and poison pills to protect them and others.

In a canteen near the Meuse Argonne Front, Mary recognizes Hugo in a US Army uniform and urges him to escape. She diverts Jeff to keep him from recognizing Hugo.

Hugo escapes just as Jeff arrives, and later he returns to Marys room where they share a night together. They are torn between love and duty.

Before dawn they toast their love while outside troops march off to battle. Mary prepares two glasses of wine and secretly drops poison pills into each.