Fifth Avenue Girl

Timothy Borden is a powerful industrialist who feels isolated by the demands of business and a distant family. He orchestrates a plan to hire Mary as his pretend mistress to provoke his household and push his son to innovate to save the company. His aloof exterior hides a longing for genuine connection and fidelity, and his evolving feelings for Mary push him toward choosing authenticity over appearances.

Mary is a young unemployed woman drawn into the Borden circle after meeting Tim in Central Park. She agrees to pose as his mistress, then navigates the complexities of their arrangement while maintaining her own integrity and independence. As the scheme grows, she becomes a catalyst for emotional self-discovery and changes within the family.

Martha is Tim's wife, feeling neglected and eager for drama. She seeks psychiatric counsel and schemes to disrupt Mary’s influence, using gossip and social pressure to control the household. Her insecurity and vanity drive conflict, but she must confront the consequences of a marriage stretched by neglect.

Katherine is Tim's daughter, torn between her feelings for Mike and the constraints of high society. She becomes involved with Mike and ultimately marries him, signaling a shift toward personal happiness and independence within the family dynamic. Her arc explores loyalty to family amid social pressures.

Mike is the ardently communist chauffeur who drives Tim and Mary, offering a working-class perspective within the luxury milieu. He acts as a quiet counterbalance to wealth and privilege, and his relationship with Katherine adds a further layer to the plot. He embodies the undercurrents of political conviction amidst personal romance.

Mr. Borden is the aging business patriarch who expects his son to run Amalgamated Pump. His presence anchors the family conflict and corporate stakes, pressing Tim to protect the company's future. His practical temperament and traditionalism define the norms that the younger generation must navigate.