Hindle Wakes

Jenny Hawthorne and Mary Hollins travel to Blackpool for wakes week and enjoy a seaside break. They meet Alan Jeffcote, the mill owner's son, and there is an immediate spark between Jenny and him. Jenny starts to see a future with him as the holiday unfolds.

Jenny and Alan slip away from their friends and travel to Llandudno, where he books a hotel for them as Mr and Mrs Jeffcote. They leave the group behind and spend time alone, growing closer. The contrast between their romance and the rest of the party deepens the sense of secrecy.

To cover her tracks, Jenny follows Mary's advice and writes a postcard for Mary to post later. The postcard captures a story that no one back home would expect, hinting at her absence. She keeps it unsent in her luggage as the week continues.

Shortly after Jenny and Alan's departure, Mary Hollins is involved in a serious boating accident and is killed. The news devastates the group and triggers a chain of anxious questions back home. Mary's possessions are returned to Hindle as the tragedy becomes clear.

Mary's belongings arrive back in Hindle, and the unsent postcard is found in her luggage. The discovery raises suspicions about Jenny's whereabouts and what actually happened during the holiday. The family starts to fear that something is amiss.

Jenny's parents grow anxious as she returns later than expected. The postcard's existence intensifies their concerns, and they pressure Jenny to explain where she has been. The suspicion thickens as they appraise the situation back home.

When confronted with the truth, Jenny confesses where she has been and with whom, but she refuses to feel guilty or immoral about the fling. Her defiant stance contrasts with her parents' distress. The confession marks a turning point in the family’s response to the scandal.

Mr Hawthorne and his wife decide to confront Alan's parents about his behaviour. They also weigh the possibility of managing the situation through a social alliance tied to marriage. The tension between families grows as the plan takes shape.

To salvage the social position and potential reputation, Mr Jeffcote agrees that Alan should marry Jenny. This surprising decision aims to resolve the scandal with a formal engagement. The offer alters the power dynamics between the two families.

Mrs Jeffcote is initially less convinced because Alan has lost his expected engagement to the daughter of another factory owner. The loss complicates the plan and strains the couple's prospects. The tension intensifies as both families debate the next steps.

A formal meeting is convened between the two families. Jenny and Alan sit in silence as their parents attempt to hammer out terms, while the mothers clash in a shouting match. The negotiation underscores the clash between social norms and personal desires.

Jenny declares she has no interest in marrying Alan and that their relationship was just a 'little fling'. Her mother sobs while Alan's mother looks relieved, and Alan phones his fiancée to make up. Jenny returns to her life at the factory with her admirer, resuming normalcy after the scandal.