Holiday in Mexico

The film opens with a cartoon showing Washington, DC wires trying to reach Mexico, signaling the cross-border world Christine and her ambassador father inhabit. We are introduced to Jeffrey Evans, the American ambassador to Mexico, and to his teenage daughter Christine, who is the center of their world.

Christine finds fulfillment in managing her father's life and spending time with him, but Jeffrey's control over her schedule creates tension. The relationship blends affection with a sense of duty, setting up Christine's restlessness and desire for independence.

Jeffrey forces Christine to attend a party where her childhood friend Stanley Owen awaits. In a moment of rebellious mischief, Christine gives Stanley one of her father's expensive tobacco pipes, signaling a provocative claim of status and a warning that she won't be easily controlled.

Yvette Baranga, daughter of the French ambassador, begs Christine to allow her to attend Jeffrey Evans' upcoming party. Christine agrees, unaware that Yvette harbors a crush on her father.

Christine asks her father for permission to arrange the party and receives his consent. She coordinates with Toni Karpathy to sing at the event, unaware that Toni was once a love interest of her father.

Christine meets the piano virtuoso Jose Iturbi, who is impressed by how she manages the chaotic household and by her singing ability. He asks her to perform in his concert, but she declines because she and her father will visit her grandmother.

The party is a success, but Christine misses part of it as she prepares. Jose arrives, performs, and gives her an expensive corsage. Stanley grows jealous and argues with Christine.

Over the following week, Jeffrey spends more time with Toni, leaving Christine feeling neglected. Christine enlists Stanley to help her sneak into an evening club to spy on her father; they pass the guards, but Stanley trips into customers, causing embarrassment. Christine then sees her father with Toni and leaves, feeling unneeded.

Christine recalls Jose's age and begins to dream of marrying him, despite the awkward reality of the situation. Stanley leaves furious after a confrontation stemming from Christine's affections and plans. Jeffrey later tells Christine he won't visit her grandmother, deepening the emotional crisis.

Yvette drops by, and Jeffrey, thinking she was visiting Christine, asks if a young woman like herself could be interested in an older man. Yvette, believing the remark referred to her, says yes and happily leaves.

Jeffrey goes to see Jose and finds that Jose is not romantically interested in Christine. The Evans visit Jose, and he introduces Christine to his grandchildren, leaving Christine shocked by the generational and relational gap.

Shocked by the turn of events, Christine returns home and packs for a visit to her grandmother, torn between flight and staying to face her problems. The family tensions come to a head as she weighs her future.

Jeffrey counsels Christine that running away won't solve their problems, and she resolves to stay to perform in Jose's concert. The decision marks a shift from escape to commitment to her art and family.

Christine performs in Jose's concert while her father, Toni, and Stanley watch with pride. The performance becomes a resolution moment, reinforcing Christine's choice to stay and grow with her family.