It Started with a Kiss

Joe Fitzpatrick, a United States Air Force sergeant, marries Maggie on a whim. The day after the ceremony, he is sent to a base in Spain, thrusting the newlyweds into a long-distance and culture-shocked scenario. The move foreshadows the conflicts that will test their marriage.

Later that day Maggie receives a surprising gift: a shiny red 1955 Lincoln Futura with bubble top, won by Joe in a raffle. The ostentatious car becomes a symbol of their impending complications. Maggie begins to dream about the possibilities it represents.

Maggie writes a letter hinting at a wonderful surprise she will bring to Joe. He speculates that the surprise could be a pregnancy, and the mystery strains their communication. The anticipation adds emotional tension to their rapidly changing situation.

Maggie travels to Spain and attends a party where her supposed surprise is sprung on her. She denies being pregnant and offers no clear explanation, intensifying Joe's confusion. The moment exposes cracks in their understanding of each other.

The conspicuous vehicle draws envy and disdain from Spanish officials and locals. The Air Force brass insist Joe send the car home at their expense, a move he fears would upset Maggie. He tries to balance military protocol with their fragile marriage.

The IRS demands $17,000 in taxes for the vehicle, a sum the couple cannot pay. They decide to sell the car to the famous bullfighter to raise the money. The plan triggers a new confrontation with military rules and personal risk.

The Air Force learns of the sale, which violates regulations about selling personal property to locals. Joe is arrested and confined to quarters, a stark fall from grace. Maggie's absence during this crisis deepens their separation.

Joe and Maggie have separated, and a party is held in a mansion he is temporarily living in. She discovers that he is living with a glamorous countess who is a friend of the bullfighter. Her jealousy escalates the conflict between them.

Maggie persuades the bullfighter to propose to him to make Joe jealous, but her true desire is to win Joe back. She sneaks into the room she thinks Joe is sleeping in, only to find the general in bed. A chaotic discovery attracts a crowd and heightens the misunderstandings.

The farcical mix-ups end with Joe and Maggie reconciling, and a solution to the car problem is revealed. They decide to retire to their bedroom to share a quiet moment and recommit as a couple. The crisis begins to resolve as they reconcile their differences.

With the immediate chaos resolved, Joe and Maggie confront the consequences of their choices and reaffirm their partnership. They choose to face the future together rather than letting the Air Force or external pressures tear them apart. The car remains a symbol of their union rather than a source of division.

The story closes with the couple retiring to their bedroom, ready to enjoy togetherness and start anew. The earlier turmoil gives way to a hopeful, intimate moment that underscores the strength of their bond. The Lincoln car stands as a lasting reminder of their unconventional journey.