Julia Misbehaves

In 1936 London, mature showgirl Julia Packett lives precariously, often scheming to borrow money to cover her bills. She even pretends to contemplate suicide to extract cash from a male friend. This ruse underscores her fragile finances and willingness to take drastic steps.

Julia receives a wedding invitation from her daughter Susan, signaling a possible reconnection with her past. The invitation pulls her back toward family ties she left behind. It sets the stage for decisions that follow.

As a young woman, Julia had married wealthy William Packett, but his disapproving mother forced a breakup after fourteen months. Julia returns to show business but leaves her infant daughter with William for safety and stability. The past continues to haunt her present choices.

On the boat to France, Julia meets muscular acrobat Fred Ghenoccio and feels an instant attraction. Their chemistry grows as she travels with his troupe, hinting at a bright but complicated romance. The relationship becomes a central pull in her life.

In Paris, Julia performs with Fred's troupe to great success, riding a wave of public acclaim. The triumph deepens her involvement with Fred and complicates her commitments back home. The glamour of Paris masks looming conflicts.

As her train pulls away from the station, Fred proposes to Julia, promising a life together. The moment binds her to Fred even as it distances her from previous obligations. The vow foreshadows future tensions.

Julia arrives penniless at her destination and convinces Colonel Willowbrook to lend money for gowns and other clothes. She slips away before he can press his company further, avoiding a potential romantic entanglement. The episode highlights her resourcefulness and moral compromises.

Julia's mother-in-law is displeased, but she is able to see Susan, who insists that Julia stay. Over time, William's love for Julia resurfaces, rekindling old feelings and complicating loyalties. The household becomes a battleground of past and present affections.

Julia observes Susan's growing feelings for painter Ritchie Lorgan and quietly helps the two to connect. She remains skeptical of William's newly revived devotion while navigating her own tangled past with Fred. The matchmaking effort reveals her protective side.

Fred returns to claim Julia, but William confronts his old friend Willowbrook. Willowbrook pretends not to know Fred and interrupts their breakfast, exposing Julia's controversial fundraising method and driving Fred away. The confrontation exposes secrets and tests loyalties.

Susan elopes with Ritchie, and William and Julia chase after them, only to realize they have been lured to the wrong destination. The pursuit culminates in a misdirection that delays the union and heightens the sense of inevitability about the trio's fates.

Following Susan's instructions, servants drive away their cars, leaving them stranded for 48 hours in an isolated honeymoon cabin. A rainstorm turns the moment into a comic trial as Julia slips into mud and William comes to her aid, only to end up laughing at their ridiculous predicament.