Lovin’ the Ladies

Peter Darby, an electrician, is sent to the home of wealthy Jimmy Farnsworth for a service call. He steps into an opulent setting and meets Jimmy and his circle, setting the stage for the schemes to come. The encounter marks the beginning of the events that will test love and social status.

Jimmy declares that any two people can fall in love under the right circumstances and bets George Van Horne $5,000 that he can prove it. George agrees, on the condition that he can choose the two people to participate. The bet sets the entire experiment into motion.

George selects Betty Duncan as the woman and Peter Darby as the man for the bet, choosing two people he believes can be influenced by circumstance. He is skeptical but intrigued by the social experiment. The selections reveal the contrast between Betty's boredom and Peter's humble background.

Jimmy hires Peter to woo Betty, paying $2,500 and financing the endeavor, while assuming a high-society masquerade to help Peter blend in. Peter agrees to the pretense, knowing the stakes and the money involved. This marks the start of the staged courtship.

During a fitting for new clothes suitable for high society, Peter meets Joan Bently, a woman Jimmy has coveted for himself. He is intrigued by her, but Jimmy immediately clarifies that she is not the target of the bet. The encounter foreshadows a genuine connection Peter feels beyond the scheme.

Jimmy tells Peter that Betty—not Joan—is the intended target, countering Peter's impression about the encounter. Peter's enthusiasm cools slightly as he realizes the manipulation involved. The moment underscores the tension between genuine feeling and social game-playing.

Under the cover of friendship with Jimmy, Peter begins romancing Betty at Jimmy's estate. He stages romantic touches—flowers, a hired violinist, a perfume-scented parlor, and Shelley’s poems—to elevate the mood. Betty's reactions reveal her indifference to true romance and her interest lies elsewhere.

Betty seems more interested in Brooks, the estate's butler, highlighting the disconnect between Peter's advances and her expectations. The misalignment fuels Peter's realization that Betty may not be the one he is meant to win. The dynamic also underscores the social quirks that complicate the bet.

Peter develops a genuine attraction to Joan as he reveals his zest for life and his humble status. She softens toward him as she sees something real behind the facade. This shift complicates the original plan and deepens Peter's emotional conflict.

Peter confesses his true status and persuades Joan to leave with him the next morning. He imagines a life beyond the social theater, driven by a shared sense of adventure and authenticity. The confession marks a turning point from performance to real possibility.

Jimmy tells Joan that Peter has been romancing Betty, painting Peter as a dealer of deceit. Joan interprets this as manipulation and doubts his sincerity. The revelation destabilizes the fragile trust that's forming between Peter and Joan.

Peter compels Jimmy to admit the truth publicly, exposing the staged romance and the bet. The confrontation clears the air and puts an end to the subterfuge. The crowd learns what actually transpired between the players.

Feeling vindicated and hopeful, Peter finds Joan waiting for him in a taxi outside the estate. The two realize that their connection survived the gambit and choose to pursue a genuine future together. The ride marks the hopeful resolution of the story's romance.