Pardon My Past

Eddie York and Chuck Gibson leave New York City to become mink farmers in Wisconsin. At a local tailor, Eddie is mistaken for Francis Pemberton by a thug who owes money to Jim Arnold. The thug drags Eddie along to Arnold to press for the debt, threatening consequences if he fails to return with cash.

The thug takes Eddie to Arnold to collect the $12,000 debt. Arnold confiscates Eddie's wallet containing $3,000 and demands Eddie come back the next day with the rest. The pressure tightens as Eddie realizes he must find Francis to settle the debt.

Eddie decides to locate Francis to repay the debt and travels to the Pemberton mansion. He discovers Francis hasn’t been home for two years and has been boozing in Mexico. Eddie is mistaken again for Francis by the household, escalating the confusion.

Chuck tries to drum up cash by telling the family that Francis plans to invest $3,000 in a mink farm. The plan hinges on accessing a family safe, but Eddie doesn’t know the combination, stalling their effort. The facade highlights how little they know about the real Francis.

Joan, a young relative, invites Eddie and Chuck to stay the night at the mansion. The family is impressed by Francis's sudden generosity and altered behavior, which deepens the ruse. Eddie begins to worry about keeping up the deception as evening settles in.

Uncle Wills arrives with the safe combination and is stunned by Francis's changed persona. Mary leaves a note explaining her side of the story, hinting at a custody battle over Stephanie. Grandpa and others sense something is amiss with the supposed heir.

Arnold returns to collect his money and Eddie directs Wills to retrieve it from the safe. Wills presents a check for $12,000 to Arnold, using the moment to secure payment. Eddie also reclaims his own wallet in the process, though the truth remains hidden.

Eddie decides to help fix the Francis–Mary relationship and leaves a letter from Mary with Joan, asking her to mail it to Mexico. The plan aims to set up a reconciliation instead of prolonging the deception. Joan becomes sympathetic to Eddie's situation and curious about Francis.

Wills grows suspicious and tries to commit Francis to a psychiatric ward, but the real Francis arrives by taxi. Eddie's true identity is revealed, and Grandpa confirms that Eddie and Francis are twin brothers separated at birth. The revelation changes everyone’s understanding of the family dynamics.

Wills attacks both Eddie and Francis with accusations of plotting against the family fortune, but Joan supports them and hands Francis the letters from Mary. Eddie heads to the tailor for a new suit, and Arnold appears demanding repayment in rare books from the Pemberton library, prompting a scheme to steal books as payment.

Joan is appalled by the chaos and leaves, with Eddie following to keep pace while Chuck remains in Arnold's clutches. The bond between the impostors and the family strains under the mounting pressure. The situation moves toward a resolution as loyalties shift.

Grandpa reveals Eddie’s true identity and the twins’ bond. Francis sends another check to Arnold, and Chuck is released. Eddie explains the twin-brother confusion to Joan, who admits she loves Eddie and he proposes in a decisive, hopeful moment.

Wills has Mary arrested for attempting to kidnap Stephanie, and the police bring her to the mansion. Eddie impersonates Francis to persuade the authorities to release Mary, who then comes inside to be with her daughter, marking a turning point in the family’s reconciliation.

Eddie and Joan elope with Chuck in a taxi, stopping by the tailor on the way to the train station. Arnold greets them with a peace offering—a pair of minks—to kick off their mink business and seal the new, chaotic-but-happy chapter for the trio.