Penny Princess

Lampidorra operates with no taxes, quotas, tariffs, or forms to fill. Its two thousand residents depend on smuggling to neighboring France, Italy, and Switzerland to fund daily life. When the economy worsens, the country slides into bankruptcy and searches for an unlikely rescue.

To secure a financial lifeline, Lampidorra sells the country to a wealthy American for $100,000. Soon after, the buyer dies, and Lampidorra is inherited by his distant relative, Lindy Smith, a Macy's shopgirl. This absurd transfer of sovereignty sets up Lindy's unlikely ascent.

On the way to her new realm, Lindy encounters Tony Craig, an inexperienced British salesman trying to hawk cheese to the Swiss. The meeting pairs a skeptical shopgirl with a hopeful marketer as their strange future unfolds. The seeds of romance and collaboration are planted amid the voyage.

Lindy arrives and is greeted by Lampidorra's ruling triumvirate: the Chancellor (a cobbler), the Burgomeister (a policeman), and the Minister of Finance (a blacksmith). Their odd trades underline the state's craft-driven governance. Lindy's presence immediately changes the political dynamic.

As her first royal decree, Lindy outlaws smuggling, aiming to enforce order and legitimacy. The policy backfires because her inheritance will be tied up for at least six months by legalities, worsening the financial crisis. The clash between idealism and practical finance becomes obvious.

Lindy samples schneese, Lampidorra's cheese made with Schnapps, and ends up a bit tipsy. She decides it could be a terrific export and has Tony brought in to help market it. This discovery shifts the economy from internal smuggling to international branding.

The alcoholic cheese shocks European markets and becomes a sensation, prompting neighboring nations to impose tariffs to protect their own cheese industries. The new trade tensions threaten Lampidorra's fragile venture. Lindy and Tony must navigate a landscape of competition and reform.

With tariffs in place, Lampidorra leans on its traditional smuggling expertise to avoid payment and keep schneese flowing. The old methods prove valuable again, even as the state faces international pressure. The country swings between legality and illicit trade as a survival strategy.

Tony falls in love with Lindy and proposes marriage. An intercepted telegram from his employer leads Lindy to wrongly suspect he is after the schneese secret recipe. The accusation strains their bond and threatens their partnership.

The misgiving is resolved and the couple clears the air. Tony explains his intentions, proving loyalty and affection, while Lindy recognizes her error. Their relationship strengthens as they move forward together.

Lindy finally receives her full inheritance, freeing funds to bail out her subjects and stabilize Lampidorra's finances. The crisis eases as the state regains breathing room and potential prosperity. It marks a turning point toward a more hopeful future.

With the crisis resolved and fortunes restored, Lindy departs Lampidorra, taking Tony by her side. She leaves behind a stabilized country and a newly formed partnership as they begin their life together. The cheese-export economy looks ahead with cautious optimism.