Pretty Baby

Patsy Douglas comes up with an ingenious ruse to secure a seat on the crowded New York subway by pretending to have a baby. She uses a doll discarded by the advertising agency where she works and presents herself as a harried mother. The ruse succeeds, and she finds herself comfortably settled as the carriage fills with amused onlookers.

Nearby, Baxter overhears that the baby is named Cyrus after him and is amused by the coincidence. He quickly takes an interest in Patsy and subtly encourages the ruse. He lets her believe he works for Baxter as a watchman, deepening the illusion around her deception.

Their initial interaction on the subway evolves into a budding, if unconventional, rapport. Patsy enjoys the attention and the way the ruse smoothes her day-to-day needs. Baxter, for his part, continues to play along as the 'watchman' while learning more about her situation.

Morley and Holmes hustle to present Baxter with a new campaign contract, insisting Patsy must stay happy as part of the plan. They discover Patsy was fired from her secretarial duties, and they quickly hire her back and promote her to a higher role. The arrangement ties Patsy to the campaign and Baxter's goodwill.

Morley sees Patsy and Baxter together and immediately assumes she is Baxter's mistress. Patsy continues to maintain the façade, hoping to protect the contract and her position. The misunderstanding tightens the agency's grip on the deception and complicates loyalties.

Patsy is sent to present the latest idea and realizes the man she befriended is the real Cyrus Baxter. The discovery makes the ruse riskier, forcing her to navigate the truth while maintaining the performance. Baxter's proximity now feels both helpful and potentially dangerous to the scheme.

Despite the masquerade, Baxter's temper gradually improves under Patsy's influence, revealing a warmer side behind his brash exterior. Patsy sees progress that reinforces the value of the ongoing deception for their professional ties. The change deepens their dynamics and raises the stakes of the lie.

When Morley and Holmes finally learn the truth, Patsy wants to confess to Baxter, but their insistence on maintaining the masquerade persists to secure his contract. Patsy agrees to continue the ruse rather than risk hundreds of jobs. The ethical tension between honesty and livelihood drives the plot forward.

Morley shows Baxter a photograph of the baby, which is actually a picture of his partner as a child, triggering a suspicion that the baby might be the child of Holmes. Baxter suspects Holmes is the father, prompting Morley to arrange for Holmes to start dating Patsy. Jealousy and romantic confusion begin to complicate the professional scheme.

Overwhelmed by the escalating farce, Patsy tells Baxter she will raise her son on her own and decides to quit the agency as well. Baxter, frustrated by the ruse, hires private investigator Corcoran to locate her. Morley confirms there is no child and admits his own feelings for Patsy.

Private investigator Corcoran confirms there is no baby, clearing Patsy's conscience but ending the ruse. Morley then admits he is in love with Patsy, complicating the workplace dynamics. Baxter, buoyed by the revelation, resolves to pursue Patsy with renewed determination.

Baxter insists he will chase Patsy, and Morley catches her on a subway train. He persuades her to get off at the City Hall stop to marry, setting up the final resolution. Patsy, facing a real future with Baxter, agrees to move forward with the plan.