That Certain Age (1938) Plot Summary Explained

Alice stages the haunted-house prank because she fears Vincent will get the scouts kicked out of the house. The scouts are using the Fullerton home to rehearse their charity show, and Alice worries that a serious reporter working in the house might complain about the noise and disruption, forcing her friends to find a new rehearsal space.

Foreshadowing: This early protective instinct toward the scouts shows Alice's willingness to take action for people she cares about.

• alice fullerton
• vincent bullitt
• haunted house
• scouts
• prank

Alice's feelings shift when she learns Vincent is ill. After her initial scheme fails and Vincent sees through her prank, he shows unexpected sympathy toward the scouts and decides to leave. When he gets sick, Alice nurses him back to health, and during this caring period, her initial antagonism transforms into genuine affection for the charming older reporter.

Foreshadowing: Vincent's sympathetic response to Alice's confession about the scouts planted the seed for her change of heart.

• alice crush
• vincent illness
• nursing
• feelings

Ken replaces Alice because he's jealous of her crush on Vincent. Since Ken himself has feelings for Alice, watching her dote on the older reporter while neglecting their friendship hurts him. By bringing in Mary Lee as a replacement singer, Ken hopes to push Alice out of the show and away from Vincent.

Foreshadowing: Ken showed his jealousy earlier when Alice spent more time caring for Vincent instead of working on the scout fundraiser.

• ken warren
• mary lee
• jealousy
• replacement
• scout show

Alice borrows the dress to look older and more mature, hoping to appear as a suitable romantic interest to Vincent. However, when her mother criticizes or questions her appearance, Alice retaliates by demanding the dress back in a moment of frustration and embarrassment, causing a tense confrontation that further isolates her.

Foreshadowing: This moment shows Alice's internal conflict between wanting to be seen as an adult and the reality of being a fifteen-year-old girl.

• alice dress
• party
• looking older
• frustration

Alice's mother fabricates the story that Vincent is married to reporter Grace Bristow as a last-ditch effort to break Alice's infatuation. With social pressure and gentle persuasion failing to deter her daughter's determination to pursue Vincent, the lie is meant to shatter Alice's romantic hopes and force her to give up the crush.

Foreshadowing: Earlier attempts by the mother to discourage Alice had no effect, showing why she resorted to drastic measures.

• alice mother
• vincent married
• grace bristow
• lie
• break crush

Alice abandons her romantic hopes because the false rumor about Vincent being married completely shatters her dream. The lie hits hard because Alice genuinely believed she could win his affection, and the realization that he was already taken destroys her certainty about their future together, leading her to step aside.

Foreshadowing: Alice's earlier determination to marry Vincent showed how invested she was, making the eventual surrender more impactful.

• alice heartbreak
• giving up
• married rumor
• disappointment

Alice reclaims her spot in the show when Mary Lee becomes ill on the night of the performance. With no other option available, the group asks Alice to step back into the female lead, allowing her to return to the spotlight and complete the charity show as originally planned.

Foreshadowing: Despite the replacement drama, Alice's talent and involvement in the original production made her the logical backup choice.

• alice show role
• mary lee ill
• performance
• scout charity

Vincent decides to leave because he sympathizes with the scouts' situation after Alice confesses the truth. Rather than cause trouble for a group of kids working on a legitimate charity project, he chooses to pack up and find another place to work, even though his boss Bill wanted him to stay.

Foreshadowing: Vincent's kind nature and understanding personality were established when he listened to Alice's honest explanation.

• vincent leaves
• haunted house
• sympathy
• scouts

Ken spreads the information about Alice's feelings as a strategic move to end the situation. By revealing the truth to the adults, Ken hopes they will intervene and put a stop to Alice's crush, effectively removing Vincent as a rival and restoring the original dynamics of their friendship and the scout group.

Foreshadowing: Ken's jealousy had been building since Alice started spending time with Vincent instead of the scouts.

• ken tells
• alice love
• parents
• revelation
• jealousy

Alice sells her possessions to purchase an expensive cigarette lighter because she wants to give Vincent a meaningful gift that demonstrates her devotion. The costly gesture reflects her teenage desire to prove her love and win his affection, showing how far she's willing to go to express her feelings.

Foreshadowing: This act of sacrifice illustrates how seriously Alice takes her crush, foreshadowing her eventual disappointment.

• alice gift
• cigarette lighter
• sells belongings
• affection