The Affairs of Martha

A tabloid-style gossip item claims one of the neighborhood's maids is writing a tell-all about her employers, sowing fear among the families. The whispers reach the Sommerfields and the others, stirring suspicion and anxiety about which secrets might surface. The town's quiet is rattled as everyone wonders who the author could be.

Mrs. McKessic rounds up the neighborhood staff for a meeting to discuss how to avoid being spied on or identified as the tell-all's author. The group resolves to band together and monitor employer snooping and press intrusion. Tensions rise as the servants claim a shared stake in protecting their privacy.

The author is revealed to be Martha Lindstrom, the Sommerfields' young maid. She secretly visits her publisher Joel Archer to urge him to stop planting sensational stories and to avoid harming the book's upcoming release. The confrontation hints at a fragile alliance between truth, publicity, and Martha's own ambitions.

Jeff Sommerfield comes home unexpectedly after a year and a half away and brings his fiancée, mathematician Sylvia Norwood. Martha observes the scene with mixed emotions, keeping her true feelings hidden. The family dynamic shifts as old loyalties collide with new relationships.

Just before leaving on his expedition, Jeff married Martha in a drunken moment, and gave her money to secure an annulment or divorce. He returns to find they are still legally bound, a fact Martha has kept hidden while continuing to work for the family. The revelation forces a reckoning about truth, love, and social class.

Jeff discovers the marriage hasn't been dissolved and insists Martha secure a divorce so he can marry Sylvia. Martha wrestles with her loyalty to Jeff and her own desire to stay with him, all while navigating the pressures of their differing social standings. The strain threatens to unravel the household's delicate balance.

Archer and the flirtatious Danny O'Brien are both drawn to Martha, complicating her already tangled feelings. She is tempted by Archer's attention but remains unsure about Jeff's lack of reciprocation and the consequences of any new relationship. The situation sharpens the sense that Martha's life is being pulled in multiple directions.

Archer crashes the Sommerfields' dinner party and, spurred by guests' harsh criticisms, declares that he will publish the book and that Martha is the author. The insinuation cuts to Martha's core and she feels exposed before all, heightening the urgency of her situation. The room fills with shock, accusations, and a palpable sense of irreversible change.

Following the explosive confrontation, Martha makes a decisive exit with Archer, escaping in his car. The guests gossip, and the Sommerfields are left to confront the disruption in their household. The pairing marks a turning point in Martha's life and the ongoing battle over truth and ambition.

As Martha departs, Jeff experiences a sudden clarity about his love for her, realizing that his earlier indifference was a blind spot. He sounds the alarm in his own heart and resolves to win her back. The moment acutely shifts the power dynamics within the family and Martha's own sense of belonging.

Jeff chases after Martha as she and Archer drive away, and the pursuit ends with a reconciliation between the two. The conflict over the marriage, love, and public exposure reaches an emotional resolution. Martha's future remains intertwined with the family's affairs and the looming tell-all book.

With the immediate crisis resolved, Martha and Jeff renew their bond while the book's publication remains a looming reality. The neighborhood settles back into its quiet rhythm, though secrets and social ambitions continue to shape the characters' lives. The ending reinforces the themes of love, class, and the price of truth.