The Barkleys of Broadway

After the opening night of their new musical, Josh mildly criticizes Dinah for not allowing the audience to emotionally connect with her performance. They then take a limousine ride to Mrs. Belney's afterparty, where tension between them simmers under the surface. This moment signals growing strain in their relationship.

Dinah meets the French playwright Jacques Barredout at the party. He suggests that she should quit musical comedy and pursue serious acting. The encounter plants seeds of doubt about her current path.

Josh returns inside and finds Dinah and Jacques together. He accuses Dinah of flirting and questions her fidelity. The moment escalates the tension between the couple.

Back at home, Josh accuses Dinah of flirting and neglecting their marriage. Dinah explains that Jacques believes she could be a dramatic actress, while Josh argues she should stay in musical theater. The quarrel signals a rift in their partnership.

Bert Felsher and Ezra Millar introduce Shirlene May, who has been hired as Dinah's understudy. The move foreshadows changes in the show's dynamics and potential competition.

The Barkleys attend an art exhibition where Dinah is displeased with her portrait. The painter compares Josh to Svengali, creating an unsettling moment for them. The episode deepens Dinah's unease about her image and influence.

Dinah encounters Jacques and Mrs Belney who invite them on a country trip, but she declines the invitation. She remains focused on her career and upcoming performances. This decision underscores the widening gap between her ambitions and Josh's expectations.

The Barkleys return to their Broadway musical and perform a spirited Scottish number. The performance showcases their professional excellence, even as personal tensions linger beneath the surface.

Backstage, the couple decides to take a weekend vacation in Danbridge, accompanied by Ezra. Josh and Ezra play golf at the country club, while Dinah discusses Jacques's new play with Pamela Driscoll and suggests she is the better choice to star. The trip blends professional talk with personal tension.

In Danbridge, Dinah critiques casting for Jacques's new play and insists she should star as the lead. Pamela Driscoll supports this view, and Jacques seems to agree that Dinah is the right choice. The debate sharpens the boundary between personal ambition and professional opportunity.

Back in New York, Dinah secretly rehearses for the lead role in Jacques's play. Josh discovers her rehearsals and accuses her of having an affair. The couple announces their separation as Josh prepares to perform solo while Dinah auditions for Jacques's production.

At a pivotal audition, Ezra attempts to persuade Dinah to perform at a hospital benefit concert by claiming Josh will not attend. She declines, choosing to chart her own course. The moment deepens the rift as external pressures mount.

Backstage with Ezra, Josh observes Dinah's rehearsals and decides to help by impersonating Jacques over the phone. He gives her advice in the voice of Jacques, and Dinah delivers an impressively sharp audition as a result. The deception adds a new layer to their fraught relationship.

During the benefit concert, Ezra performs with an orchestra as Josh and Dinah reunite backstage for an impromptu song and dance. After the performance, Dinah declines any potential reunion, feeling Josh has taken her for granted. The public gesture contrasts with their private discontent.

The real Jacques arrives during the dressing-room drama, and Dinah realizes that Josh has impersonated him. Josh admits the deception and reveals that he has fallen for Shirlene, planning to divorce. Despite the turmoil, the couple ultimately decides to reconcile and continue as a musical team.