The Blue Veil

Following the death of her newborn baby, war widow LouLou Mason, Lovyss Bradley, accepts a two-week assignment as nursemaid to the infant son of corset manufacturer Frederick K. Begley, who lost his wife in childbirth. She quickly ingratiates herself with the Begley family and becomes a steady presence in their lives. When Frederick proposes, she declines; he marries his secretary Alicia Torgersen, Vivian Vance, who fires LouLou after her honeymoon.

Years later, LouLou finds employment with wealthy Henry Palfrey, Carleton G. Young, and his wife Fleur Palfrey, and begins to care for baby Robbie. Their elder son Harrison Palfrey, Gregory Marshall, is expelled from boarding school for poor grades and returns home with his tutor, Jerry Kean, Richard Carlson. When Jerry is offered a job in Beirut, he impulsively proposes to LouLou, who accepts. As they wait for the engagement, Fleur warns him about marrying a woman he barely knows. After a talk, he suggests waiting a few months before marrying, and LouLou remains with the Palfreys.

Years pass and LouLou becomes nursemaid to Stephanie Rawlins, the twelve-year-old daughter of fading musical actress Annie Rawlins, Natalie Wood. When Annie is delayed at an audition and misses Stephanie’s confirmation, the girl blurts that LouLou is her mother. Realizing the girl has formed an especially strong attachment, LouLou decides to look for work elsewhere.

Just before World War II begins, LouLou takes a job with Helen and Hugh Williams, Audrey Totter and Dan O’Herlihy. Hugh goes off to fight, and Helen joins him in England. Two years later, the widowed Helen stops sending money to support her son Tony, and LouLou takes responsibility for him. When Helen returns with a new husband, LouLou flees to Florida with Tony, but is arrested on charges of kidnapping. The district attorney, while sympathetic, must order Tony returned to Helen.

Now too old to be entrusted with a baby, LouLou takes a janitorial job in an elementary school to stay close to children. During a visit to an ophthalmologist, she discovers he is Robbie Palfrey, the now-adult son of her former employers. Robbie invites her to dinner with all the children she cared for, arranging for their presence. As LouLou reconnects with those former charges, Robbie says he wants her to be the nanny for his own children.

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 12:32