The Enchanted Cottage

Guests gather at a party awaiting the arrival of Laura and Oliver Bradford. The mood blends anticipation with a sense of ceremony surrounding their union. The scene sets the stage for the cottage's enchantment to unfold later.

John Hillgrove, the blind pianist, performs his tone poem the Enchanted Cottage in honor of the couple. The performance frames the film's magical premise and foreshadows the emotional journey to come.

Laura cycles to a seaside New England cottage where she meets Hillgrove and his young nephew Danny. She had heard fantastical stories about the cottage from her mother before her death. This meeting marks the beginning of her connection to the cottage's lore.

Laura is hired as a caretaker by Mrs. Abigail Minnett, the widowed tenant owner. She feels a mutual connection with Laura after losing her husband during World War I. This arrangement ties Laura to the cottage's emotional dynamic.

Oliver arrives later with his fiancée Beatrice Alexander, who has rented the cottage. Beatrice is displeased with the cottage decor, but Laura reassures her that the cottage is magical. Laura shows Beatrice the window where couples have written their names.

A honeymoon party is planned, but Oliver sends a letter saying he cannot arrive because he has been called back into military service. Beatrice cancels their leasing agreement. This upheaval sets the stage for separation and eventual reunion.

One year later, a telegram arrives stating Oliver's intention to rent the cottage indefinitely. Oliver arrives, hiding his face inside his trench coat, and locks himself in his room. The mystery of his war injuries begins to define their relationship.

During a stormy night, Laura ventures into Oliver's room and learns the truth of his disfigurement. His face is scarred, and his right arm and hand are disabled after his plane was shot down in the Battle of Java. The revelation shifts their dynamic from fantasy to truth.

The next morning, Laura and Oliver meet in the garden where a tender bond begins to form. Hillgrove arrives and notes that when he became blind, he found a new lease on life through music. He contrasts that with Oliver's fear of his appearance.

Oliver receives a letter from his mother, Mrs. Price, but refuses to see her or his stepfather due to his appearance. Laura's protective devotion deepens as she stays by his side. This moment deepens the emotional stakes and solidifies their connection.

Laura finds Oliver by the seashore and, after a quiet moment, he proposes. She accepts, marking a turning point toward their inevitable union. The seaside setting echoes the cottage's transformative promises.

After their honeymoon, they return to the cottage transformed in each other’s eyes. A flashback shows the couple at their wedding dinner, reflecting on a sham marriage. Laura longs to declare her love but cannot at first, and Oliver comforts her. He realizes his genuine love, seeing her as beautiful and unscarred.

Oliver's mother and stepfather arrive, while Hillgrove tries to warn them about the couple's true feelings. Mrs. Price comments that Laura isn't pretty but is full of character, which unsettles the illusion. The enchantment breaks and Oliver and Laura revert to their real selves.

Mrs. Minnett offers her validation of their love, explaining that true beauty comes from how people in love see each other. She leaves, allowing the lovers to acknowledge their feelings openly. Oliver and Laura hold hands and write their names on the cottage window, sealing their bond.

In the present, the couple arrives at the front door, embrace, and kiss as their idealized selves before entering the house. The final image suggests that the cottage’s magic lies in their love, not in appearances. They step inside together, ready to live as they now truly see each other.