The Girl from Manhattan

Carol, a New York actress and fashion model, arrives in the Midwest town of Pittsfield to stay with her uncle, Homer Purdy, at his aging boarding house. Her glamorous presence contrasts with the town’s modest life and hints at tensions around reputation and appearances. The stage is set for a quirky ensemble of residents and their schemes.

Ex-football star Tom Walker travels into the state to discuss his future as a minister with the bishop. The bishop decides Tom should stay at Purdy’s boarding house, hoping his status will help attract followers. Tom’s answers remain cryptic about his real plans.

Tom arrives at the boarding house and meets Carol, and they instantly recognize each other from before. Tom remains cryptic about his plans, signaling that there is more beneath the surface. Their reunion hints at an uneasy alliance or budding romance.

Tom meets the church council and learns that local benefactor Mr Birch intends to buy the 150-year-old church and build a new one closer to town center. The chosen site is revealed to be Purdy’s boarding house. The revelation sets the central conflict in motion.

Uncle Homer is portrayed as generous, offering most of his rooms for free until the residents get rich, but the house itself is crumbling. He chases madcap schemes that drain money and risk the stability of the boarding house. The stage is set for escalating financial pressure.

Carol and Homer rearrange one room to serve as Tom’s study until the new church is built. They do not realize the chosen site is their own boarding house. The arrangement foreshadows how the project will affect their home.

The bishop calls Tom to discuss his reputation after being seen with a fashion model. The conversation underscores the tension between Tom’s past as a football star and his potential future as a minister. It foreshadows the scrutiny he will face.

Oscar, one of the more eccentric guests, is allowed to build a miniature railway in Purdy’s basement. The project adds whimsy and a ticking energy to the boarding house and draws the other guests into its orbit. It becomes a focal point of daily life as events unfold.

Mr Birch appears at the boarding house to assess its demolition for the new church project. Everyone knows the plan except Carol, who remains unaware that the site is actually her own lodging. The tension around the plan grows as timing tightens.

The miniature train engine blows up, injuring Homer. The accident heightens the sense of urgency as the residents realize the project threatens their home. Tom and Carol rally the others to respond to the crisis.

Tom and Carol join forces with the guests to raise funds to save the boarding house from demolition. Several residents contribute to the effort, displaying communal spirit in the face of looming demolition. The effort brings the group closer together.

Tom uses his own $3,000 to pay off Homer’s debts, exposing Mr Birch’s 'generous' offer for the old church as a scam. The immediate financial threat eases, but the longer battle to preserve the house continues. The scene marks a turning point in the town’s fight to keep their home.

With debts cleared and the scam uncovered, the residents continue fundraising to preserve the boarding house as a community hub. The shared effort strengthens bonds among Carol, Tom, Homer, and the other guests. Hope rises that the house can survive the real estate pressures.

The bishop approves a plan allowing the town to keep using the old church while considering future options. Tom’s standing in the community is solidified as the protector of the boarding house. The religious and civic tensions begin to soften.

The town recognizes Tom as a local hero, though the ultimate fate of the new church remains unresolved. The boarding house endures, and the community’s sense of unity and purpose has grown. Tom’s future in the ministry is hinted at, leaving room for what comes next.