The Mating Season

Ellen McNulty gives up her hamburger stand in New Jersey after the bank calls in her loan. She travels to Ohio to visit her son Val, who has just married Maggie. The trip begins the sequence of cross-family deception that drives the plot.

Val has recently married a socialite, Maggie, bringing a different social sphere into the family. Maggie's world emphasizes appearances and status, which complicates Ellen's presence. The mismatch foreshadows the tensions to come.

A dinner party is hosted by Maggie and Val. Ellen arrives first and Maggie mistakes her for the hired cook, so Ellen chooses not to correct the error to avoid embarrassing Maggie. The deception quietly takes root in the household.

After the party, Val persuades Ellen to move in with them, and she agrees to the arrangement to spare Maggie from any embarrassment. Ellen's continued presence creates an uneasy household dynamic. The ruse becomes the new normal for the family.

The next morning, Ellen arrives with her belongings and continues the deception, explaining to Val that having a mother-in-law in the house would only cause friction. Val reluctantly accepts the situation. This sets the stage for further tensions between Maggie and Ellen.

Maggie's mother comes to stay and immediately disapproves of both Val and Ellen. Her snobbish attitude heightens the social tension in the household. The stage is set for further conflicts driven by class expectations.

Maggie and Val lend Ellen to the Kalinger family, owners of the firm where Val works, for a party hosted by the Kalingers and attended by Mr. and Mrs. Williamson. Ellen tends to Mr. Kalinger and discovers that Kalinger Junior is taking credit for Val's research. The truth she uncovers drives the plot toward a confrontation.

Kalinger Senior invites Val and Maggie to the party, pressing Junior to reveal Val's role in the research. Junior reluctantly confirms Val's involvement in front of the guests. The revelation shifts the power dynamics among the couples.

Maggie is insulted by Mrs. Williamson and storms out of the party. Val forces Maggie to apologize to save face, and she reluctantly complies, sparking another argument between them. The incident strains their relationship further.

The next morning, Val and Maggie make up, acknowledging their faults. Later that day, Ellen's friends reveal to Maggie that Ellen is Val's mother, shocking Maggie and signaling the collapse of the family pretenses.

Maggie confronts Val at his office; he tries to explain, but she refuses to listen. She declares that he has become a snob and vows to move to Mexico where divorce is easier. The affair exposes a rift that seems irreparable.

Mr. Kalinger decides to get Val and Maggie together and convinces Maggie to join him for a goodbye drink at the hotel bar, knowing Val will be at a party. The plan sets the stage for a final confrontation and potential reconciliation. The social maneuvering shows how class and pride shape their choices.

Maggie sees Val at the bar and again scolds him for hiding his mother, then leaves. Val rushes to fetch Ellen and brings her back to the party. The moment underscores the personal stakes of the deception and the stubborn pride of both sides.

Val introduces Ellen to Mrs. Williamson at the party, but Mrs. Williamson rejects Val once she learns Ellen is not of her class. Kalinger Junior also finds Ellen appalling, yet Kalinger Senior is delighted and decides to marry her. The ending frames Ellen's ascent into a new social circle and seals Val and Ellen's alliance.