Washington Melodrama

In 1941, Calvin Claymore pushes a Senate bill to feed the starving children of war-torn Europe, presenting it as a moral crusade. He faces fierce political opposition from Hal Thorne, a brash newspaper publisher who warns the aid could be hijacked by fascist militaries. The clash sets the political stakes for the entire story.

After a draining committee session, Claymore seeks quiet at home, hoping to retreat from the public glare. His well-meaning secretary intervenes, nudging him toward an unusually lively Washington nightclub. The evening marks the start of a personal detour from his public mission.

Claymore meets Mary Morgan, an attractive dancer, and keeps his gentlemanly instinct intact as he asks to see her again. They share light, friendly conversation that hints at a growing connection beyond a casual encounter. The meeting foreshadows a summer romance.

Claymore and Mary spend a carefree summer exploring the capital and its splendors. When he learns his wife and daughter will return soon, he leaves Mary a warm note with several thousand dollars so she can enjoy life’s luxuries. She refuses to accept the money, torn between gratitude and independence.

Nightclub impresario Whitney King attempts to coerce Mary into surrendering the cash. In the struggle, he accidentally knocks her into the fireplace, killing her. He then discovers the money and the incriminating note, realizing he now has leverage over Claymore.

With the note and money in hand, King pressures Claymore to keep quiet and protect his public image and the aid bill. Claymore pays a heavy price to avoid scandal that could derail the charity program for Europe’s children. The personal threat becomes a political weapon.

Claymore’s wife and daughter Laurie return home and discover Laurie is again involved with Hal Thorne. Though Claymore tentatively accepts the engagement, the renewed romance immediately rekindles friction over the aid proposal. The family dynamics become part of the wider political battle.

One of Claymore’s gloves worn to Mary’s apartment reappears, set against a wider search for the other glove and its owner. Thorne’s newspaper drums up the murder investigation, pushing public panic and press attention toward the D.A.’s office. The glove becomes the central clue in a looming scandal.

Claymore admits to his wife and daughter that his summer dalliance was a private lapse, while insisting on his innocence in Mary’s death. The family resolves to support his cause, even as the D.A. closes in on the murder link and the political pressure intensifies. The aid bill remains a rallying point for their unity.

Seeing the investigation threaten Claymore, Thorne sets aside political differences to help conceal the incriminating glove from the prosecutor. Their uneasy alliance buys Claymore time to secure support for the aid bill while the public narrative is manipulated.

Laurie adopts the persona of an adventurous French coquette and becomes entangled with Whitney King in order to learn the truth. She and King navigate a dangerous dynamic, trading information as the investigation tightens around both their fates. The operation heightens risk for all involved.

Teddy Carlyle, King’s jealous girlfriend and Laurie’s dance partner, reacts with rage when she discovers the liaison. King uses the volatility to his advantage, trying to protect his own secrets while Laurie presses for truth. The situation sets the stage for a dramatic confrontation.

In a surge of violence, King shoots Laurie after she threatens to expose him. She is rushed to the hospital, where she initially resists the D.A. and others but remains determined to see justice done. Her resilience fuels the push to reveal King’s guilt.

From her hospital bed, Laurie relents and names Whitney King as Mary’s murderer, offering crucial testimony that could derail the villain’s plan. The next morning, Calvin Claymore prepares to testify before the Senate in support of the aid bill. The family reconciles and stands by him as they continue to fight for the cause.

The family is triumphant in their reunion, yet the public battle over the aid bill persists. Claymore and Thorne exchange wary but respectful glances as they remain foes yet allies in a common cause. The film ends on a note of sacrifice, duty, and the ongoing struggle for Europe’s children.