We’re Not Married!

Elderly Mr. Bush is appointed justice of the peace and immediately starts performing marriages on Christmas Eve. His authority, however, won't take effect until January 1. The festive setting hides a looming legal complication that will ripple through the story.

As January arrives, it becomes clear that Bush's authority only lasts from January 1, causing at least one of the six marriages to face a divorce filing. The development signals a potential scandal and forces the town to reassess the legitimacy of the weddings. The tension marks the start of the central crisis.

To sidestep a bigger scandal, the remaining five couples are told that their weddings were not legally binding. The revelation shatters expectations and sets many of the characters on unexpected paths. The news drives immediate personal and social upheaval.

Steve and Ramona present a loving couple image on their radio show while privately enduring resentment. They cling to their salaries and fame despite their personal friction. The bits of affection on air contrast with the strain off air.

When Steve and Ramona see a genuinely happy couple leaving the marriage-license bureau, they begin to question their own relationship. The sight acts as a catalyst for both to reevaluate their commitment. The moment heightens the film's core theme about convention versus reality.

Annabel Norris has just won the Mrs. Mississippi pageant, while Jeff resents caring for their child. He discovers they are not legally married and grows determined to disrupt her pursuit of Mrs. America. The discovery injects humor and tension into their subplot.

Jeff schemes to undermine Annabel to reclaim her, but the outcome lingers with his own fiancée winning the Miss Mississippi title. The irony underscores the chaos of unrecognized marriages and performance under pressure. The subplot resolves on a lighter note, despite ethical murkiness.

Hector and Katie Woodruff reflect on how they’ve run out of things to say to each other. When Hector receives a letter from the Governor, he imagines reconnecting with past girlfriends, then burns the letter to spare Katie's feelings. The moment reveals the personal costs of the broader marriage chaos.

Freddie Melrose, a kind millionaire, is married to Eve who schemes to claim half his assets in a divorce. Eve stages an adulterous setup with another woman and three men to heighten the threat and pressure. Eve and her attorney Stone threaten criminal charges to force a huge settlement.

Bush's letter arrives just in time to avert the scandal and keep Freddie out of a criminal episode and heavy divorce settlement. The intervention demonstrates the old man's power to affect outcomes beyond the courtroom. The save preserves Freddie’s assets and dignity.

Young soldier Willie Fisher learns at the train station that his wife Patsy is pregnant just before his departure. He cannot confess that they are not married, so he sends a telegram urging her to meet him at the port. The scramble sets up a race against the clock before deployment.

Willie attempts to marry Patsy by radio to secure their union before he ships out, dodging two MPs in the process. His plan exposes the fragility of the marriage arrangement. The pursuit culminates with his ship still sailing without him.

A military chaplain learns the truth from Patsy and arranges for Willie and Patsy to get married by radio. The improvised ceremony preserves their marriage status in the face of the confusion. The scene provides a poignant counterpoint to the others' legal entanglements.

The film closes by showing how each couple reacts to the revelation that their marriages were not real. The mixed responses—relief, anger, humor—underscore the satirical take on social conventions. The resolution emphasizes humanity over legalistic technicalities.