Working Girls (1931) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Von Schrader hires Mae after seeing her and June's potential during the interview. Although June admits she never finished high school and Mae struggles with dictation, von Schrader softens when he sees their determination. He makes the practical decision to hire Mae hoping she'll bring in steady income rather than holding out for perfect credentials.

Foreshadowing: The earlier scene where June fails the interview foreshadows von Schrader's willingness to look beyond formal education.

• von schrader
• stenographer job
• hiring
• education
• opportunity

Mae rejects von Schrader's proposal because she's drawn to Boyd Wheeler, a polished attorney she met in a department store. Despite von Schrader's genuine affection for her, Mae chooses to pursue what she sees as a more glamorous future with Boyd rather than accept security with the professor.

Foreshadowing: Her earlier interest in Boyd during their chance shoe department meeting hints at where her true aspirations lie.

• marriage proposal
• boyd wheeler
• choice
• independence
• romance

Von Schrader fires Mae with gentle intent, explaining it's for her own good. He believes she deserves a future that matches her potential, and staying with him would hold her back. His decision reflects genuine concern for her advancement rather than any wrongdoing on Mae's part.

Foreshadowing: This act of selfless dismissal sets up their eventual reunion and shows von Schrader's caring nature.

• firing
• von schrader
• sacrifice
• career
• future

Boyd leaves town for a month and sends a telegram telling Mae not to meet the train. He has quietly become engaged to a socialite, choosing status and wealth over his relationship with Mae. Mae had spent money on new clothes expecting his return, only to receive the crushing news of his betrayal.

Foreshadowing: Earlier hints of Boyd's indecisiveness and the arranged double date suggest he's not as committed as Mae believed.

• boyd wheeler
• engagement
• socialite
• betrayal
• telegram

After von Schrader offers to rehire her through June's intervention, Mae decides to be honest about her situation. She reveals her pregnancy and asks for a renewed commitment. Von Schrader responds with grace, agreeing to marry her and accept responsibility for the child.

Foreshadowing: June's conversation with von Schrader about rehirng Mae creates the opportunity for this confession.

• pregnancy
• von schrader
• commitment
• responsibility
• marriage

Boyd's fiancée rejects him, and he returns to Mae seeking comfort and acceptance. Though his pride initially conflicted with his feelings, the rejection makes him realize what he truly wants. Mae finds support from her friends as she considers taking him back.

Foreshadowing: The earlier tension between Mae's longing for security and Boyd's unpredictable behavior sets up this reversal.

• boyd wheeler
• return
• jilted
• pride
• forgiveness

June and von Schrader develop their relationship gradually through their conversations at work. When June confides in him about Mae's situation, he offers to rehire Mae, showing his caring nature. At the Chinese restaurant in the finale, June discovers von Schrader loves her, and she reciprocates his feelings, closing their storyline positively.

Foreshadowing: The portrait von Schrader sketches of June that sits on his desk subtly reveals his romantic interest throughout the story.

• june thorpe
• von schrader
• love
• chinese restaurant
• mutual affection

Boyd arranges a double date at a wealthy friend's apartment to test Mae and see if she'll fit into his social world. The plan involves taking another woman, but that date gets canceled. The evening ends with Mae and Boyd sharing a kiss, creating ambiguity about his intentions.

Foreshadowing: This scheme reveals Boyd's tendency to keep options open and not fully commit to Mae.

• double date
• ritzy apartment
• boyd wheeler
• social circle
• test

June fails to get hired at a fashionable clothing house because being stylish doesn't mean having real fashion sense, as the editor bluntly tells her. Rather than giving up, she reinvents herself and lands a job as a telegraph operator, which leads her to meet saxophonist Pat Kelly and expand her social circle.

Foreshadowing: This career pivot shows June's resilience and willingness to adapt when faced with rejection.

• fashion失败
• telegraph operator
• pat kelly
• adaptation
• career

Both sisters barely make the midnight curfew at Rolfe House, highlighting the tension between their ambitions and the charity home's rules. The late nights represent how far they're willing to push boundaries to pursue opportunities in New York, showing their determination to escape their humble origins.

Foreshadowing: The curfew tension underscores the sisters' growing involvement in city life and their risk-taking.

• curfew
• rolfe house
• homeless girls
• boundary
• opportunity