- Toppy and Grace go into business together, and New Bedford residents get into the swing of things with swing music.
- Now that Toppy has moved out of the Bailey house, she has to find something to do with her life. On Archie and Grace's urging - especially since Grace needs acts for her radio talent show which Callie threatens to cancel - Toppy decides to open a school for the performing arts. The first hurdle is that Toppy needs Bob to co-sign the bank loan, which she refuses to even ask Bob to do. Grace thus decides to become Toppy's business partner, financing half the school. May doesn't think it a good idea since she sees neither Grace or Toppy being business minded. However an argument over the matter results in May throwing Grace out of the house, Grace who ends up rooming with Toppy. The school gets no business until Althea Bridgeman, an old friend of Toppy's who has just returned to New Bedford from Toronto, gets her daughter Laura to teach a ballet class at the school and uses her networking among the town's woman's club to have all the daughters enrolled. Laura catches the eye of Hub, the two of who bond over swing music and swing dancing, which is taking New Bedford by storm. Overprotective and prudish Althea doesn't approve of swing or - after an incident between Hub and Laura - Toppy, who, as a divorcée, she sees as an inappropriate role model for her daughter. Althea uses her influence in the town to get all the students to pull out of the school. Not only concerned for her business but her standing in the community, Toppy, with moral support from May, sympathetically confronts the women of New Bedford. Although Toppy is able to open their eyes, she closes the New Bedford Academy, but it's not the end of business life for the now independent Toppy.—Huggo
- Toppy is walking by the radio station. There is a loud noise of bagpipes coming from inside. Grace is inside auditioning for the Talent Time radio program. Grace looks weary. Callie expresses her anger at the low caliber of those auditioning, specifically the bagpiper. After the auditions, Pritchard is helping Grace straighten up. Callie is chastising Grace for the poor selection of talent that showed up. Grace is finding it difficult to come up with bright fresh talent continually in a town the size of New Bedford. Against Grace's pleadings, Callie cancels the show. Grace is to read the livestock report in the time slot next week. A concerned Pritchard offers assistance to Grace in any way he can.
Toppy is on her way to a women's club luncheon at the hotel. There is dead silence when Toppy walks into the room filled with members already seated and eating. Althea Bridgeman offers Toppy a seat at her small table. Althea is an old friend, recently returned to New Bedford after living in Toronto for ten years. They speak about how not much has changed over the past ten years, Toppy's separation which Althea thinks is despicable in how Bob has treated Toppy, and how Toppy just wants to get on with life.
A stranger is driving down the street and stops at the garage for some gas. He has a jukebox in the back of his truck. He is Ned Perry and is setting up a new dance joint at the Pineside. The crowd that has congregated is all asking about swing; he obliges by playing some swing music. With the music blaring, Ollie and Marjorie start dancing in the street. Hub sees across the street a young woman about his age, who is intrigued by the music. She is quickly swept away by Althea. Jim and Pritchard, who were walking down the street talking about Pritchard's query about how to get a girl, come by the crowd. Urged by Pritchard, Jim cuts in on Ollie and starts dancing with Marjorie. Pritchard is impressed with his father dancing acumen.
Grace and Toppy are walking down the street and run into Archie. Toppy looks glum since she wants to get on with her life but doesn't know how, especially since everyone reminds her of her separation from Bob. Toppy has too much time on her hands, that time which was always spent in making a home and life for Bob. Archie plants the seed of an idea: Toppy should get a job, but Toppy doesn't know what to do and doesn't know why anyone would hire her. Grace suggests fulfilling her oft stated dream of opening a school of the arts. Based on Grace's idea, Archie whisks the two women to a room above the drug store. He thinks it would make the perfect school. In her imagination, Toppy can see young ballerinas dancing around the room. She decides right then and there she wants the room for her school. The business end may be more difficult especially keeping the financial books - but Archie states that she just has to have more money coming in than going out. Toppy thinks she can do it. Toppy brings Benjamin Kendrick, the bank manager, in to take a look. Benjamin doesn't see a problem in the bank loaning Toppy the money since she is a Bailey (if only by marriage), but would require Bob to co-sign the loan. As Toppy and Bob are not legally separated, Toppy herself has no credit rating. Toppy refuses to ask Bob, or the other option which is May to co-sign. Toppy's dream looks to be dashed until Grace, who still thinks it's a good idea, offers to go into partnership with Toppy. Toppy excitedly accepts Grace's offer.
When Grace later tells May her plans with Toppy, May voices her concern as she sees neither Toppy or Grace as being business minded - the blind leading the blind is how May puts it. May is also concerned about mixing personal family ties with an untested business venture. Regardless, Grace asks May to release her savings for Toppy's use. They argue about Grace's history, or lack thereof, of managing her own finances ever, Grace who rebuts that she has never been given the opportunity. May thinks there may be some truth in Grace's statement: if Grace thinks she can manage her own money, Grace should be able to live on her own. May is kicking Grace out of the house. Grace goes to the only place she can think of: Toppy's. Since they will be business partners, they may as well be roommates as well. After Grace has moved in, Hub is visiting with Grace, introducing her to swing music. Grace likes it and thinks she can play such on the radio in place of the livestock report. Just then, Toppy and Archie excitedly enter. Toppy has in her hands the first posters/newsflyers introducing New Bedford to its own Academy of the Arts. The flyers are posted all over town.
As Hub and Fat are posting notices, Hub sees the young woman who was with Althea. He approaches her and sees her looking at a poster for a swing dance. She introduces herself as Althea's daughter. Just then, Althea, across the street, beckons her daughter. She bids Hub a fond farewell. Fat joins his brother and remarks how Althea keeps her daughter on a short leash.
At the academy on the first day it's open, Toppy and Grace are sitting idly waiting for someone - anyone - to register at the academy. Toppy tests the phone to make sure its working. She asks Grace to check the front door to ensure it's unlocked. With everything in proper working order, they wait and wait and wait and wait. Toppy decides to go grab some lunch for the two of them. At the tea room, Althea notices Toppy and asks her about the academy on its first day. Slow but hopeful is Toppy's response. Althea is curious about Toppy's expressive movement class in relation to her daughter, Laura. Toppy thinks she may have her first student. However, Althea mentions that Laura has taken ballet for eight years and is now teaching younger children. Althea asks if Laura can teach at the academy. Toppy is initially reluctant until Althea mentions that she can spread the word among the women's club to see if their daughters would take Laura's class. Toppy is all of a sudden excited by the offer.
Althea is able to spread the word quickly and registration for the academy for Laura's class is brisk. One unexpected enrollee is Pritchard. Pritchard is excited and asks Grace if she indeed will be the accompanist for the class, which is indeed true. Later at the class, Pritchard is having some difficulty, but endures, looking over at Grace as often as he can. When a mishap happens, Toppy thinks Pritchard may be better suited to another class. When asked, Pritchard is hesitant about taking any other class.
At the end of the class, Laura is getting ready to leave. Hub is there helping Toppy clean up. Alone, Hub approaches Laura again. They talk about dancing. An old hand at it, Laura teaches Hub how to swing properly, telling him that confidence is the key. They are having a good time dancing. Toppy and Archie walk in on them. Laura is embarrassed to be using the school for non-academy activities. On the contrary, Toppy is excited and asks about a certain move she saw Hub and Laura do. Toppy and Archie start dancing, but not as successfully as they collapse on the floor. After Toppy gives Archie a friendly peck, Althea walks in. She looks embarrassed to walk in on this scene. Toppy and Althea speak of two sides of dance, Toppy emphasizing expression and free movement, while Althea talks of discipline. Laura, too looks embarrassed by her mother's embarrassment as the Bridgeman's rush off. Hub chases after Laura, who he asks to meet later. Laura is busy until 8pm, and can only stay out until 9. She suggests instead to meet after her parents have gone to sleep. They decide to meet at that very spot at midnight.
At home, Pritchard admits that ballet may not be for him. Pritchard then asks his father for advice about how to make a girl interested. Jim tells him that it is a mystery older than time, but Pritchard needs to know now.
That evening, Toppy arrives home to Grace sitting in a mess. While Toppy finished her less than enthusiastic dramatics class, Grace was at home being free. In other words, Grace feels that she can do anything and everything since she doesn't need to answer to May. Grace has taken over the house so that Toppy feels trapped from being able to live in her own house.
Hub and Laura meet at midnight. They contemplate what to do in the booming town of New Bedford. They decide to head to the academy and continue their interrupted swing dance from earlier.
The following Saturday, Grace is just introducing her new show on the radio, Saturday Swingtime Matinee. Callie warns Grace that the show better be good or else. As the swing music blares through the radio waves, people all over New Bedford are dancing and tapping their toes. Even Jim and Pritchard are dancing with each other, this in a move to answer Pritchard's earlier question about how to attract a woman. To the music, Toppy is dancing at the academy by herself, with a broomstick as her partner. Althea walks in on her. As Toppy turns off the radio, the two speak about swing music. Toppy feels it is liberating, whereas Althea, feeling she has more knowledge of it from living in Toronto, thinks the whole movement is scandalous. Toppy openly wonders how Althea became so prudish during her time away. Althea implies that Toppy's loose attitude is due to her being a loose woman aka a divorcée. Althea denies making any such accusation. She then asks about Laura's whereabouts, Toppy telling her that she left a little while ago. Althea is worried as she and her husband don't like Laura wandering off on her own. They talk sternly about child rearing. Althea walks off cordially but strained in her feelings for Toppy.
The swing dance poster has marked Labour Day as the last day the event at the Pineside will be open. Laura mentions to Hub that they should go despite them both being underage by a year (they're fifteen but need to be sixteen to get in). Laura's seventeen year old cousin, Bennett, is coming for the weekend and he could drive them all there in Laura's parent's car. Laura convinces Hub. Just then, Althea honks the car horn beckoning for Laura. Laura runs off to her waiting mother.
Pritchard, who is all dressed up in a suit, is waiting for Grace outside the radio station. When she exits the station, she is startled to see him there. Pritchard asks to walk with her. Grace suspects Pritchard is trying to impress someone, a girl perhaps? Pritchard admits so, but won't tell her who it is as her mother would not approve. Grace tells him that true love will prevail, just like Romeo and Juliet. Grace leaves. Just then, Jim exits from the store. Pritchard asks if real life can ever end as happily as Romeo and Juliet, to which Jim tells him that Romeo and Juliet both died at the end of the story.
Hub is rushing out of the apartment wearing his best suit. Max asks him where he's going, Hub responding to hang out with friends. Max then sees Laura. He suspects they are planning on going to the Pineside. Hub admits so, and promises to be home by dinner. Despite being underage, Max allows him to go.
At the Pineside, Bennett is showing off on the dance floor which slightly irks Hub. He decides that he and Laura can dance equally well as Bennett and they get on the dance floor. Everyone there is having a good time dancing.
On the drive back to New Bedford from the Pineside, Bennett is speeding down the dirt road. Laura tells Hub to tell her mother they went swimming if she asks. Hub tells Bennett to slow down. Bennett doesn't appreciate Hub's criticism, especially since Hub doesn't drive. They approach the rear of a truck. Around a bend, Bennett passes the truck, but doesn't see an on-coming car until the very last minute. Bennett needs to swerve to miss the on-coming car, and they end up crashing into the bushes off the road.
At Ollie's garage, Ollie is inspecting Althea's car, Ollie reporting that the axle is banged up. The car is repairable but Ollie remarks that the road to Pineside is treacherous and it is remarkable that the kids weren't killed. Althea sees Toppy walking down the street. Angry, Althea tells Toppy the car was the result of what Toppy considered harmless fun, namely swing dancing. She also says that she will no longer allow Laura to teach at the academy. They get into an argument about child rearing, and general attitudes toward life. Althea remarks that she has stood up for Toppy to the entire town, but regrets now doing so. Toppy does not quite understand Althea's implications, but Althea's final comment is that Toppy is not the best role model for a young girl. Althea walks away hastily.
Hub is standing on the apartment stoop contemplating the accident. He tells Max that the accident was neither Laura or his fault. He wonders why Althea is so hard on Laura. Max tells him that its not easy being a parent. Although one wants to trust their child, trust alone can't protect them.
At the academy, Toppy is on the telephone talking to the parent of one of her students, while Grace and Archie listen in interest. Toppy is trying to convince the parent that the expressive movement class is a good substitute. She is unable to convince the parent. Apparently this is the last student as all the others have already pulled out of the academy. Grace wants to do whatever she can to get the students back as it is her money that went into the business. Toppy takes that remark as just another slap in her face. Lashing out, Toppy unburdens all that is bothering her, including the messy state that Grace is leaving the house. Toppy storms off, stating that the academy is now closed for good. Archie chases after Toppy, wanting to support her any way he can. After Archie suggests they go out for dinner, Toppy declines telling him that his reputation will be sullied if he is seen in her company, a good name all that one has in a small town like New Bedford. She walks off, frustrated with her lot in life.
At Toppy's house, Grace has packed her bags and is just about to leave when there is a knock on the door. She opens it to find May standing there. Inviting May in, Grace tells her nothing about her argument with Toppy. Grace hides her suitcase from her mother. Later when Toppy returns home, the house is spotless. Grace enters from the other room wearing an apron and holding onto some cleanser. Grace admits she was wrong. She also admits that Toppy was not the only one who knocked some sense into her head; just then, May walks in. May tells Toppy that she has done nothing to change who she is as a person from that who so many people have always admired and envied. Toppy promises to fight for her reputation.
Grace is walking Toppy to the latest women's club luncheon. Toppy has prepared a speech she intends on making in front of all the women.
Jim runs into Grace outside the radio station. He wants to speak to her about who he considers her biggest fan, namely Pritchard. Later, Pritchard is as always waiting for Grace while she is at work at the station. She places a record on the phonograph; a slow dance song emerges from the speaker. She asks him to dance. While they dance, Grace lets Pritchard down easy. They speak of the similarities between her and Pritchard's deceased mother. Just then, Jim stops by to see Grace caressing Pritchard like a mother would a son.
At the women's luncheon, Toppy is sitting by herself, looking glum. She opens her purse and removes her speech. Clanging on her water glass, Toppy gets the attention of the other women. Just as she begins to speak, she puts down her prepared text and decides instead to speak in the moment. She tells them that they all know her, that she hasn't changed, but the one thing that has changed is that her marriage failed. She admits some blame in that. But she wonders why the women fear her so now. Can it be perhaps fear that if it can happen to Toppy, it can happen to them. She asks them directly what she can do to allay their fears to be around her. After a long silence, Ingrid Bickerstaffe speaks. She just wants to know where Toppy bought her darling hat. Althea has a look of guilt and embarrassment about hows shes been the instigator of Toppy's ostracision.
Outside the academy, Hub is taking down the academy's sign and putting in its place a sign wth the text "Sophisticated Ladies Wear and Hats", Toppy's new business. Hub sees Laura and Althea across the street and smiles. Upstairs, Fat and Maisey have the radio on, swing music playing. Those below start dancing.
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