Charlotte Vale is a dumpy, overweight spinster, never out of the sight of her domineering mother, the widowed matriarch of a wealthy Boston family. Charlotte has four older brothers and is always described by Mrs. Vale as an ugly duckling.Charlotte is high-strung and deeply depressed, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, due to the
constant squashing of her thoughts by her mother. There is a little spark of independence, though--she secretly smokes and expresses some creativity by carving ivory boxes.Then a psychiatrist, Dr. Jaquith, is invited to tea by her sister-in-law Lisa Vale. He tells Charlotte that he can help her, that he can show her which path to take at the fork in the road.After an ugly scene with her niece June Vale, who is Lisa's daughter but displays Mrs. Vale's cruelty, Charlotte finally accepts Dr. Jaquith's offer and goes to the mountain retreat where he works. The hospital offers the attention and crucial building up of her self-esteem. She changes from a mouse to an attractive figure of social grace and appeal.On a holiday cruise, Charlotte tries out her new persona, the test run that Dr. Jaquith encouraged to evaluate her level of recovery. She grows comfortable with her new image, no longer awkward in company but aloof enough to be interesting.A French gentleman, Jerry Durance, becomes fascinated with her and soon is so
in love with her that he can barely think of being without her. Charlotte loves him too,
but knows that their affair must never be known, for Jerry is married, but unhappily
tied to a wife who is cold, selfish and a hypochondriac. Yet he loves his children and
his emotionally troubled youngest daughter, Tina.They part ways, at last, much to the agony of Jerry and the silent desperation of
Charlotte.She returns to her home in Boston, and becomes involved with Elliot Livingston. But
she doesn't love him and soon the engagement is over. Even worse, after an argument with Charlotte, Mrs. Vale has another heart attack and dies.Charlotte returns to the clinic for a break, emotionally overwrought. She meets a young girl who is very shy and not overtly pretty. Soon she discovers it is Tina, the daughter of Jerry.Charlotte takes Tina under her wing, believing in the ugly duckling and knowing that
she can become a swan. After all, Tina is exactly how Charlotte was.How can she cope with seeing Jerry again, though? And know that Tina will never truly
be her daughter, her flesh and blood.Charlotte develops a maternal bond with Tina and hopes only for Jerry's love. Even though he can never leave his wife. But to Charlotte, Tina is a piece of him; together they can love her.And she believes that they have the stars together now, they mustn't ask for the moon.
Who is Jerry's youngest daughter?
Tina