In 1882 New York City, ruthless railroad industrialist George Russell moves into an elaborate Stanford White-designed mansion with his wife, Bertha, and their young-adult children, Larry and Gladys. Across the street, sisters Agnes van Rhijn and Ada Brook, from Mayflower stock, await the arrival of their niece Marian Brook, who leaves Doylestown, Pennsylvania following her bankrupted general father's death, discovering to be home- and penniless despite attorney Tom Raikes's free help. Peggy Scott, a graduate of the Institute for Colored Youth, offers assistance when Marian's purse and train ticket are stolen, so Marian's aunts allow Peggy to stay over while a storm wrecked the ferry service. Agnes later offers Peggy employment as her secretary. Peggy's mother, Dorothy, wants her to reconcile with her estranged father. Agnes's son, cynical gay party animal Oscar, meets Larry Russell at a party hosted by socialite Mamie Fish, both meet Marian upon returning to New York. Bertha attempts to break into high society by hosting a lavish party, which Marian secretly attends, but no old money shows up, shunning Bertha, who donates all the food to charity and vows revenge.
—KGF Vissers