Adapted from Anne Austin's novel, a mother kills her husband
to protect her son and starts a new life, raising her children
to take care of themselves.
Ed Trice (Paul Harvey) wants to take Curtis as he flees the sheriff,
but his wife Naomi Trice (Mady Christians) stops him by shooting
him. Naomi has a baby, and Curtis brings Gram. The Sheriff (DeWitt
Jennings) asks Naomi where Ed is but sees the baby and leaves.
Naomi works in a textile factory and has her children help at
home. Yancey ruins dinner and cries. Naomi catches Rosanne lying
and burns her doll. Rosanne and Naomi both cry, but Curtis understands
she is teaching them. The Sheriff comes looking for Ed again.
Naomi tells her children their father is dead, and she takes them
far away and uses her maiden name. They work, and she studies
at night school.
Ten years have passed. Naomi tells Neddie (Georgie Billings) not
to play with guns, and she won't let Rosanne (Jean Parker) go
out, because Bill Renton (Robert Taylor) kept her out late. Curtis
(William Henry) invites his boss Pat Naylor (Charles Bickford)
for dinner. Pat warns Naomi about sacrificing and thanks her.
Rosanne sneaks out. Neddie tells Naomi that he wants Pat to live
there. Naomi asks Pat not to spoil her children. Peter (Sterling
Holloway) fixes the radio for Yancey (Betty Furness) and asks
her out. Naomi tells Rosanne she has been out too much. Curtis
interviews a man at a bar and comes home drunk, telling Naomi
to marry. Pat proposes, and Naomi admits she loves him but asks
for time. Naomi can't find Rosanne. Bill brings her home at 4
a.m., and Naomi scolds her. Rosanne says she is no longer afraid
of her mother and leaves. Rosanne wants Bill to marry her, but
he says his job won't let him. Curtis makes Rosanne leave and
fights with Bill but is knocked down stairs. Rosanne cries about
Curtis but tells Naomi that she does not feel guilty.
Pat tells Naomi that they are going to operate on Curtis. Naomi
prays for Curtis and makes a promise. After five days Curtis regains
consciousness. Peter tries to help Yancey cook. Naomi asks Pat
to watch her children while she is gone. Her children say good-bye,
and Naomi leaves on a train. In her trial Naomi says she was defending
her children, but she will not say where they are. As the judge
instructs the jury, her children arrive. Curtis testifies that
his father beat them and that his mother was protecting them.
In the final scene a wedding takes place.
This tough drama shows a mother struggling to raise her
four children alone so that they will be able to survive without
her, sacrificing her feelings to instill firm discipline.