In This Our Life

Plots: The day before her wedding, a pampered young woman absconds with her sister’s husband. Her sister begins seeing the woman’s former fiancé. A young woman, Stanley Timberlake, dumps her fiancé, Craig Fleming, and runs off with her sister Roy’s husband, Peter Kingsmill. They marry, then settle in Baltimore, where Stanley ultimately drives Peter to drink and suicide. Stanley returns home to Richmond and learns that her old flame Craig has fallen in love with Roy and they plan to marry. Jealous, selfish Stanley attempts to win back Craig’s affections, but her true character is revealed when, rather than take the rap herself, she attempts to pin a hit-and-run accident on Parry Clay, the young African-American clerk works in Craig’s law office. Adult sisters Roy Kingsmill and Stanley Timberlake are the daughters of Asa and Lavinia Timberlake. Roy takes after her father’s side of the family–compassionate and thoughtful if somewhat “soft”–whereas Stanley takes after her mother’s side of the family: cutthroat and selfish. The differences between these two sides of the family can also be seen in the former business dealing between Asa and Lavinia’s brother, William Fitzroy, who came into wealth at the expense of Asa’s side of the business. William dotes on his niece Stanley, who adds excitement to his life. Stanley is about to marry Craig Fleming, a lawyer without much professional ambition. Roy is already married to surgeon Peter Kingsmill and they live in the Timberlake family home. Just before Stanley and Craig’s wedding, Stanley and Peter, who have been having an affair, run off together. Peter felt stifled in the marriage because of living at the Timberlakes’ while Roy allowed her family to control their lives. After Stanley and Peter run off, Roy and Craig try to get on with their lives. Just as Roy and Craig feel that they have left this dark part of the lives behind them, Stanley re-enters their lives, insisting on satisfying her selfish desires at the cost of anyone who gets in her way.