When two childhood sweethearts are kept from marrying, misery ensues.
Even when Diana, Neville and David played together as children, Diana knew that she loved Nevs. But Morton, Nevs' father, did not like any Merrick. Since Nevs did not have any money, Morton sent him off to Egypt to work and also talked him out of marrying Diana before he left. Diana waited two years and then married David, who her brother Jeffry thought was the greatest thing since sliced bread. While in Deauville, David jumps to his death when the cops come after him, and Diana lies about the reason for the sake of Jeffry. Of course Jeffry, who has been a drunk all his life, cuts all ties with Diana. While Nevs still loves Diana, she does not return to England for seven years - just 3 days before Nevs' wedding to Constance. But the scandalous life she's lived in widowhood has done nothing but harm her reputation with Neville and his father.—Tony Fontana <[email protected]>
Diana Merrick (Greta Garbo), Neville (John Gilbert) and David (Johnny Mack Brown) were playmates as children, members of the rich British aristocracy. Diana and Neville are in love, but his father (Hobart Bosworth) opposes the match, disapproving the Merrick family's lifestyle. Neville is sent to Egypt for business purposes and to become wealthy.
Diana, after waiting in vain for two years for Neville's return, finally marries David, who is also in love with her and good friends with her brother Jeffry (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.). There is possible implied unrequited homosexual love between her brother and David. During their honeymoon, David commits suicide by jumping out the hotel window. Diana does not explain the reasons behind her husband's action, except to say, "He died for decency." Jeffry, who was deeply connected to David, blames his sister for his friend's death; he falls deeper into alcohol dissipation as his sister starts a reckless life, well-publicized by tabloid-esque publications, tracking her numerous affairs.
Years later, Neville returns to England to marry Constance (Dorothy Sebastian). Jeffry is now gravely ill, and Diana brings Dr. Trevelyan, a family friend, to his bedside and then leaves since Jeffry still refuses to see her. As she starts to drive away, she sees Neville who has followed her and Dr. Trevelyan in a cab. Diana and Neville go to his apartment, realize they are still in love, and spend that one night together. During the night, Jeffry dies. Dr. Trevelyan goes to Neville's apartment in the morning to give him the news and discovers that Diana has spent the night there. Three days later, Neville marries Constance.
About nine months go by - Diana falls ill (in the script she is supposed to have suffered a miscarriage, but because of censorship, this couldn't be mentioned) and is visited by Neville. Diana professes her love for him before realizing Constance is in the room. Neville asks Diana for forgiveness and promises that they will be together.
Upon learning of their decision to move to South America, Sir Morton sends Diana a letter asking for a meeting so they can talk things over. There he tells her that he's unhappy with the couple because he believes that she is dishonorable and undeserving of his son.
Neville and Constance arrive. Mad at his father's rudeness towards Diana, he then decides to reveal the real reason of David's death, believing that it would sway his father's opinion of Diana. David had been embezzling money for some time, and decided to commit suicide once he realized he was going to be arrested. After that, Diana used her own money to reimburse all of his victims, in secrecy, to keep her husband's honor and her brother's memory of him.
Diana is convinced that the only reason Neville decided to be with her isn't because of love but because he finally believes she is honored. Saddened, she decides to break things up by announcing secretly to Neville that Constance is pregnant. He goes to his wife's side, telling her he won't leave her now. But Constance quickly disavows this. Amid the furor, Diana has left in her car.
Once Neville, Constance, Morton and Hugh realize Diana has left, they drive out in search for her. They find her car overturned after it ran into the tree in front of which she and Neville had fallen in love and sworn eternal fidelity with the Ace of Spades playing card crumpled in her hand.
