- The true story of the relationship between famed author William Allen White and his teenaged daughter Mary, who died in a horseback-riding accident at age 16, and the powerful effect the tragedy had on the life of her father.
- This film depicts the true story of the relationship between famed author William Allen White and his daughter Mary, who died in a horseback-riding accident at only 16 years old, and the powerful effect that the tragedy had on her father's life.—frankfob2@yahoo.com
- Mary White, daughter of famed newspaper editor William Allen White, dies at the age of sixteen in a horse-riding accident. While looking back and waving at a friend, Mary hit her head on an overhanging tree limb. Her injury proves to be fatal. While at his office to write her obituary, Will reflects on the last year of her life.
The White family of Emporia, Kansas live a privileged life. Mary gets on well with her older brother Bill and helps convince their parents to let him transfer to Harvard. At times Mary is very mature for her age but she is not interested in boys. When a boy asks her to the school dance, she rudely refuses.
Her best friend is Selina and they often go horse-riding together across the fields. Mary is more daring and often outdistances Selina. But with encouragement, Selina loses her timidity and begins to ride as fast as Mary. However, Mary's parents, especially her mother Sallie, are not happy with her riding so fast.
Jane Addams and Sir James Barrie are among the famous people who visit the Whites. Mary has read Miss Addams' book "Twenty Years at Hull House" many times and wants to become a social reformer. She is hurt because her father doesn't take her seriously. When Sir James visits, Will compares Mary to Peter Pan who will never grow up.
Mary often drives the family car to school, stopping on the way to pick up friends. One of her friends is Ellie Rogers, who is black. They try to have a conversation in the hall between classes but there isn't time. Then Mary is sent to the principal's office for disrespecting a teacher. When ordered to apologize, Mary decides she has had enough of school for one day. She tries to start the car by cranking the engine. The crank spins and hits her arm, breaking it.
Later that day, Mary and her father are sitting on the front porch listening to the phonograph. Sallie comes out and delivers news which devastates Mary. Even when the cast comes off, she is banned from driving the car or riding her horse until further notice. Will reluctantly agrees that it is for the best. Sallie reminds Mary that her accidents are becoming more numerous. Bill had warned her not to crank the car too fast.
Mary reflects on the time Bill brought his college roommate home. Richard Sloan III is from a wealthy family back east but is very friendly and sociable. Mary takes him horse-riding, partly to show off, and is embarrassed when he can ride as well or better than she can. While she is not looking for a boyfriend, it is obvious that Mary likes him a great deal. He seems attracted to her as well.
Mary joins a women's committee at church. They are making plans to send food to the county home for a bountiful Christmas feast. Mary is asked to be in charge of delivering the food. She challenges the women to eat Christmas dinner with the poor elderly people, most of whom have no family. The women are all horrified and remind her that they will be with their own families on Christmas Day. Mary stomps out and sulks because they don't see it her way. The pastor talks to her but doesn't appreciate her attitude. He later complains to Will, who finds it amusing that Mary made him feel guilty.
A Ku Klux Klan parade is being held in Emporia. Mary comes up with a plan. She and her friend Tom kidnap the Klan leader's dog and hide behind a wagon as the parade comes down Main Street. When the leader begins an impassioned speech, Mary and Tom release the dog. It runs to its owner and begins a loud display of affection. The crowd laughs and someone shouts out that the dog doesn't know it is supposed to be afraid. The parade breaks up. Will is aware of what Mary did and considers it a prank, but Sallie is not amused.
At Christmas, Richard again visits the Whites. He and Mary take food to the county home and eat dinner with the residents. Not all are appreciative of their efforts and one cranky old man hurts Mary's feelings. Outside, Richard tells Mary that Bill invited him back for spring break. He asks Mary if she wants him to come. Mary admits that she does.
Although Mary is now allowed the horse and car again, she is moody and unhappy. She and Ellie Rogers once more attempt a conversation at school. When they go into the girls' lounge, which adjoins the restroom, two white girls make nasty remarks about Ellie's presence. Mary decides to try and get a separate lounge for the black girls. She draws up a petition but no one save her parents and Tom will sign it. Tom offers to take it on his paper route and see if he can get some signatures. Will reminds Mary that bigotry didn't begin with the incident at school and it will take a long time for change to happen. Ellie gets angry and tells Mary off, saying that Mary has no idea what it's like to be discriminated against because her father is famous.
Will's book "In the Heart of a Fool" has been made into a movie. He is invited to New York for the screening and invites Mary to come along. Father and daughter become friends again on the trip.
Mary will soon be graduating from high school. Will is once again going to New York. He tells Sallie that when he returns, he intends to support Mary's campaign for the black girls' lounge. She wants to tell Mary right away but Will cautions her to wait until he returns. He knows that Mary won't believe him until he proves himself.
Here Will's voice-over explains that when he returned from New York, Mary was dead. Her funeral at the Congregational Church was well-attended, ending with her high school classmates reciting the Lord's Prayer. It is dark now and Will heads toward home, holding the essay he has written about Mary. He stops by the cemetery and tells her that in his heart, he knows she would have grown to be a fine woman. But now she will forever be his Peter Pan, never growing older.
The movie ends with Sallie coming out to meet Will as he arrives home. He hands her the essay and she begins to read.
Due to the efforts of Mary's parents, a lounge for black girls was established in the high school.
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