The Philadelphia Story

The Philadelphia Story Summary | Act 1 Part 1 Summary

In the Lord family sitting room, Tracy sits writing thank-you notes for wedding presents as her younger sister Dinah reads proofs from a magazine article that she found in their her brother Sandy's room. As their mother Margaret brings in more presents, Dinah complains that the article "stinks," and Margaret tells her to speak more politely. As Margaret and Tracy try to identify what one of the gifts actually is, Dinah refers to a gift from a relative none of them likes, and wonders what he sent "the other time." Tracy comments that no one important sent anything the other time, adding that eloping to Maryland like she and her first husband did can't really be considered a wedding. Dinah announces that Dexter, Tracy's first husband, is back in town. Margaret asks how she knows, and Dinah tells her she saw his car when she was taking the dog for a walk. Tracy tells Margaret not to worry, that she's not afraid at all of Dexter, saying that the only trouble he gave her was when he married her. She says that the same thing might be said of her father, Seth, but Margaret cuts her off and says she won't hear a word against him. Margaret goes on to comment that neither of them has been much of a success as a wife, but Tracy says that they just picked the wrong first husbands. She adds that she's sure she's going to be happy this time. Margaret thinks Tracy will be happy as well, but Dinah says she prefers Dexter. Tracy goes out, sarcastically suggesting that she invite Dexter to lunch.

Dinah and Margaret discuss how Tracy and Dexter broke up, and Dinah asks whether it's true that Dexter hit her. Margaret says she doesn't know the details. Dinah says she read stories in magazines about them and that it must be awful for people to read stories like that about themselves. She adds that the family's going to be upset when they read the stories about Seth that are about to be published. When Margaret asks what she's talking about, Dinah tells her that the article she was reading contains information about Seth, his history and his relationship with a popular dancer in New York. As Margaret reads the article, Dinah asks why Tracy didn't invite Seth to the wedding. Margaret explains that Tracy has very high standards for how people should behave, and sometimes people just don't live up to them. She goes out, and Dinah takes the opportunity of being alone to call Dexter and tell him that Tracy's invited him to lunch.