Society matron Norma Carlisle volunteers to accompany future Jazz Age star and free spirit Louise Brooks for a summer in New York. But why does she want to go? It's a story full of surprises, about who these women really are, and who they eventually become. Written by Julian Fellowes and based on the beloved novel by Laura Moriarty.

A wealthy railroad magnate who is devoted to his family is neglected by his wife. He begins to spend time with a sympathetic showgirl. The showgirl's boyfriend tries to blackmail him; in the resulting melee, the showgirl is killed by the boyfriend, and the boyfriend is killed by the magnate, who then tries to cover up the crime.