Bundle of Joy

In the bustling Millinery Department at J.B. Merlin & Son's iconic Upper East Side department store, Polly Parish (Reynolds) has built a reputation for being an exemplary sales associate, but her exceptional skills have ultimately led to her downfall. Summoned to the office of the store manager, Polly is met with the devastating news that she is being let go due to her propensity for overselling hats, resulting in excessive returns and undue strain on the accounting department. As she navigates the uncertain future ahead, Polly's thoughts are consumed by the pressing question of how she will make ends meet.

As fate would have it, Polly's chance encounter with an abandoned baby on a Manhattan step sets her on an unexpected path. With the door behind her opening to reveal the entrance to an orphanage, Polly finds herself whisked away from her mundane reality and thrust into a world of uncertainty and responsibility. Initially resistant to the notion that she should assume care for the infant, Polly's protests fall on deaf ears among the orphanage staff, who have long been accustomed to encountering women seeking to distance themselves from their illegitimate offspring.

With her reputation as an honest and hardworking individual vouched for by the head of the orphanage, Polly is reinstated in her position at J.B. Merlin & Son's, albeit with a modest salary increase. However, it soon becomes apparent that this boon is not without its strings attached, as Polly receives a surprise visit from Dan Merlin (Fisher), the son of the esteemed department store owner, who reveals that the baby she had unknowingly relinquished to the orphanage has been returned to her doorstep.

As Polly navigates the complexities of caring for an unexpected ward, she finds herself at odds with Dan, whose attempts to reclaim the child are met with resistance from this determined young woman. A series of misadventures unfolds as Polly and her friend conspire to deliver the baby back to Dan's doorstep, only to see their plan foiled when Dan becomes embroiled in a scuffle at a local dance hall.

As the dust settles, Polly is left to grapple with the reality of her new circumstances, which have brought her into an unexpected orbit around the enigmatic Dan Merlin. As she learns to care for the child, whom she has named John, Polly finds herself growing increasingly fond of her young charge, and Dan's periodic visits become a reminder that their lives are now inextricably linked.

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve, Dan (actor name) finds himself solo and sheepish, having been stood up by his date due to his momentary lapse of memory. Undeterred, he enlists Polly's landlady to babysit John while they embark on a night out, replete with laughter and frivolity. A trip to the local department store follows, where Dan treats Polly to a stylish makeover, befitting her newfound status as an evening belle. As the evening draws to a close, Dan drops Polly off at home, his parting words a playful declaration that she's been "fired" from her role as his date, allowing him to seal their growing affection with a tender kiss.

Meanwhile, J.B. Merlin is unwittingly embroiled in a web of misperception when he receives news that he's become a grandfather - his mistake being the assumption that John is Dan's son. As Polly's anxiety reaches a fever pitch at the prospect of losing her beloved ward to Dan, she concocts a plan to convincingly present the landlady's nephew, fresh from Harvard University, as John's biological father. Dan, not one to be outmaneuvered, produces a department store employee to masquerade as the true paternal figure, thus creating an atmosphere of utter chaos and confusion.

As the dust settles, Dan is compelled to confess his heartfelt feelings for Polly, and in doing so, brings joyous harmony to their little family. J.B., however, remains convinced that John is indeed his grandson, oblivious to the elaborate charade that has unfolded before him.