Seed 1931

Bart Carter has sacrificed a writing career so he can support his wife Peggy Carter and their five children by working as a clerk in a New York City publishing house. When his former girlfriend Mildred Bronson, a literary agent who has been working in the Paris office, returns to the States, she arranges for Bart to draw his regular salary while he works on a novel. Because his home life is chaotic, Bart writes at Mildred’s apartment during the day and frequently stays for dinner, and the two soon discover their old feelings for each other have been revived.

Bart’s novel is published, and Seed becomes a critical and commercial success, prompting him to abandon his family and move to France with Mildred. Peggy opens a dress shop and lives with the children in an apartment above the store.

A decade later, the now-married Bart and Mildred return to New York. His grown children are delighted to see their father, who wishes to make amends for having left them. He suggests enrolling his daughter Margaret Carter in finishing school, sending the twin boys to Harvard University, finding employment for his oldest son, and having the youngest boy live with him and Mildred. Peggy reluctantly agrees, though she feels she is losing them. Mildred assures Peggy they will return to her one day, whereas Peggy believes their renewed relationship with their father will place her own future with Bart in jeopardy.