What Is Working Girls About?
The premise of Working Girls in 319 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
In the bustle of 1930s New York, two sisters from a modest Indiana town step into the city’s restless rhythm, taking up temporary residence in the Rolfe House—a charity apartment for young women without a roof of their own. The cramped, yet welcoming, communal space becomes a launchpad for their ambitions, offering a glimpse of the metropolis’s promise while reminding them of the stark divide between their small‑town roots and the glittering avenues outside.
Mae carries the confidence of a “good education,” yet she quickly discovers that credentials alone rarely open the doors of a world that prizes both polish and practicality. June, eager and inventive, dreams of a place in the fashion world but finds the path obstructed by unspoken rules of style and status. Both women grapple with the reality that formal schooling, social connections, and self‑belief must intertwine if they are to carve out meaningful lives in the city’s fast‑moving current.
Amid their search for work, the sisters cross paths with figures who embody the contrasting allure of intellect and artistic flair. Joseph von Schraeder, a cultured scientist, represents the measured, scholarly avenue that beckons Mae, while Boyd Wheeler, a polished attorney whose confidence masks hidden complexities, hints at the legal and social circles that June might navigate. These encounters are less about destiny than about the subtle negotiations each sister makes as she tests the limits of her own aspirations against the expectations of a broader, often unforgiving society.
The film’s tone is a gentle yet determined portrait of resilience, blending the gritty optimism of the city with the intimate, sometimes humorous, moments that arise when two determined women push against the constraints of class, education, and gender. Their parallel journeys pulse with the promise of growth, suggesting that the true adventure lies not in the outcomes they will eventually reach, but in the choices they begin to make together beneath New York’s ever‑watchful skyline.
What Happens in Working Girls?
The complete story of Working Girls, from the first scene to the last, in 959 words (about 4 minutes). Spoilers throughout. Names in the text link to 2 cast member pages.
Spoilers ahead
Two sisters from Indiana, Mae and June Thorpe, move into the Rolfe charity apartment building for homeless girls in New York City. June Thorpe, Judith Wood, is eager to land a steady job, but the interview with the educated scientist Dr. Joseph Von Schrader, Paul Lukas, quickly exposes a mismatch between ambition and formal schooling. During the tense moment, June concedes she never even started high school, prompting Mae to rush downstairs to fetch her. Mae, who boasts a “good education,” struggles to demonstrate any real experience with dictation. The surprised Von Schrader, seeing their predicament, softens and decides to hire Mae, a decision he makes with a practical hope for a steady income rather than perfect credentials. Mae, however, mispronounces his name at first, calling him something close to “von Schrahhder,” a small comic stumble that nonetheless earns him a smile and a chance to prove himself.
June’s quest to find a place in the bustling fashion world proves tougher. She tries at a chic fashion house but isn’t accepted because, as one editor bluntly puts it, being stylish is not the same as possessing real style. Undeterred, she reinvents herself and lands a job as a telegraph operator, carving out a new social niche. Her social wings begin to spread as she enters a relationship with Pat Kelly, a successful saxophonist who performs on the radio. In the meantime, Mae crosses paths with Boyd Wheeler, a polished attorney, in the shoe department and the two end up dining together. The sisters both stay past the Rolfe House’s midnight curfew, entering a world of new possibilities that glimmer at the edges of their lives.
Mae’s heart is drawn toward a future that seems increasingly fragile. She even turns down a marriage proposal from Von Schrader, choosing independence over security for a moment, though she remains emotionally attached to the idea of a life with him. The professor, with genuine concern, gently fires her “for her own good,” emphasizing that she deserves a future that matches her potential. Mae confides in June about her choice, and June senses that Boyd—who is not as steadfast as he appears—has arranged a double date at a ritzy friend’s apartment to test the waters.
“Donkey-shane” and “Wee Wee, monsure,” learned from a veteran of the War.
When Mae learns that Boyd has arranged a date with another woman in a social circle of influence, she urges June to seize the moment and keep Boyd’s interest by making him take her out to eat. A little later, Boyd’s friend cancels and the night ends with Mae and Boyd sharing a kiss, a moment that feels both hopeful and risky. The next morning, Mae arrives home to find June crying softly; Mae hasn’t spoken about marriage, and June wonders why Mae remains so unsettled by the prospect of commitment. The disparity between Mae’s longing and Boyd’s unpredictable behavior becomes a central tension between the sisters.
As time passes, Boyd leaves town for a month, and Mae spends money on new clothes while waiting for news that never comes. In a cruel twist, a telegram informs Mae not to meet the train; Boyd has quietly become engaged to another woman, a socialite. Meanwhile, June confides in Von Schrader, and he offers to rehire Mae, a gesture that rekindles a quiet hope. The two share a Chinese dinner, and Von Schrader sketches a portrait of June that rests on his desk, a tangible sign that he has fallen in love with her. He nurtures a patient, protective feeling toward June, even as Mae’s life seems to be navigating a different course.
After Mae’s return, she bravely requests a renewed commitment from Von Schrader, and she reveals that she is pregnant. He responds with grace and a willingness to assume responsibility, a decision that reframes their relationship in a serious, hopeful light. Boyd, chastened by his flirtation with another life, is suddenly torn between pride and love as he learns of Mae’s pregnancy. He is rejected by the fiancée who spurned him and ends up returning to Mae, who finds support from her circle of friends as her life takes a decisive turn toward marriage.
June, meanwhile, watches and weighs her own path. When she discovers that Boyd’s prideful decisions have led him to court Mae, she tries to intervene, but Mae insists on following her own truth. A dramatic culmination unfolds as Kelly, Mae, and June confront Boyd at the apartment where he has been confessing his love to Mae. Boyd, facing the reality of his own vulnerability, agrees to marry Mae, abandoning the pretenses of his earlier life. The moment carries both relief and a hint of uncertainty about how the future will unfold.
In a final turn, June and Pat Kelly reconnect with Von Schrader at a bustling Chinese restaurant. After quietly excusing Pat, June shares the news with the man she respects most—Von Schrader—that she and he share a mutual affection. Rather than respond with disappointment, he reveals that he is in love with her as well, and she reciprocates. The film closes on a note of cautious, hopeful romance, anchored by the choices the two sisters have made and the men who have walked through their lives.
This tender, character-driven story unfolds against the backdrop of New York’s social scenes, exploring themes of class, education, ambition, and the complexities of love and responsibility. Through Mae and June’s parallel journeys, the film examines how dreams collide with practicality, and how chance encounters—whether through work, romance, or friendship—can redirect two ordinary lives toward unexpected, lasting commitments. The supporting cast threads in moments of light humor and social critique, while the central relationships between Mae, June, and their loves carry the emotional weight of the film.
Working Girls Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
14 key events in the order they happen, from “Sisters arrive at Rolfe House” to “June and Schrader meet; he loves June”. 14 events name a place, across 12 locations.
- 1
Sisters arrive at Rolfe House
Mae and June Thorpe move into the Rolfe charity apartment for homeless girls in New York City, marking the beginning of their life in the big city. They face the city’s social expectations and potential opportunities as they settle in.
When:Opening sequence Where:New York City, Rolfe House
- 2
June's interview and Mae's hire
June applies for a stenographer job with scientist Joseph von Schrader and reveals she never finished high school. Mae is fetched into the interview, and von Schrader questions Mae's educational claims; he ends up hiring Mae on the spot, impressed by their potential.
When:During the interview Where:Von Schrader's office, New York
- 3
Mae begins work as von Schrader's stenographer
Mae starts working as von Schrader's stenographer, despite lacking formal training. Von Schrader overlooks her rough background and sees a capable, practical worker who can handle dictation.
When:Soon after Where:Von Schrader's office
- 4
June's fashion setback and telegraph job
June fails to land a job at a fashion house, learning that style is not the same as fashion sense. After a makeover, she secures a job as a telegraph operator and begins dating Pat Kelly, a saxophonist who works the radio circuit.
When:Shortly after Where:New York fashion house; telegraph office; radio studio
- 5
June starts dating Pat Kelly
June lets her guard down with Pat Kelly, a popular saxophonist who showers her with gifts and attention. Their romance helps elevate her social circle as she navigates city life.
When:Soon after Where:Radio studio / social venues
- 6
Mae meets Boyd Wheeler
Mae spots Boyd Wheeler, a successful lawyer, in the shoe department and agrees to a dinner with him. The chance meeting foreshadows Mae's potential future and the complexities of the sisters' romantic entanglements.
When:Evening, around this period Where:Department store (shoe department)
- 7
Midnight curfew breach
Both Mae and June barely make the Rolfe House midnight curfew, underscoring the tension between their ambitions and the rules of the charity home. The late night escapades show how far they’re willing to push boundaries to pursue opportunities.
When:Night Where:Rolfe House
- 8
Mae rejects marriage proposal; gets fired
Mae declines a marriage proposal from von Schrader, signaling a commitment to her new life with other prospects. He fires her with a kind, protective intent, explaining that he would be hurt by her staying.
When:Evening after a date Where:Von Schrader's office
- 9
Mae reveals Boyd's double date; June has overnight date
Mae tells June that Boyd has arranged a double date at a ritzy friend's apartment. Meanwhile, June signs out for an overnight, effectively going on a date herself, as Mae tries to manage expectations about love.
When:Evening/overnight Where:Rolfe House; various venues
- 10
Boyd's engagement and departure
Boyd goes out of town for a month and sends a telegram advising Mae not to meet the train. Mae spends money on new clothes in anticipation of his return, only to learn that he has become engaged to a beautiful socialite.
When:Month-long absence Where:New York; train / telegram
Show the other 4 events of Working Girls Hide the last 4 events
- 11
Pregnancy disclosed and engagement renewed
June unburdens to von Schrader, who offers to rehire Mae. After Mae's first week back at work, she reveals that she is pregnant, and von Schrader graciously agrees to marry her.
When:After Mae's first week back Where:Von Schrader's office
- 12
Boyd is jilted and returns to Mae
Boyd's fiancée dumps him, and he returns to Mae while her girlfriends toast her engagement. The social circle moves toward Mae's impending marriage as a stabilizing choice in their tangled relationships.
When:Soon after Mae's engagement Where:Rolfe House / social gathering
- 13
The final confrontation and engagement
Mae, with Kelly and June, goes to the ritzy apartment where Boyd has been claiming his love for Mae. Boyd, swallowing his pride, eagerly agrees to marry Mae, sealing their arrangement.
When:Final act Where:Ritzy friend's apartment
- 14
June and Schrader meet; he loves June
June and Kelly run into von Schrader at a Chinese restaurant. After sending Kelly away, June learns that von Schrader is in love with her, and she reciprocates, adding a final twist to the love triangle.
When:Ending Where:Chinese restaurant
Who Are the Main Characters in Working Girls?
5 characters, among them Mae Thorpe, June Thorpe and Dr. Joseph Von Schrader: who each one is and the part they play in the story. 4 of them link to the actor’s page.
- MT
Mae Thorpe
Mae is a warm-hearted, somewhat unsophisticated young woman from Indiana who finds herself navigating New York's tough urban landscape. She accepts a job with a scientist despite limited schooling, showing resilience and openness to new opportunities. Her pregnancy and evolving relationships highlight how economic pressures shape personal choices for working women in the era.
- 💖 Romance
- 🎯 Determination
- JT
June Thorpe
Played by Judith Wood
June is stylish, ambitious, and quick to seize opportunities. She reinvents herself to land a telegraph operator job and uses her charm to climb social ladders. Her confidence masks a readiness to challenge conventional expectations about female propriety and romance.
- 🎨 Style
- 🧭 Ambition
-
Dr. Joseph Von Schrader
Played by Paul Lukas
A conscientious, patient scientist who hires Mae and later becomes entangled with the sisters. He values both Mae's warmth and June's wit, and he eventually falls for June, offering mentorship and emotional support.
- 🧠 Science
- 💗 Compassion
- PK
Pat Kelly
Played by Stuart Erwin
A successful saxophonist who performs on the radio and becomes a romantic figure for June. He brings musical glamour and a protective, supportive energy to the sisters' world, even sharing moments of levity amid their trials.
- 🎷 Music
- 🕺 Charm
- BW
Boyd Wheeler
Played by Charles 'Buddy' Rogers
A wealthy, stylish lawyer who courts Mae and later manipulates circumstances for his own convenience. He pretends to be ill, ultimately getting jilted and ending up pursuing a wary partnership with Mae.
- ⚖️ Class
- 💼 Power
Where and When Is Working Girls Set?
Working Girls is set in New York City and Rolfe charity apartment building (1930s). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
1930s
Set in the early 1930s, during the Great Depression, the film follows young women facing economic hardship as they enter the urban job market. Work opportunities hinge on appearance, wit, and networking, highlighting the era's gendered expectations. The timeline frames the characters' decisions about education, employment, and marriage.
Where
New York City, Rolfe charity apartment building
Two unsophisticated sisters from Indiana move to New York City to seek a better life, starting at the Rolfe charity apartment building for homeless girls. The city provides a bustling backdrop of fashion houses, radio studios, and ritzy apartments, contrasting with precarious jobs and financial uncertainties. The Rolfe House anchors scenes of camaraderie among young women navigating work, romance, and independence.
- 🏙️ Urban
- 🎭 Drama
What Are the Themes of Working Girls?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Love vs Security, Female Agency and Class and Mobility.
-
01
Love vs Security
Romance and practical security intertwine as Mae's pregnancy and marriage choices shape the sisters' futures. Each sister navigates affection and economics, weighing emotional desires against financial stability. The finale presents competing romantic futures for Mae and June, underscoring how love can intersect with social security in tough times.
-
02
Female Agency
Mae and June drive their own destinies, pursuing jobs, making social connections, and challenging contemporary expectations. June uses fashion and wit to improve her station, while Mae asserts her own path through relationships and motherhood. Their choices reveal resilience and resourcefulness within a restrictive society.
-
03
Class and Mobility
The sisters' move from Indiana to New York exposes the harsh realities of class and opportunity in the Depression era. The Rolfe House, fashion houses, and socialite circles illustrate both doors opening and doors closing based on wealth and connections. The film uses urban settings to frame ambitions, compromises, and the potential for upward mobility through love and work.
What Kind of Film Is Working Girls?
Hopeful in tone, with steady pacing and a straightforward story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Hopeful
- Pacing
- Steady
- Story
- Straightforward
- Intensity
- Low
- Ending
- Happy
A hopeful and gentle 1930s comedy-drama that follows two sisters navigating work, love, and independence in New York City with a steady, character-focused pace and an ultimately optimistic resolution.
- hopeful
- character-driven
- romantic
- gentle
- optimistic
- urban
- sibling relationships
- independence
- class and society
- unplanned pregnancy
Content notes: unplanned pregnancy.
Quiz
How well do you remember Working Girls? Test yourself on the story.
