Secrets

Inthe1860's,NewEnglandshippingmagnateWilliamMarlowetriestoforcehisvivaciousdaughterMarytomarrystuffyLordHurley,butshebecomesenamouredofJohnCarlton,oneofMarlowe'sclerks.Marloweinterceptsthecouples'lovenotesandfiresJohn,wholatermeetswithMaryonthenightofthepartycelebratingherengagementtoHurley.JohntellsMarythatheismovingWestandwillsendforher,butsheinsistsoncomingwithhim,eventhoughitwillmeanmuchhardship.TheloversaremarriedthatnightandsoonbeginthetorturousjourneyWestwithotherpioneers.Theyarriveinthevalleythatistobetheirnewhome,andastimepasses,theybuildasmallhouseandhaveason,littleJohn.Oneday,JohnandtheCarltons'handyman,"Sunshine,"gototownwhileMarystayshome.Afterthemenleave,notoriouscattlerustlerJakeHouser,hisbrotherDaveyandtheirgangtakeoverthehouse.AterrifiedMarycooksforthemwhentheythreatentokillthebaby,andtheyleavewithJohn'scattle.AsJohnandSunshineareonthetrailhomeward,theypasstheHousergangandrecognizetheirowncattle.Thepairareoutnumberedandgrimlyreturnhome,whereMaryputsonabravefront.Johnbelievesthatnothingcanbedone,butonceherealizesthatthegangthreatenedhisfamily,hebecomesangryandleavestoorganizetheotherranchers.JohnandSunshinearegonefortwodays,duringwhichtimetherancherslynchDaveyandothergangmembers.JohnandSunshinereturnhometodiscoverthatlittleJohnisill,andthatJakeisgunningforthem.Jakeandhisgangswarmoverthecabin,andduringtheattack,thebabydiesfromhisfever.MaryshootsJakeasheisabouttoshootJohnintheback,andthegangisdefeated.John'spartinendingtheHousergang'sreignofterrormakeshimwell-known,andastimepasseshegainsmorepoliticalpower.Yearslater,theCarltonfamilynowincludeschildrenWilliam,Audrey,SusanandRobert,andJohnisrunningforthepostofgovernorofCalifornia.Ontheeveoftheelection,theCarltonsthrowahugeball,andthefamilyisshamedwhenJohn'smistress,SeñoraLolitaMartinez,makesanappearance.LolitatellsMarythatJohnwantshisfreedomsothathecanmarryher,butJohndeniesthisanddeclaresthattheaffairisover.Lolitathreatenstomaketheirrelationshippublicandstormsout,afterwhichacrushedbutstill-lovingMaryforgivesJohnthisandotherinfidelities,ofwhichshehasknownallalong.Despitethescandal,Johniselectedgovernor,andafterservingwithdistinction,heiselectedtotheU.S.Senate.Manyyearslater,John,nowtheseniorCaliforniansenator,decidestostepdownsothatMaryandhecanleaveWashingtonandreturntoCalifornia.Theirnowmiddle-agedchildrentrytoconvincethemtostay,butMarytellsthemthateachmarriedcouplehastheirownsecrets,secretjoysandsorrows,andthattheynowwanttobealonewiththeirs.Theoldcouplesneakawayfromtheircomplainingchildren,andastheydriveoff,theyreminisceabouttheirfiftyyearsofmarriage.