Celine, a young woman, publicly demands answers from her fiancé Edwin Vance's family, refusing to enter their home. Inside, Edwin's father scolds him for sabotaging the marriage plan by writing to Old Mrs. Ashford, which could jeopardize Prince Melange's interests. Edwin defends his actions, saying he wanted to teach Celine a lesson for humiliating him and plans to end the engagement. Confronted with a growing crowd and the threat of her father's military rank and the powerful Hale family, the Vances are forced to go out and face the angry gathering.