MISS PONY-TAIL
(Synopsis)
While riding on a tram heading for Happy Valley, Lee Kwei-lan (Grace Chang), a rustically dressed country girl in town looking for maternal uncle Liu Yuan-kwan (Liu En-chia), is confused and lost Out of sympathy, passenger Tao Hung-sheng (Chung Ching) helps her locate the address where she is told uncle has just moved to Kowloon side. Tao writes down the new address and his own telephone number, saying she is free to call upon him for further assistance.
Crossing the harbour alone, she runs into a sharper Ho on the ferry. She is tempted to follow Ho to his home. Ho dresses her up and intends to get a profit for introducing her to be a cabaret girl. Out of desperation and fear, she cuts her pony-tail and manages to run away at the most critical moment. She immediately rings up Tao for help. Tao takes her to his home and introduces her to landlady Mrs. Kuo (Kao Hsiang). Her tragic story touches Mrs. Kuo to tears. She then gets her a housemaid job in her nephew Lao Yi-san’s (Lai Chen) home. Mrs. Lao (Lee Hsiang-chun), a kind-hearted lady, assigns her to take care of Kang-kang, their only child.
Having temporarily settled down, Kwei-lan renews her search for uncle Liu who happens to work in Mr. Lao’s company. But Lao pretends ignorance lest he should lose her.
Mrs. Lao is so fond of her that she even allows her to take Kang-kang for a Sunday outing with Tao. When they return in the evening, Tao stays with the family ball. Later at Lao’s wedding anniversary party, Kwei-lan is asked to play the dancing partner of Mr. Lao’s younger cousin The fully dressed Kwei-lan captivates all men at the party, including Mr. Lao himself. Among her admirers are Wang An-yi (Ho Pin) and Inspector Tai (Chiang Kwang-chao). Mrs. Lao introduces her to them as Kang-kang’s “Governess”. Since then, Wang and the Inspector have become Kwei-lan’s suitors; but Mr. Lao appears the most persistent of them all. This troubles Kwei-lan’s heart more than anything else. To salvage their marriage, Kwei-lan is compelled to plot with her mistress, hoping to bring Mr. Lao to senses. The trick works, and with a guilty conscience Lao begs of his wife for forgiveness. To eliminate further complications, Mrs. Lao talks her husband into authorizing Kwei-lan to work as the company’s auditor. With the able help of her uncle, she uncovers several irregular practices involving the business manager who is fired and replaced by Kwei-lan’s uncle. With a bright future ahead, this once boorish country girl now looks all the more charming and sophisticated.