Rambling Rose

It's the mid-1930s in small town Glennville, Georgia. Like most, the upper middle class Hillyers have been hit economically by the Depression, but unlike many still manage to live a comfortable life, Mr. Hillyer a former lawyer who now manages a local hotel, and hearing-impaired Mrs. Hillyer who is working toward getting her graduate degree in American History from Columbia University despite their lack of funds. Sight unseen, they decide to hire a young woman named Rose to be a domestic not because they need or want the help, they seeing such servitude akin to slavery, but to save her otherwise from a life of ill-repute in Birmingham, Alabama, her problematic situation exacerbated by being orphaned at age seven and thus never having had a proper upbringing with adult guidance in her previous farm life. Beyond household duties, Rose will care for the Hillyers' three offspring, Willcox, Frances and Warren, nicknamed Buddy or Brother, Doll and Waski respectively by their parents, each who would prefer to be referred to by his/her actual given name. Rose will have a profound effect on all their lives as a good-natured but misguided soul, Buddy and Doll, at their tender ages, who have a better sense of judgment than her. The problem is that she is looking for love, but will often turn to sex as a surrogate, especially problematic as she has fallen in love with Mr. Hillyer, who has to figure out if her presence truly will cause an issue to the household in whether to keep her or fire her. Conversely, emancipated feminist Mrs. Hillyer wants to protect Rose at all cost, especially from men who may project their male viewpoints on what happens to her. Beyond Rose herself, who may have the biggest stake in what happens to her is thirteen year old Buddy, who has his first case of puppy love, and may see in Rose the perfect person to give him first hand experience in things related to sex.