In 1931 at the age of eleven, Sally Brady is put on a train in Iowa headed to Los Angeles. She was told to find work and send money home [The Depression]. Her Daddy lost his job, and the price of corn went into the basement. With no money to buy food for five children and a failing farm, Sally who was the oldest was expected to help support the family. Sally is living on the streets in L.A. struggling to feed herself and when she is pursued by a policeman, she jumps into a Pierce-Arrow at a stoplight and lands in the lap of a movie star - Patsy Chen. Patsy adopts her and Sally's life of luxury and globetrotting begins. They spend most of their time in Italy attending parties and rubbing elbows with the rich, famous and powerful. Patsy lands a job writing a weekly society column for the Hearst syndicate back home in America. Sally quickly takes over the writing duties describing swanky parties, fashions and who is romancing who.