Daughter of a steamboat captain on the Ohio River, Antoinette Dupree is a young debutant whose mother is from Paris. Annie aspires to be an actress inspired by her mother. Her French American father adores her and sends her to Paris to study along with her best friend Shannon Brennan of Irish decent. The 'New Women" suffrage movement is Annie's passion and avocation and Shannon is instrumental in her success. This adventure is not without peril and sacrifice as they escort in this new age. Romance is a dream as the young ladies become 'New Women' and face reality. Historical truth and parallel accounts to actual events of the era abound in these scenes of the 'Gay 1890's.