Page "A Letter to Three Wives" Paragraph 6

Lora Mae grew up poor, not just on the " wrong side of the tracks ", but literally next to the railroad tracks.

( Passing trains shake the family home periodically.

) She sets her sights on her older, divorced employer, Porter ( Paul Douglas ), the wealthy owner of a statewide chain of department stores.

Her mother, Ruby Finney ( Connie Gilchrist ), is unsure what to think of her daughter's ambition, but Ruby's friend ( and the Bishops ' servant ) Sadie ( an uncredited Thelma Ritter ) approves.

Matters come to a head when she sees a picture of Addie Ross on the piano in his home.

She tells him she wants her picture on a piano: her own piano in her own home.

He tells her he isn't interested in marriage, and she breaks off their romance.

However, he loves her too much, and finally gives in and proposes, skipping a New Year's party at Addie's house to do so.