The Sheridan family begins preparations for their annual garden party on a gloriously perfect morning.

Laura is chosen by her siblings to direct the workmen arriving to set up the marquee.

The workmen decide to place the marquee in front of the karaka trees for maximum visual impact.

A delivery man brings news that a nearby neighbor, Mr. Scott, has died in a horse accident.

Laura immediately suggests to Jose that the garden party should be canceled out of respect for the dead man.

Jose refuses and tells Laura that wanting to cancel the party is being extravagant.

Laura takes her appeal to Mrs. Sheridan, urging that the garden party be canceled in light of the death.

Mrs. Sheridan places an expensive black hat with gold daisies on Laura's head, effectively ending their argument.

Laurie arrives at the party, compliments Laura's hat, and she loses her nerve to raise the subject of the death.

The garden party is a great success, with many guests admiring Laura's appearance throughout the afternoon.

After the last guest leaves, Mr. Sheridan mentions Mr. Scott's death while the family rests under the marquee.

Mrs. Sheridan instructs Laura to deliver a basket of leftover party food to the widow's family below.

Laura walks into the unfamiliar lower neighborhood, growing increasingly self-conscious about her fine hat and clothing.

The widow's sister ushers Laura inside the Scotts' cottage, where she comes face to face with the dead man's body.

Overwhelmed by the wake, Laura rushes into Laurie's arms outside and struggles to find words to describe life.

The Sheridan family enthusiastically prepares for their annual garden party, with Laura tasked with directing the arriving workmen. News arrives mid-morning that a local man, Mr. Scott, has died in a horse accident near the family's gates. Laura argues passionately for canceling the party, but both Jose and Mrs. Sheridan dismiss her concerns and insist the celebrations must continue. Distracted by a beautiful hat placed on her head by her mother, Laura sets aside her reservations and the party goes ahead as planned. After the last guest departs, Mrs. Sheridan sends Laura on an errand to deliver leftover food to the widow's family below. The visit to the wake transforms Laura, leaving her speechless and emotionally undone as she tries to describe life itself to her brother Laurie.

The headline events of the Sheridans' fateful garden party day.

Mrs. Sheridan announces that the children will run the garden party this year, promising not to interfere.

Laura oscillates between imitating her mother's businesslike tone and speaking in her natural, less formal manner with the workmen.

A workman pauses to pick a sprig of lavender and inhale its scent, a small gesture that charms Laura deeply.

Mrs. Sheridan surprises the household by ordering an extravagant delivery of canna lilies for the party.

The Sheridan children help Mrs. Sheridan label the many varieties of sandwiches being prepared for the guests.

Jose commands the household servants with various duties, mimicking Mrs. Sheridan's authoritative manner.

Jose rehearses a mournful party song called This Life is Weary, then immediately drops her sorrowful persona the moment it ends.

Jose and Laura share freshly delivered cream puffs, laughing that they are far too grown-up to enjoy such things.

Mrs. Sheridan's first concern upon hearing of the death is whether the man died inside or outside the Sheridan gates.

Mrs. Sheridan warns Laura that pressing the issue of the death will only spoil everyone's enjoyment of the party.

Laura resolves to speak with Laurie before the party begins, deciding his opinion will settle whether the gathering is permissible.

Laura navigates the unfamiliar narrow streets of the poorer neighborhood below while searching for the Scott family's cottage.

A crowd of mourners gathered outside a cottage helps Laura identify the correct home belonging to the Scott family.

Laura attempts to quickly leave the basket at the door and go, but the widow's sister insists she come inside.

Laura comes face to face with the grieving widow before being led into the room where Mr. Scott's body lies.

Before the workmen even arrive, Mrs. Sheridan promises the children will run the party — a promise she quickly breaks by taking charge of the floral deliveries and sandwich preparations. Laura's sisters each play at adulthood in their own way, with Jose dramatically rehearsing a mournful song before cheerfully indulging in cream puffs with Laura. When news of Mr. Scott's death arrives, the family's reactions expose their priorities: Mrs. Sheridan's first concern is whether the accident happened inside or outside the gates. Laura resolves to consult her brother Laurie, but his immediate compliment on her hat silences her entirely. Laura's journey to the widow's cottage becomes a passage through unfamiliar territory, navigating narrow streets until a crowd of mourners guides her to the right door and she is ushered inside to witness grief firsthand.

The smaller moments and supporting scenes that shape the party day.

Laura briefly wonders whether a workman's use of slang is impolite, then decides she understands him completely.

Laura ponders the absurd class distinctions between herself and the workmen as she watches them appreciate the garden.

Laura is called back into the house by a friend's telephone call, abruptly ending her outdoor reflections on class.

Jose's rehearsal song contains the word wakening in its final line, subtly foreshadowing the wake at the story's end.

Laura discovers that the dead Mr. Scott left behind a wife and five young children, intensifying her horror at the party continuing.

Jose infuriates Laura by suggesting that Mr. Scott was probably drunk when his fatal accident occurred.

Laura admires herself in the mirror while wearing the new hat and feels her resolve to cancel the party weaken.

After the mirror moment, Laura tells herself she will address Mr. Scott's death only after the party ends.

The perfect afternoon slowly ripens and fades as the garden party draws to a close and the last guest departs.

Mrs. Sheridan has the idea to fill a basket with leftover food and send it to the widow as a gesture of kindness.

As Laura approaches the site of the death, she realizes she is still filled with the warmth and joy of the party.

Laura reaches the Scotts' cottage and tries to compose herself, acutely aware of how conspicuous her fine clothing looks.

Laura stands before Mr. Scott's body and is struck by how peaceful and dreamlike he appears in death.

Laura weeps and quietly apologizes to the dead Mr. Scott for wearing her elegant hat in his presence.

Laurie asks Laura whether the experience was awful, and she answers tearfully that it was simply marvellous.

Laura's transformation begins subtly as she starts to question class distinctions while watching the workmen, only to be called back inside before she can act on her thoughts. A mournful song rehearsed by Jose quietly foreshadows the wake at the story's end. The news of Mr. Scott's death triggers a cascade of emotional turning points — Laura's discovery that he left behind five children, her fury at Jose's callous assumptions, and her capitulation before the mirror after her mother places a beautiful hat on her head. The party comes and goes, and Laura finds herself walking toward the widow's cottage still glowing with its warmth, only to be confronted with the absolute stillness of death. Standing before the peaceful body, she weeps and apologizes for her hat, and when Laurie finds her outside, she cannot articulate life — only affirm that it is simply marvellous.

The key decisions, revelations, and emotional shifts that define Laura's transformation.