It all begins in the dead of winter; The Christmas Season. The coldest one of all, were the war has made fuel for heating very scarce. While her husband is off at war, Marmee is left alone to raise their four daughters: Jo, Meg, Beth, and Amy. .
On Christmas Eve, Marmee has just arrived home from passing out food to the less fortunate with a letter from her husband, the girls' father. The all gather together around the fire to read the letter. Afterwards, the girls are teary eyed. Marmee kisses them and they are off to bed. .
Jo is longing to become a writer. So, every night she stays up late writing the script for soap operas. As morning comes she is the last one awake. The table is set, and food prepared for their Christmas feast.
As dusk falls, the girls are all up in the attic acting out Jo's play, which she reads from the local (fake) newspaper. As they are performing, their rich, next-door neighbors grandson watches from the window.
The 2 oldest girls: Jo and Meg, get ready to attend the Christmas Ball. While Jo is curling Meg's hair, there is a strange smell to the air. Amy screams, Megs hair is being singed. They continue digging through the old clothes bin for a pair of white gloves.
At the ball, Jo (the tomboy of the four) escapes from any chance of having to dance. As she is running away, she practically sits on Theodore Lawrence (aka Lawry). Who happens to be her next-door neighbors grandson. When they find out that Meg has sprained her ankle, the party comes to an end. They get a ride home in Lawry's carriage.
The next day, Jo goes over to he Great Aunt marches to read the Bible out loud to her. Meg however walks Amy to school before she heads over to the Hummel's, where she helps the Misses watch her kids. As Jo finishes her readings, she spots Amy outside near the fence. Jo walks out to see what is the matter. Mr. David's, Amy's schoolteacher has struck her for no reason at all.
