Tammy has turned down Peter Tate (David Macklin) after confessing how much he likes her. Peter's mother Lavinia is upset that he likes a "swamp girl", but more upset that she has the nerve to turn him down and sets out to build up his name. A gruff man named Grundy Tate (Jeff York) and his homely sister Sybelline (character actress Bella Bruck) drift in at the Tarelton's houseboat. He says he is looking for his kin and Tammy tries to keep it from Lavinia, as she knows how much it would upset her aristocratic image. Grandpa lets it slip that there are Tates around after Peter sends Tammy a love letter in the mail. When Grundy introduces himself to Lavinia she faints at the development. Tammy helps the Tates in a scheme that sees the uppity family wear ragged clothes and speak in Tammy's dialect.