Maria (Julie Andrews)’s Timeline and Summary
- Maria is just about the happiest girl you could ever meet . . . except that her bubbly personality isn't quite meshing with folks at the abbey where she's studying to become a nun.
- To help Maria sort out her priorities, the Reverend Mother sends her to work as a governess for Captain von Trapp's children.
- Turns out, Maria not only helps the children, but helps overhaul Captain von Trapp's stern and distant 'tude toward the kids.
- Maria teaches the children to sing, and the captain is grateful to her for bringing music and joy back into their home.
- Maria and the Captain realize they have feelings for each other. At first, Maria is freaked out and runs back to the abbey.
- The Reverend Mother encourages her to explore her feelings, so she returns to the family. Maria and the captain discover their love for each other and get hitched.
- Unfortunately, the von Trapps return from their honeymoon to find the Nazis have invaded Austria and taken over. Captain von Trapp has been "given" (read: ordered to take) a position in the Nazi navy.
- Because Captain von T. has zero interest in living life under a Nazi regime, he and Maria flee Austria with the children, singing at a music festival as a ruse to elude the Nazis.