A Letter to Three Wives

The three friends are about to depart on a riverboat outing when Addie Ross sends a message saying she has left town and taken one of their husbands as a lover. She does not name which husband is involved, leaving the women to wonder and panic. The note triggers a chain of flashbacks that dredge up old secrets and suspicions.

Deborah grew up on a farm and first met the outside world when she joined the Navy WAVES during World War II, where she met her future husband Brad. After the war, she struggles to fit into Brad's sophisticated social circle and feels out of place in his world. Her insecurity grows at the thought of losing Brad to Addie and to easy assumptions about status.

Back in civilian life, Deborah prepares for her first country club dance and feels uncertain about the image she must present. She over-imbibes at home to calm her nerves, hoping to fit Brad's social world. The scene highlights how Deborah's insecurities echo the wider fault lines about class and belonging.

The women learn that many in Brad's circle expected him to marry Addie, the woman who drew so much attention from all three husbands. This realization deepens Deborah's insecurity and sets the stage for the film's unresolved jealousy. The flashbacks suggest Addie's influence over Brad and questions about loyalty.

Rita Phipps is devoted to writing radio soap operas and longs for her husband George's ambition, which sometimes clashes with her habit of trying to please Mrs. Manleigh. She hosts a dinner for the Manleighs and forgets George's birthday, straining their marriage. The tense dinner scene underscores Rita's fear of losing control to Mrs. Manleigh's power.

A rare Brahms recording arrives from Addie for George, piquing Rita's jealousy and the sense that Addie still wields influence. When the Manleighs arrive, they are rude and clash with George's quiet humor about their soaps. The evening ends with the recording damaged, widening the rift between Rita and her husband.

Lora Mae grows up in poverty and catches the eye of Porter, a wealthy, divorced owner of a statewide department-store chain who wants to marry her. She makes clear she won't marry for money, but Porter keeps pursuing her. After she sees Addie's picture on Porter's piano, he grudgingly proposes, and she kisses him, though she remains wary.

On New Year's Eve, Porter visits Lora Mae and the moment culminates in a reluctant proposal: 'OK, you win. I'll marry you. How about it?' She agrees to marry him, and their cautious kiss signals a tentative commitment amid lingering doubts.

Back in the present, Rita finds George at home after his trip to direct the high school's Twelfth Night. The project brings them back together, and Rita vows she will no longer be at Mrs. Manleigh's mercy. Their renewed partnership stands in contrast to the other couples' strains.

Porter arrives home late, and Lora Mae fears he has left with Addie. He denies leaving and reluctantly agrees to accompany her to the country club dance. Their exchange reveals the fragile balance between trust, money, and genuine affection.

Deborah returns to the group only to hear that Brad has called and will not return that night. She masks her heartbreak behind glamour as the others carry on with the evening. The uneasy tension fuels the eventual revelations to come.

During the gathering, Deborah announces that Brad left town with Addie, shocking the group and reframing the evening's dynamics. The revelation casts a pall over the reunion and deepens the sense of unresolved jealousy and risk among the friends.

Porter interrupts the growing tension and reveals that he had planned to flee with Addie, but changed his mind. Lora Mae's famous line, 'If you said something, I just didn't hear it,' marks her realization and acceptance of his confession.

Porter is overjoyed by Lora Mae's forgiveness, and they share a passionate dance that signals renewed trust. The moment brings a glimmer of hope for their future together as the night continues around them.

The melancholy voice of the still unseen Addie Ross bids the audience good night. Her off-screen presence haunts the conclusion, leaving the characters' fates unresolved. The closing line underscores the film's meditation on love, loyalty, and jealousy.