All I Desire

In 1910-ish, Naomi Murdoch works toward the bottom of the vaudeville bill, a long way from the star she imagined becoming. She hasn't seen her husband or children since abandoning them at the turn of the century to chase the stage. The film establishes her sense of professional failure and her longing to reconnect with her family.

Naomi receives a letter from her daughter Lily inviting her to Riverdale to attend Lily's acting debut in the high school senior play. The note stirs a mix of hope and fear about returning to a place that would scrutinize her. A fellow vaudeville actress presses her to seize the opportunity and reinvent herself for the family’s sake.

A fellow vaudeville actress convinces Naomi to return home by pretending she has become a successful international stage actress. Naomi agrees, driven by a desire to shield her family from scandal and to reclaim a sense of dignity. She prepares to slip back into Riverdale under a false identity.

Naomi arrives in Riverdale and is quickly noticed by the town. Clem, the town gossip, spreads the word and mentions Naomi's past affair with Dutch Heinemann. Dutch learns of her return, making the personal stakes of the homecoming feel immediate.

Lily greets Naomi warmly, but Joyce, now keeping the household running, greets her with icy reserve. Henry, Naomi’s husband and the high school principal, wrestles with the idea that his promotion could be jeopardized, and he is developing feelings for Sara Harper, the drama teacher. The family tensions set the stage for Naomi's fragile return.

Lily's acting debut draws a full house, but the crowd has come to see Naomi rather than Lily on stage. The town gapes at Naomi's return, turning the night into a spectacle rather than a celebration for Lily's achievement.

After the show, the Murdoch family hosts a party and Naomi charms the high school crowd. In the glow of the gathering, Henry and Naomi's old attraction resurfaces, hinting at a potential reconciliation amid undercurrents of old hurt.

Lily secretly moves the hands on the wall clock, causing Naomi to miss the late train. Naomi chooses to stay to help Lily and the family endure the scandal, and Henry agrees that she should remain. Dutch waits outside, creating a tense undercurrent.

Next morning, Naomi goes horseback riding with Joyce and Russ Underwood. At the lake where Naomi and Dutch used to rendezvous, Joyce and Russ ride on, leaving Naomi and Dutch alone. Naomi rebuffs Dutch, telling him she does not want to resume their affair because it would bring scandal, but he pushes for a rendezvous before she leaves.

Sara Harper asks Naomi to perform a recitation at graduation to bolster Naomi’s reputation in the town. Joyce admits that Naomi’s return has strained Henry, and the three of them confront the possibility that Naomi should leave. Yet Naomi and Henry begin to reconcile, pulling the family back from the edge.

On the morning of graduation, Dutch signals Naomi to meet him at the lake. Naomi agrees to see him but tries to disengage; they struggle and Naomi accidentally shoots Dutch. Ted happens to be nearby and helps carry Dutch to Dr. Tomlin.

Dr. Tomlin treats Dutch and says he will live, but warns that Naomi’s actions could threaten the family’s reputation. He advises Naomi to leave town to spare her loved ones the scandal. Naomi is left to reckon with the consequences of her choices.

Henry visits Dutch in the hospital and sees his wounds, which reinforces his belief that Naomi must move on from Riverdale. He also encourages Joyce to let go of her anger toward Naomi, hoping to protect Lily's sense of family.

Henry returns home to prevent Naomi from leaving and apologizes for driving her away a decade earlier. Naomi and Henry share a kiss, signaling a tentative reconciliation and a possible future together.