Dear Ruth

Miriam Wilkins, a lively wartime activist, engineers a scheme by writing 60 letters addressed to Ruth in Bill's name and using Ruth's photo. The flurry of notes pulls Ruth and the family into a confusing romance trap that none of them intends to sustain. This orchestrated deception becomes the catalyst for the drama that follows.

Lieutenant William Seacroft returns from Italy on a two-day leave and shows up at the Wilkins home seeking Ruth. He speaks of 25 missions over Germany and how he has fallen in love with her, promising to return to meet her in person. His earnest charm wins over the wary parents and unsettles Ruth's quiet life.

Ruth comes home and claims she is engaged to her boyfriend Albert, leaving her parents puzzled by the recent appearance of 'Bill'. They assume she met the mysterious man, though she barely knows him. The engagement news sets up the central misdirection of the story.

That night, Ruth hesitates to reveal the truth about the letters, while Bill and Ruth go out for a date that includes a play, dinner, and dancing. The pair enjoys the evening, further blurring the lines between deception and romance. The growing ruse begins to strain the trust within the household.

Back at home, Ruth resolves to tell Bill the truth but delays again. Later, she reads the letters from Miriam and realizes the depth of the deception and its implications for both their families. The revelation changes how she feels about the romance she has become involved in.

The next morning, Ruth involves Bill's young sister Martha in a trip to reassure Bill's amorous intentions, while Albert accompanies as well. Bill continues to flirt with Ruth, kissing her in front of Albert, which escalates Albert's anger. Albert is later arrested at a subway station while trying to enter another line without paying.

Martha arrives at the Wilkins residence with Bill's friend Sergeant Chuck Vincent, signaling a reunion that is awkward given Martha and Chuck's recent break. A lunch scene follows where the tension remains high. Bill and Ruth then appear and announce they are engaged.

A telephone call informs Bill and Chuck that they will become instructors in Florida, sending them away from the immediate drama. The news shifts the stakes and pushes the couples toward a rapid series of decisions. The family begins to brace for distance and wartime duty.

Chuck and Martha reconcile and decide to marry, with Judge Wilkins conducting the ceremony. The family gathers to celebrate a rare moment of happiness amid wartime upheaval. The ceremony provides a touchstone of stability in a chaotic period.

Ruth tells Bill that she had only agreed to marry him because he would be returning to combat. The confession shatters the simple romance and forces Bill to confront the truth behind the engagement. The revelation complicates their relationship as plans continue to shift.

Miriam inadvertently reveals the whole truth about the letters to Bill, who chooses to accept the complicated situation. The revelation cements the reality that the romance was built on deception. The family watches as the fragile situation teeters on the edge of collapse.

After Martha and Chuck's marriage, Ruth experiences a change of heart and marries Bill with her father's blessing before leaving for Florida. The ceremony seals their union in the midst of wartime travel plans. They prepare to depart together for Florida.

A sailor appears, asking for Ruth, signaling a possible future romance on the horizon. In the closing moment, Miriam blurts out the sailor's name, leaving the audience with a startling punchline. The scene ends on a note of wartime uncertainty for the characters.