Dinner with Friends

Beth reveals to Gabe and Karen that Tom is leaving her for a flight attendant, presenting it as a divorce. She recounts an incident at a movie theater where Tom allegedly tried to have sex with her. Gabe listens and tries to offer understanding, while Karen immediately questions Beth's version and frames Tom as the villain.

After Beth leaves, Gabe and Karen discuss what Beth shared. Karen accepts Beth's account at face value and disparages Tom, while Gabe defends him and cautions against rushing to judgment. The disagreement strains their friendship, and Karen declares that Tom is no longer her friend.

Tom arrives home after his flight is canceled and confronts the group about the news, feeling biased against him. He and Beth have a terse exchange before they unexpectedly reconnect and make love. Tom then decides to travel to Gabe and Karen's to explain his side.

Tom travels to Gabe and Karen's home to tell his side, describing feeling unloved by Beth and seeking intimacy elsewhere. He explains that Beth's rejection of closeness drove him toward the travel agent, Nancy. Karen refuses to hear his account while Gabe listens, asking questions in hopes of clarity.

Gabe asks whether Tom and Beth planned to attend therapy; Tom says no, not wanting Gabe's opinion, only understanding. The exchange underscores the growing distance between the couples and Tom's sense of isolation. The night ends with Tom deciding to pursue his own path.

A flashback to 1988 on Martha's Vineyard shows Gabe and Karen introducing Tom to Beth at their summer home. Tom is initially wary, recalling a drunken dancing incident at the wedding and their awkward first talk, but the four gradually warm to one another. The memory foreshadows the later entanglement of their lives.

In the present, Tom packs his belongings and leaves Beth's home, marking a turning point toward formal divorce. He resolves to live independently, creating distance from the shared circle. The move also foreshadows growing strain between Tom and Gabe and Karen.

Months pass as Beth begins dating David and Tom maintains a relationship with Nancy. Karen expresses shock at Beth's choices, while Beth insists she intends to marry David. The shifting dynamics deepen the rift within the group.

Beth accuses Karen of not wanting her to be truly happy so she can feel superior. Karen explains she hoped to forge a new family within their circle, but Beth counters that perfection isn't possible. The exchange highlights the fragility of their friendship.

Tom tells Gabe that he was unhappy during the marriage and spent much of it pretending to be content. Gabe feels this personally, since their lives had always been intertwined, and reflects on the dream of growing old together. Tom clarifies he hid his unhappiness to avoid causing trouble.

Tom reveals to Gabe that Beth and David had an affair earlier in their marriage. Gabe shares this with Karen when they return to Martha's Vineyard, changing her view of the divorce and making her feel betrayed. The revelation reshapes understandings of trust within the group.

Gabe and Karen return to Martha's Vineyard and confront the altered dynamics, realizing they no longer feel as close to their friends. That night, Karen recounts a dream of making love with Gabe beside another couple who are also them, and Gabe teases before kissing her, signaling a new evolution in their relationship.