Old Acquaintance

In 1924, Kit Marlowe returns to her hometown to speak and visit her childhood friend Millie Drake. Millie is married to Preston Drake, pregnant, and has written a romance novel. She asks Kit to present the manuscript to her publisher, hoping for a breakthrough that could change both their lives.

Eight years pass and Millie Drake becomes a bestselling author with a string of romance novels. Her success makes her arrogant and strains her marriage to Preston. In a private moment, Preston confesses love for Kit and they share a goodbye kiss, but Kit cannot reciprocate; they part with unresolved feelings.

World War II is underway and Kit is featured on a radio show. Preston Drake, now a major in the Army, hears her broadcast and calls the radio station to suggest they meet for a drink. The past stirs as old emotions reappear in the present.

They meet for a drink in town; Preston announces that he is engaged. Kit is accompanied by her younger fiancé, Rudd Kendall, and Preston's almost 18-year-old daughter Deirdre joins the table. The group negotiates old loyalties as new relationships complicate the dynamic.

The next morning, Rudd presses Kit to marry him, and she gently refuses. The moment tests the boundaries of her commitments and signals deeper shifts in everyone's feelings. Preston's engagement remains a social banner over the reunion.

Millie treats Preston's return as a victory and begins to plan a reconciliation with him. She also hints at joint custody of Deirdre, highlighting the evolving stakes of their tangled friendship. The family drama deepens as loyalties clash.

Preston discloses to Millie that he was once in love with Kit. Millie throws him out and resolves to protect her family, while secretly trying to distance Deirdre from Kit. The revelation deepens the strain between the two women and unsettles the circle.

Kit, having decided to marry Rudd Kendall, learns from him that he is now in love with Deirdre. The development forces Kit to reassess her path and the consequences for everyone involved. The love triangle becomes a test of honesty and tolerance.

Kit tracks down Deirdre and brings her to Rudd, aligning their feelings with the new reality. Her act helps clarify loyalties and provides a route to allow the couples to move forward. The intervention shifts the dynamics of the romantic entanglements.

Kit returns home to find Millie, and the two women begin to reconcile their long-frayed friendship. They reflect on their trials and reaffirm the strength of their bond, despite past hurts. The domestic harmony offers a quiet counterpoint to earlier turmoil.

Millie shares news of her new book about the trials of two women friends, and Kit suggests a fitting title. The collaboration underscores how their experiences have shaped a work meant to endure. The conversation cements the meta connection between life and art.

Kit formally suggests that Millie title the book Old Acquaintance, giving their enduring bond a name that fits both their history and their evolving relationship. The suggestion caps their arc with reconciliation and mutual respect. The title also foreshadows the film's closing sentiment.