Second Best

Graham Holt commits to adopting a son and enters the extended vetting required for foster care. He attends classes, meets social workers, and starts to envision a life with James Lennards.

During a visit to introduce James to his potential room, the two share a tense moment with silences and nerves. James gradually approaches, and Graham offers a brief hug as a sign of fragile trust.

In the room that would be his, James moves closer and wraps his arms around Graham’s waist. Graham hugs him back, marking the first meaningful display of affection.

James makes friends with local children, showing glimpses of normal childhood amid trauma. The social situation gives Graham hope about integration.

Graham visits key figures from James’s past, including Lynn the foster mother. Lynn explains James's runaway tendencies and the rough details of his life with holes, dirt, and fear.

On the ride home, James reveals his discomfort, scratching his legs and trying to jump from the car. He challenges Graham's idea of what a proper caregiver should be, hinting at trust issues.

Graham and James tent together; James fabricates a hurt forehead wound and asks for a long kiss to make it better, testing Graham's commitment. Graham obliges, and James reveals tenderness.

One night in the tent, James slips into the sleeping bag with Graham, blurring boundaries but deepening trust. The moment cements their growing bond.

Graham introduces James to his uncle Turpin, who teases and provokes both of them while probing Graham's readiness to adopt. Turpin's questions about apologies reveal family tensions.

With a new school year starting, James remains in Graham’s care during the final adoption process, avoiding disruptions to his schooling. This period provides stability and allows the bond to deepen before any final decision is made.

James's birth father shows up, announces he is dying, and asks to stay close to his son. Graham resists keeping the truth hidden from James.

Graham invites James's father to move in so they can care for him in his last months. The decision forces them to confront past wounds and value honesty over secrecy.

Graham proclaims that he will not be second best and declares that they must be father and son. The emotional stakes shift toward a true family bond.

James flips a gas station sign from open to closed, symbolizing the end of his past. He then places his hand in Graham's, signaling a pledge of belonging and a new life together.