There’s Always Tomorrow

Sophie decides to stay home with their five grown children instead of celebrating the couple's wedding anniversary. Joseph feels overlooked and disappointed as the family prioritizes others over him. The night marks the start of undercurrents of loneliness in their marriage.

Unable to find a quiet spot in the crowded house, Joseph goes out to the porch with his newspaper. He searches for solitude but finds it elusive in the busy home. This moment highlights his isolation despite being surrounded by family.

Alice Vail, Joseph's former secretary, arrives unexpectedly at the house. She reveals a long-ago shared but unfulfilled love with Joseph and mentions that she never married. Their reunion is warm and charged with unresolved feelings.

Joseph welcomes Alice's company and returns inside to fetch a coat. Alice meets Joseph's youngest daughter Marjorie, who explains how her father is overlooked by the family. The moment sets up the contrast between Alice's past love and Joseph's neglected role at home.

Alice and Joseph go to the theater and share a wonderful evening. They discuss their pasts and enjoy each other's company, with Joseph realizing how different life could be. Alice reveals she has never married, adding a layer of bittersweet possibility to their bond.

On a Thursday lodge night, Joseph is forced to take the streetcar in the snow because his children borrowed his car. The outing underscores his dependence on others and the fragile practicality of his life. The distance between him and his family grows clearer.

The children glimpse him entering Alice's house and later queue outside to see what happens. Hours later, the car won't start, leaving the family in a stalling moment and exposing the rift between Joseph and his kids. The scene marks a turning point in how the family perceives him.

Alice invites the children inside while they wait for a tow truck, and Arthur is openly shocked while the others, including Helen, show politeness. Alice gently tells them about her platonic relationship with Joseph and reveals she understands why he is lonely. Her storytelling plants seeds of empathy in the family.

After the visit, the family returns home and treats Joseph more kindly, recognizing his loneliness and the strain of feeling like a helper rather than a father. Arthur remains distant, preserving a subtle tension within the household. The contrast sharpens the central conflict of belonging and love.

By the next Thursday night, the family resolves to prevent Joseph from leaving for Alice, understanding that he is drawn to her but also that his place is at home. They debate whether to protect their routines or honor his needs for companionship. The plan foreshadows an emotional pivot in their dynamic.

Just as Joseph is about to leave, Alice arrives at the door to say goodbye. She claims she is returning to Europe and completes her story with a bittersweet revelation that the man she loved was never in love with her. She departs, choosing distance over rekindled romance.

Outside, Alice confesses to Joseph that Helen warned her about the children's feelings and confirms that he truly loves her. She emphasizes that the happiness of his family matters more than her own desires. The moment deepens Joseph's resolve to belong with his wife and kids.

A little later, Joseph joins Sophie as they walk toward the movie theater. She reaffirms her love for him, giving him renewed certainty about their future together. The moment closes the day with a hopeful note for their marriage.

The scene ends with a sense of renewed partnership between Joseph and Sophie as they move forward together, choosing family and love over lingering loneliness. Their bond appears strengthened by the trials of the day. They look ahead with a shared sense of commitment.