Wild Nights with Emily

Emily Dickinson meets Susan Gilbert during a recital at the Amherst Shakespeare Society. Their shared performance as lovers sparks a deep connection that blossoms into a tender romance, culminating in a significant kiss during a walk together.

With Emily's family embarking on a month-long trip, Susan stays behind, providing the perfect opportunity for their relationship to deepen. They artfully conceal their affection from the outside world, building a bond that thrives in secrecy.

As Susan takes a teaching job out west, Emily and she engage in an extensive exchange of love letters. This correspondence highlights their emotional intimacy despite the physical distance separating them.

Upon Susan's return, Emily is heartbroken to learn that Susan has become engaged to Emily's brother, Austin. Susan reveals her reasons for the marriage as a financial necessity, attempting to maintain her connection to Emily even amidst this new reality.

Twenty years later, Emily and Susan continue to live side by side, their friendship unchanged. They exchange letters frequently, with Emily sharing her poetry and creative snippets while also caring for her garden and neighborhood children.

Emily's relationship with Susan faces strain when Susan becomes preoccupied with her own life. During this time, a widowed woman named Kate visits Susan but unexpectedly forms a deeper connection with Emily.

Emily's social interactions include a humorous yet awkward encounter with Judge Otis Phillips Lords. His momentary confusion regarding literary figures leaves Emily feeling insecure about her own contributions to literature.

Emily expresses her desire to publish her poetry and receives a visit from Thomas Wentworth Higginson. He discusses the complexities of poetic voice, advising her that her work is not yet ready for public consumption while critiquing its nuances.

Mabel Todd arrives to play the piano for Emily but ends up having an affair with Austin. Their illicit relationship unfolds within Emily’s own home, creating an atmosphere of tension and betrayal as Emily remains unaware.

Tragically, illness befalls Emily, leading to her eventual death. As her sister Lavinia undertakes the task of preparing Emily's body for burial, the family grapples with the loss of such a beloved figure.

After Emily's passing, Mabel discovers a chest filled with Emily's poems and intimate letters to Susan. Her disconcerting mission to redact Susan's name and replace it with male counterparts begins, obscuring the true essence of their bond.

Years later, Mabel proclaims herself as an authority on Emily’s life, misleading society with her portrayal of Emily as merely a reclusive eccentric. She misattributes Emily's works, ensuring that Susan's presence is conveniently erased from history.

During a gathering, Emily’s niece reveals the truth about Emily and her mother's relationship, emphasizing their secret love. However, her talk draws minimal attention, overshadowed by Mabel's authoritative yet inaccurate narrative.

In the film's closing moments, titles reveal how advancements in technology have unveiled the reality of Mabel's alterations to Emily's letters. This new information confirms Susan's crucial role in Emily's life and the authenticity of their love.