Carol

In 1952, Therese Belivet, a temporary shopgirl and aspiring photographer, is working in Frankenberg's department store in Manhattan during the Christmas season. She sees a glamorous woman across the room looking at a model train set display. Based on Therese's recommendation, the woman, Carol Aird, purchases a set for her daughter as a Christmas present. Carol engages Therese in friendly conversation and when she departs accidentally leaves her gloves behind. Therese takes the gloves home with her and, using Frankenberg’s sales slip with Carol's name and address, mails them to her that evening. Therese's boyfriend, Richard, wants her to go to France with him and hopes they will marry; but she is feeling ambivalent regarding their relationship. A mutual friend, Dannie, invites Therese to stop by his workplace, The New York Times, offering to introduce her to his photo-editor friend. Therese accepts his offer and during her visit Dannie seizes the opportunity to kiss her. Therese lets him, but becomes uncomfortable and leaves immediately. Meanwhile, Carol is going through a difficult divorce from her neglectful husband, Harge, and she is struggling to maintain custody of their young daughter, Rindy. Carol calls Therese at Frankenberg's to thank her for returning the gloves and invites Therese to lunch. The two find themselves intrigued with one another. Carol then invites Therese to her home in New Jersey for Christmas. During the drive to her house, Carol stops to purchase a Christmas tree and Therese takes candid photos of her. Harge arrives unexpectedly in the evening to take Rindy to Florida with him, and becomes suspicious of Therese and Carol because Carol had an affair years before with her best friend, Abby. Therese witnesses the argument between them and after Rindy is gone, a distressed Carol takes Therese to the train station, and Therese returns home. Carol later calls Therese to apologize and the two agree to meet at Therese's apartment, where Carol surprises her with a Canon camera and film gift. Carol had learned that Harge is petitioning the judge to consider a "morality clause" against her, threatening to expose her homosexuality and give him full custody of Rindy. She decides to take a road trip West to escape the stress of her divorce proceedings and invites Therese along. Therese accepts the invitation. Richard, feeling threatened by Carol, accuses Therese of having a crush on her and predicts that Carol will grow tired of her soon. The two argue and their relationship comes to an end. Therese and Carol depart on their trip. On New Year's Eve, in a motel room in Waterloo, Iowa, Carol kisses Therese for the first time. The two finally acknowledge their strong feelings for each other and make love. The next morning they discover that a traveling salesman they met the day before, Tommy Tucker, is actually a private investigator hired by Harge to obtain evidence against Carol. Carol confronts Tucker, threatening him at gunpoint, and he reveals that secret tape recordings had already been sent to Harge. The next day, Therese learns that Carol left for New York during the night to fight for custody of her daughter, having asked Abby to drive Therese home. Back in New York, Therese telephones Carol, but knowing that she cannot continue her relationship with Therese if she wants any chance to see Rindy again, Carol remains silent and hangs up, leaving Therese in tears. Therese creates a portfolio of her photos and gets a job at The New York Times, partly based on those she took of Carol. Carol has been seeing a psychotherapist as a condition of the divorce settlement. During a confrontational meeting with both lawyers present, Carol suddenly admits the truth of what the tapes contained and refuses to deny her own nature. Not wanting the legal battle to make a mess of their child's life, she tells Harge that he can have permanent custody of Rindy; but demands regular visits with her even if supervised. She tells Harge that if he were to contest her offer it would get ugly and they were not "ugly people". Carol writes to Therese asking to see her and they meet in the lounge of the Ritz Tower Hotel. Carol tells Therese that she is going to work as a buyer for a furniture house and has taken an apartment on Madison Avenue. She tells her that the apartment is big enough for two and hoped Therese might like to live with her. Therese declines and a silence hangs between them. Carol informs Therese that she is meeting some people in the Oak Room and if she changes her mind they can have dinner. Therese remains still and Carol whispers "I love you". The moment is interrupted by a colleague, Jack, who had not seen Therese in months. Carol rises to leave and touches Therese's shoulder before walking away. Therese accepts Jack's invitation to a party later that night, where she finds that she cannot socially connect with anyone despite the interest of another woman there. She leaves the party and rushes to the Oak Room. Therese enters the dining room, scans the crowd, and sees Carol sitting at a table at the rear of the room. Carol sees Therese and their eyes lock. Carol tilts her head, with a knowing smile that grows as Therese moves towards her.