The Coming of Bill

In the bustling streets of 1920s New York, a formidable widowed social reformer spends her afternoons cruising the city in her own car, a habit that doubles as both exercise and a way to keep a watchful eye on the world. Mrs. Lora Delane Porter, a guardian of the future, has spent years penning pamphlets on heredity, health, and the ideal marriage, hoping to steer next generation toward what she sees as a better society. Yet her most devoted follower is her niece, Ruth, whose romantic choices have become the latest arena for Porter's meddling.

When Ruth announces an intention to marry a charming but unconventional young man, Basil Milbank, Aunt Lora intervenes, using her considerable influence to sway the niece away from a match she deems unsuitable. The family’s reactions are mixed—Ruth's brother Bailey views his aunt's interference as a dangerous, overbearing presence, while the city’s social circles whisper about her eccentric theories. As Lora sets off on another of her aimless drives, the tension between duty, love, and personal freedom begins to surface, promising a lively clash of personalities.