I'll Be Seeing You Ending Explained: What Happened and Why?

What Happens at the End of I'll Be Seeing You?

Mary Marshall, serving a six year term for accidental manslaughter, is given a Christmas furlough from prison to visit her closest relatives, her uncle and his family in a small Midwestern town. On the train she meets Zach Morgan, a troubled army sergeant on leave for the holidays from a military hospital. Although his physical wounds have healed, he is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and is subject to panic attacks. The pair are attracted to one another and in the warm atmosphere of the Christmas season friendship blossoms into romance, but Mary is reluctant to tell him of her past and that she must shortly return to prison to serve the remainder of her sentence.

William Dieterle's narrative builds toward a resolution centered on Ginger Rogers (Mary Marshall)'s journey. On the train she meets Zach Morgan, a troubled army sergeant on leave for the holidays from a military hospital.

How Does Ginger Rogers (Mary Marshall)'s Story End?

• Ginger Rogers: Ginger Rogers's storyline wraps up in the final act, though some viewers have found the resolution more ambiguous than expected.
• Joseph Cotten (Zachary Morgan): Joseph Cotten's role in the climax proves pivotal to how the central conflict resolves.
• Shirley Temple (Barbara Marshall): Shirley Temple's character undergoes a significant shift in the final act.

What Does the Ending of I'll Be Seeing You Mean?

I'll Be Seeing You's ending attempts to resolve the major plot threads, though some narrative elements involving Ginger Rogers may feel rushed. William Dieterle's final act has been both praised for its ambition and criticized for its execution.