This film contains some strong language
Everything's going to be fine, darling.
Madam, it's so wonderful to see you.
Welcome home from the hospital.
Jenny, this is Mrs Cordoza.
Yes.
Thank you.
I'll show you to your room, madam.
Everything is just as you like it.
SIRENS WAILING FAINTLY
I'm so happy to have you back home.
Goodnight, dear Jenny.
Goodnight, Laurence.
Larry.
You call me Larry.
Larry.
Mmm. Mmm.
Hey.
Mmm.
Hey.
Oh, hey. Erm...
Fancy seeing you here. Hmm.
SHE YAWNS
I actually have to sort of start getting ready for work,
so might have to ask you to, erm...
If you don't mind. This is actually my flat, so...
Oh, shit. Erm...
Well, in that case, at ease, monsieur.
No problemo.
I'd love to see you again. As in, erm...
I had a really great time last night.
Erm, well...
The thing is, Rob, I'm just... My name's not Rob.
Andrew. Andrew.
Erm, I actually... I just sort of came out of
quite a straight up soul-destroying...
So, thank you... I'm just saying, I could give you my number.
Or you could not.
And we could avoid the whole, you know, me feeling guilty,
never calling you back, you feeling dejected,
never hearing from me again.
I feel so used.
Well, you know what, Rob? Welcome to my world.
Name's not Rob.
Andrew.
Fuck! Sorry.
Well, Andrew,
it's been very nice meeting you,
and you have a lovely day.
Bye.
MUSIC: Cherry Flavored Stomach Ache by HAIM
Ellie? Yes. Yes.
# Tried to withdraw a guilty plea
# Damn, you ain't going to pin this one on me
# One thing's for sure I'm not sleeping here tonight
# And I'm not interested in what you think is best
# But I get so lonely, I can't relate to anyone
# And my heart is cryin' out
# I'm on my knees
# I'm beggin', please... #
How's it going?
Staff meeting in five. Nick?
Nick. I'm not talking to you, Ellie,
because talking to you is only going to involve me losing my shit.
What did I do? Yeah, I get it. You've had a shit year, Ellie.
But it is just not cool to so flagrantly disrespect us.
What are you talking about? You abandoned us last night, again.
We heard you went off with some random frickin' guy at the bar.
How do you think that's supposed to make us feel?
All right, I'm sorry! And on my birthday.
I'm really sorry. Nick.
I'm serious.
Are you stressed? You seem stressed.
Mary Ellen died and Janet wants a feature.
There are not enough hours in the day.
When? This Sunday's edition.
No, when did she die? A couple of days ago.
That's so sad. How? Yeah. Old age.
God, I really want to die that way.
Look, why don't I take this one?
I've got about two hours left on this polish
and then my schedule is wide open.
OK?
OK, OK.
Consider your load officially lightened, my friend.
Morning, everyone. ALL: Morning.
How are we all?
I feel good. Good. Great.
Hi. Hi.
How you doing?
Good, thanks.
I'm writing a feature on the paper's longest serving women's editor.
She just died. Yeah?
Er... Oh, no. Yeah. No.
It's my understanding she donated her entire collection of writings
to the archives... What time was your appointment? Sorry.
Oh, no. Sorry. I... I work here.
Yeah. No. The thing is, you...you still need to
make an appointment. We can't just... Even for staff?
We don't just let people in the archive. Even though I work here?
Yeah. No. Sorry.
So if you go online, you can find our online catalogue
and then decide whatever it is you want to view.
But I've done it a million times before. Literally...
And then either myself or someone from the archive team
readies your documents.
In which case, I would love to make an appointment, please.
Appointments have to be made online, through our...
Seriously?
..online portal. Online portal.
You know what?
Thanks so much for all your help today,
and I will see you again sometime soon.
ELEVATOR BELL DINGS
CAT MEOWS
VEHICLE DOOR CLOSES, ENGINE STARTS
CAT MEOWS
Wish I could lose my memory.
I'd run off into the sunset and forget I ever married Francis
in the first place.
SHE CHUCKLES
Do you know how it happened? Where I was going?
Larry says you were out running errands.
Mmm. Beyond that, I'm sorry, I don't.
So you really don't remember anything?
I remember in gaps.
I don't know how I'm meant to behave. I don't know...
SHE SIGHS
I don't know how I felt about my life.
I don't...
All right, darling. I'll fill you in.
You're lovely,
and funny
and full of joie de vivre.
You have the perfect life,
the cleverest best friend,
the rich, handsome husband, who adores you.
Do you know why we don't have children?
He's away an awful lot, your husband.
It's one of the reasons I've always been horribly envious of you.
Oh, you'll be fine, darling.
In the meantime, try to have fun tonight.
Yeah.
I don't believe it. Harold Wilson? THE Harold Wilson?
The very same.
SHE LAUGHS
Well, please tell me he took you somewhere scrumptious.
La Ritz. Oh!
Yeah. His favourite place to holiday is the Scilly Isles.
He adores seafood.
He feels that the party now has a chance of gaining a larger majority.
Gentlemen, gentlemen, this is all very well and good,
but what we really want to know is,
what does the prime minister like for dessert?
THEY LAUGH
Darling, I think that's enough.
But it's just my second... Doctor's orders.
Just water.
Speaking of which, you really don't remember anything?
Anne. What?
How about some coffee? Anyone?
Yes, please.
INDISTINCT CHATTER
ELEVATOR BELL DINGS
Hi.
Hi. How are you doing?
Mm-hm. You? Phenomenal.
Everything's ready for you in the reading room.
Mmm!
Spectacular.
But, sorry, we don't allow food or drink.
Oh.
Mmm.
Right this way.
So, this is everything from about '65 up until around '86, '87.
These are her actual notebooks?
Yeah, they should be. Yeah.
Thanks.
Erm, I just wanted to say, quickly,
I really enjoyed your feature on starter marriages
and all the, like, online dating stuff.
Oh, yeah? Yeah, yeah.
The bit about, you know, the difference between passionate
and companionate love?
I never really thought of it like that before.
Thanks.
That gives me a warm, gooey feeling,
knowing my unadulterated misery has finally been put to good use.
HE CHUCKLES
So, how does someone like you end up making their living as an archivist?
I studied art history, actually.
And went on to do a post grad in records management, but...
And at that point, I sort of realised
I sort of enjoy categorising stuff, oddly enough.
And people think it's a bit odd...
MALE VOICE: "My dearest and only love, I know you're frightened,
"but believe me when I say I've known nothing like this before,
"and can assure you that I never will again.
"I know I will never be satisfied with just a part of you.
"And for that reason, I'm going to take the job in New York.
"I'll be on platform two, Marylebone, Friday, at 7.15 pm.
"Come with me, darling.
"Spare him a life half lived, a marriage of convenience.
"More importantly, spare yourself.
"Seize this thing that is true and real and infinite.
"Yes, it is scary, but I believe living a lie is worse."
"We could be happy..."
ELLIE JOINS: "So happy.
"Know that you hold my heart, my hopes, in your hands.
"Your Boot."
...historical materials. I think it's actually an undervalued...
Look at this. Hmm?
Er, what is it?
It's a letter.
Huh. Jeez. Hmm. Yeah, sad thing is, if you were going to elope now,
you'd probably just send a text. WhatsApp. Yeah, it would be like,
"Hey, babes, meet me at the station if you're interested.
"Hashtag come with if you want to change your life forever,
smiley face, aubergine, road sign, sausage."
The worst thing is when you can see they've read the message you've sent.
And the little blue tick appears. Oh, my God! And...hello?
It's the worst! I sent a message five days ago. Five hours ago!
I mean... Did I say "days"?
I think so, yeah.
Could I see the envelope, please? Yeah.
"J.S." Must be in here by mistake.
What do you think you'll do with it? Burn it.
No, I'm kidding. We'll probably just make sure
it gets properly catalogued.
Hold on. What about returning it?
Hmm.
Or trying to track down whoever sent it.
SHE READS: "Dearest J.
I know what the situation costs you, darling Jenny.
"But I also know that you and I could no more not love each other
"than the Earth could stop circling the sun.
"You were upset the last time we parted, and I cursed myself for it.
"My frustration overwhelms me.
"There is never enough time, never enough of you.
"Let's meet tomorrow.
"B."
DOOR OPENS, SHE GASPS
DOOR CLOSES
"My darling J,
"I'm still lost somewhere between our time dancing the night away
"at Alberto's and being together on the Riviera."
SHE SIGHS
"Felipe told me I was like a drunken fool
"as I remembered how we spent those summer days together.
"If all we are allowed are hours and minutes,
"I will etch them on to my memory so that I can recall them
"in the same way.
"That when I close my eyes, I see your heavenly face.
"You are never far from my thoughts.
"Your Boot."
# Strawberries, cherries
# And an angel's kiss in spring
# My summer wine
# Is really made from all these things
# Take off your silver spurs
# And help me pass the time
# And I will give to you
# Summer wine
# Oh
# Summer wine
# My eyes grew heavy
# And my lips, they could not speak
# I tried to get up
# But I couldn't find my feet
# She reassured me
# With an unfamiliar line
# And then she gave to me
# More summer wine. #
ENGINE TURNS, SONG STOPS
Bonjour. Bonjour. Ca va? Oui. Oui.
Good evening.
Darling, don't forget we have breakfast in the morning.
I have a journalist coming tomorrow, first thing.
I'll change it to lunch, then.
Dinner, darling. We've dinner.
Larry.
Let's not fuss.
Can I help?
Yes.
I certainly am hoping so.
Am I at all familiar to you?
Don't ring any bells, I'm afraid.
And what about if I were to say the name "Felipe"?
Would that mean anything to you?
Are you with the police?
No.
So why are you asking me about Felipe?
Erm, I believe we may have a mutual friend.
Perhaps you might be able to tell me where I could find him.
I don't think you understand.
Felipe was...in an accident.
He never woke up.
KNOCK AT DOOR
Hey, just so you know, we usually have to close
the reading rooms around 5.
SHE GASPS
What time is it now?
Coming up to 20 past. Oh, shit.
OK, erm, I'll be two secs.
So, did you find everything all right?
Yeah, yeah. I guess so.
I mean, if I want to request more stuff, then I have to go on the...
Via the online... Oh, via the online... Yeah, same process.
Online portal. Process. Yeah.
Where you headed?
Basement.
And what if I wanted to see if there were any more of those letters?
Could be a story in it.
If you wanted to, you could just send me an email, actually,
if you wanted to speed things up a bit. Oh.
Thanks.
Turning into a real rebel.
Have a good one.
Have a good o...
Madame Stirling.
J'ai ici pour voir, Monsieur Stirling.
Anthony O'Hare.
Oh, yes.
You're here to write marvellous things about my husband, I believe?
Is that right?
Beacon of sound commercial practice, turnover increasing year after year.
Are you asking me or telling me?
I'm his wife, Mr O'Hare. I can hardly be impartial.
In my experience, there's no-one more brutally impartial than a wife.
SHE CHUCKLES
Indeed.
I'm afraid Larry's running a little late.
Perhaps not so marvellous after all?
Er, may we offer you a drink in the meantime?
No, thank you.
Mr O'Hare. Mr Stirling.
Please accept my apologies for my late running.
Not a problem. Shall we make a start?
Yeah. I'm ready whenever you are. Good.
I don't know how I didn't end up in the most awful trouble.
Well, what about you, Mr O'Hare?
You're a financial journalist... Foreign correspondent.
Tell me - where have you been recently?
Leopoldville, mainly. Brazzaville.
God awful place if you ask me.
And where this evening's exemplary host has a great deal
of business, of course. Well, I think...
Personally, I felt the Belgians were doing a perfectly good job
of running the place themselves.
Well, with respect, I was there in '59, '60 and again in '62.
So you, of all people, should understand that mutiny and rebellion
are an inferior and foolhardy response...
To centuries of oppression?
I would suggest that taking back control politically, geographically
is an entirely appropriate response...
Would one be correct in assuming that you are a supporter
of Mr Mobutu? Larry! Mobutu's a dictator.
I doubt very mu-... Yes, darling. I'm aware. Thank you.
Enough, enough.
This is all far too depressing for the dinner table.
My wife considers anything not in the pages of Vogue
unworthy of her time and attention. THEY LAUGH
Want to get out, meet as many people as possible,
travel the world, because people like that...
People like that make me want to stick a revolver in my mouth
and pull the trigger.
But the women, Jesus - spoilt little tai tais
with barely an original thought to string together between them...
I'm sorry we were such a disappointment.
Christ. I'm... I'm drunk. Evidently.
Perhaps, Mr O'Hare, the next time you find yourself in the company
of such bores, you would do well to leave early.
I just ask that whatever your views of me and my spoiled life,
you won't attack Larry in print.
Please excuse me.
Goodness, I have the most splitting headache after last night.
Did you really drink that much?
Oh, I have a funny feeling I did.
Mr O'Hare. Mrs Stirling.
What are you doing?
Er...
I wanted to give you...
..this.
What is it?
It's an apology.
Well, please...
Read it. Jennifer!
Mr O'Hare has written it. I'm sure he's perfectly capable
of reading it aloud.
"Mrs Stirling...
"..I am an ungracious pig.
"I'd like to be able to blame exhaustion
"or some uncharacteristic reaction to shellfish,
"but I am afraid it was the combination of the alcohol,
"which I shouldn't take,
"and the choleric temper of the socially inept.
"There is little you could say about me
"that I have not already deduced about myself in my more sober hours.
"Please allow me to apologise.
"Yours shamefacedly, Anthony O'Hare."
If at all possible, I'd love to take you and your husband to lunch.
Mmm. How very kind of you.
I'll think on it.
In the meantime, I must return you to your hotel.
I won't be responsible for you contracting sunstroke.
Not to mention alcohol poisoning.
SHE LAUGHS
Yes. Please.
Thank you.
Larry.
Mr O'Hare.
Mr Stirling. How are you? Very well, thank you.
Mrs Stirling. Hi.
How are you?
I'm fine, thank you.
Tell me, Mr O'Hare. Is there a Mrs O'Hare?
Yes, there was. Mrs O'Hare and I are divorced.
Well, you have my condolences. It's a ghastly business.
Children? Larry, for goodness' sake.
No, no, no. It's quite all right. Yes, I have one son, Peter.
I was at Gordonstoun with a terrific chap by the name of Peter.
Monsieur Stirling, je suis desole mais... English.
I have a call for you from... Where are you off to next?
After I finish the piece, back home to London.
Excuse me. Of course.
I apologise.
It's OK.
Aren't you drinking?
No, I'm not meant to.
Headache?
Doctor's orders.
So you really found last night that unbearable?
I admit it. I find armed conflict a less daunting prospect.
SHE LAUGHS
You're William Boot from Scoop.
Evelyn Waugh? I know who William Boot is, Mrs Stirling.
Madame Stirling,
Monsieur Stirling s'excuse mais il aurait du s'absenter
a faire de regler une affaire.
Il a souhaite vous continuez en son absence.
Aucun probleme. Je vous remerci.
Is everything all right?
Duty calls.
Tell me, Mr O'Hare.
How are your sea legs?
Thank you.
What do you think?
Big.
SHE CHUCKLES
Of the view.
Mmm.
You see that over there?
It's Corsica.
You travel a lot.
I don't, actually.
We come here every summer,
but I haven't been back overseas since we married,
not even to see family. Larry does all the travelling now.
How did you two meet?
SHE CHUCKLES
We were seated next to one another at a company dinner in New York.
Our fathers used to work together. He asked me out and that was that.
That simple?
It was. A few months later, he asked me to marry him
and I said yes.
My parents were delighted.
How so?
Good family, good job.
And those things, they're important to you, are they?
Aren't they to everyone?
I guess so.
I want you to tell me about your son.
My son? Mmm.
Lives with my ex-wife, who does her best
to make sure I don't corrupt him.
And why would she think you would corrupt him?
Because I was unfaithful.
You must miss him?
I do.
Sometimes I wonder whether I'd have done what I did
if I'd known quite how much.
Is that why you drink?
Don't try to fix me, Mrs Stirling. Who said I was trying to fix you?
You have that charitable air about you. It makes me feel nervous.
SHE SCOFFS
I'm guessing I wouldn't be the first.
You'd make a very good journalist.
Did you love her? Your wife.
I thought I did before,
but we were young and I'm not sure I knew what love was.
Have you ever loved anyone? My son. Have you ever loved anyone?
I'm married.
You are.
CLEARS THROAT
For the record, Larry and I are perfectly content.
I'm glad to hear it.
PHONE RINGING
Features.
Yeah, hi. I was wondering if I could speak to Ellie Haworth, please?
Speaking.
Hi. Yeah, it's Rory from Archive.
I think I might have maybe found something
you might want to come and take a look at.
Hi, hi. Oh. Is that gum? Mm-hm.
Yeah, we don't allow gum in the reading rooms.
Swallowed it.
Great. OK.
Erm, I've found another letter.
SHE READS: "It's 4am and I can't sleep.
"It's like the road to madness, but I lie here
"imagining him next to you.
"His licence to touch you, to hold you,
"and I would do anything to make that freedom mine.
"For as long as I can't have you, I'll conjure you here instead.
"Your scent, your hair,
"that slow sideways smile when something I say amuses you.
"Darling J, I've never wished harder for the dawn.
"Your Boot."
It's definitely...
Definitely the same...
Yeah, it's the same kind of envelope, same handwriting.
Now I'm going to have to know how it ends -
which means not only is the rest of my day fucked,
but guess what, so is yours.
How fucked are we talking?
Well, I have to know if there are more of these.
Er, yes, erm, the only problem with that is, at this stage,
if you're going to find out if there are more,
it's probably going to require going down to the actual archive.
Great. Oh, my God. Let's do it.
Yeah, but in order to do that, we need special permission.
Erm... How do we do that?
Well, there's a form.
And then after that, there's probably...
Well, another form, actually. Sounds easy enough.
Let me...let me see what I can do.
Thank you.
Cool. Cool.
It's completely impossible to match the pattern
that I've got going with the curtains.
# There's a little bird
# That somebody sends
# Down to the earth
# To live on the wind
# Born on the wind
# And he sleeps on the wind
# This little bird This little bird
# That somebody sends
# He's light and fragile
# And feathered sky blue
# So thin and graceful
# The sun shines through... #
JENNIFER: "Dear Mr O'Hare, or shall I call you 'Boot'?
"Larry called away overseas last minute.
"It would appear we are both marooned here until he returns
"and you without the proper beach attire. How embarrassing.
"Care to pass the time together this afternoon?
"I know a darling little shop where you could find
"your next seaside tome.
"Yours, J."
# To live on the wind
# Born on the wind... #
O'HARE: "Dear Mrs Stirling, or may I call you 'J'?
"Thank you for the offer and, frankly, for the rescue.
"I am indebted to you for persuading me out of my room yesterday.
"And I would love to return the favour.
"I know nowhere, of course, but if you can suggest a place,
"I can keep you laughing with my terrible schoolboy French."
"Dear Boot.
"I'm delighted I managed to propel you, blinking, into the sunlight.
"I would be happy to take you up on your invitation.
"Perhaps we can spend a few hours in town
"commiserating over our mutual inadequacies with the local language.
"Are you free on Thursday?"
"I am free Thursday.
"But I am also free tomorrow and the day after,
"and the day after that as well.
"By the time Mr Stirling returns,
"we could very well have covered the entire coastline.
"Let me know what time suits you. Boot."
# Out of reach
# Of the human eye
# And the only time
# That he touches the ground
# Is when that little bird That little bird
# Is when that little bird
# Dies... #
THUNDER RUMBLES
JENNIFER SQUEALS, LAUGHS
SHE GASPS
THEY LAUGH
Thank you. You're welcome.
ENGINE FAILS TO START
Any ideas?
How about a picnic?
It's a children's game that I used to play with my son. Do you know it?
You need to close your eyes.
Come on. Close them.
Pick a favourite spot.
Real or imagined?
Either.
Imagine that we have everything that we need,
perfect blanket, plenty of cheese.
Bread? Bread, and there's a river nearby.
Ooh, a river.
And my son, he loves to fish.
So I hope you don't mind if we try our hand at a little fishing.
I'm afraid I know next to nothing about fishing.
Which is why I'm going to teach you.
SHE CHUCKLES
Well, how am I doing, Mr Boot?
You're a natural, as it goes.
Of course I am.
And you catch a trout.
Shark. Shark. Excellent work.
And afterwards...
Out of the leftover teeth, I fashion you a necklace.
A souvenir.
A talisman.
Let's try again, shall we?
ENGINE TURNS OVER
ENGINE STARTS
Thank you for an immensely agreeable afternoon.
Until next time.
That's it. Bye.
PHONE VIBRATES
"Mary Ellen piece proofed and attached.
"Oh, and another thing - while I was researching,
"I came across some mysterious old love letters amongst her things.
"Not sure how or why they ended up there,
"but digging into it for my next feature, 1965, illicit love affair.
"They're so rich in feeling. I've never read anything quite like it.
"Have it to you by Friday."
Bonjour, Madame. Bonjour.
Je suis la pour voir Monsieur Anthony O'Hare.
Oui. Je vous l'appelle. Merci.
Oui, Monsieur O'Hare? J'ai une jeune madamoiselle ici pour vous voir.
Oui? Tres bien.
HE HANGS UP PHONE
Madame, Monsieur O'Hare n'est pas tout a fait prete.
Il a dit que vous etes bienvenue l'attendre ici ou bien
vous pouvez le joindre en chambre 302.
Merci. De rien.
SHE CHUCKLES
What a lovely surprise.
Sorry, I'm a little early.
Would you rather I waited downstairs?
No, don't be silly. Come in.
I won't be long.
I was just about to have a shave.
Oh. Do I have time?
Of course. Go ahead.
# Take me for granted
# Leaving love unsure
# Makes willpower weak... #
Everything all right?
Yes. Yes, fine.
# And temptation strong
# A woman's only human
# You should understand
# She's not just a plaything... #
I've received a wire.
Larry's back this evening.
He wants us to return to London immediately.
I see.
And what do you want?
# You gotta be a do-right
# Home nights man... #
# Man
# Yeah, yeah
# They say that it's a man's world
# But you can't prove that by me
# And as long as we're together, baby
# Show some respect for me... #
I'm sorry.
Oh, God.
Jennifer.
Jennifer!
And on Thursday, we have dinner...
VOICE FADES
Mrs Stirling, this just came for you.
Thank you.
O'HARE: "Dearest J. Please know that I was not rejecting you.
"I have never wanted to kiss someone so badly.
"But when you looked up at me, something changed.
"And in that moment I feared our desires would destroy us.
"You're an honest, remarkable creature
"and I did not want to be the man responsible
"for making you someone less than you are.
"For that reason, I have spent the last week hating myself
"for the one decent thing I have ever done.
"So, consider this,
"spontaneity is at the heart of many wonderful things,
"but it is also at the root of much discontent.
And if we are to embark upon something,
"I ask only that we make this decision as one.
"I write these words with you in mind and my heart swells.
So, whatever the outcome,
"let us arrive together.
"You'll find me at Postman's Park on Friday at 6pm.
"I'll be there waiting.
"Yours respectfully, B."
Boot.
# Ou-ou-ou-ou-ou-our love, yeah
# Is slowly goin' on the rocks now-ow-ow
# Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
# Tell me
# Tell me, baby
# What'cha going to do about it? What'cha going to do about it?
# Our love, yeah
# Is in double jeopardy... #
Felipe.
How are you? Good.
This is Jennifer.
Nice to meet you. My friend Felipe.
How's it going? Good?
# What'cha going to do about it...? #
Enjoy.
Thank you. Thank you.
Cheers. Cheers.
# And if you keep on doin'
# Doin' what you're doin'
# You know our love will surely end... #
Same again.
Come, Mr Boot. Dance with me.
Have fun, my friend.
# Is slowly goin' on the rocks now-ow-ow
# Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
# Tell me
# Tell me, baby
# What'cha going to do about it? What'cha going to do 'bout it?
# Oh, tell me
# Tell me, baby
# What'cha going to do about it? #
THEY LAUGH
SONG ENDS, CHEERING
PANTING
BALLAD STARTS PLAYING
# Do you need me
# Like I need you?
# Look at me, I'm crying
# From holding you
# Make me forget
# The pain that you caused
# Understanding is a great thing
# If it comes from the heart
# If time would stand still
# While I'm thinking of you
# I'd think of all the things
# That I wanted of you
# To make me forget
# The pain that you caused
# Understanding is a great thing
# If it comes from the heart
# Pickin' up the pieces
# Of my broken heart
# It was real hard
# A fragile thing like life
# It just don't last so long... #
ELLIE READS: "Seize this thing that is true and real and infinite.
"Yes, it's scary, but I believe that living a lie is worse.
"We could be happy. So happy."
KNOCK AT DOOR
Hey.
You beat me to it. Yeah. I'm pretty excited.
Yeah.
Look, I can't make any promises, though.
Well, thanks for doing this.
Before we go in, you're going to have to remove your shoes.
Seriously?
Kidding.
You're a funny guy.
So, this is everything that's non-catalogued.
Holy Moley.
And...
This should be all the stuff from 1964 to 1965.
PHONE RINGS
Feel free to get that.
Not important.
RINGING STOPS
Oh. Erm, I...
Could you give me a hand? Yeah, sure.
There we go.
Not this stuff.
Yeah. No, not those.
Erm...
Help you down?
OK.
So, erm...
Right, shall we...? Shall we get started? Yeah.
Yeah. Let's get started.
# Made up my mind
# Not to quit trying... #
"My dearest J.
"There is no sound sweeter than your knock on the door.
"It's like there's always a part of me waiting for it.
"I struggle to focus at work
"because my thoughts veer irrevocably back to you.
"What do global warfare and politics matter to me now?
"If this carries on, they'll put me on the gardening pages."
# Give you all the love I got
# Make you mine, baby
# I'll spend all my time
# Spend all my time
# Just lovin' on to you... #
JENNIFER LAUGHS
# I'll spend all my time... #
Close your eyes.
The shadow's at the foot of the bed, Mr Boot.
And what terrible thing would happen if you stayed beyond five o'clock?
I'll stay until it reaches my knees.
Waist. Knees.
Deal.
Eyes.
JENNIFER SIGHS
Close them.
A canvas tent
in the middle of the wilderness.
If you insist.
We'll sleep on a bed of leaves
and bathe in a nearby river.
And when the sun goes down...
..we'll build a fire.
Mmm.
Thank goodness, because I'm ravenous.
What are we having?
Wild fruit.
Namely?
Elderberries, blackberries.
Maybe some dandelion.
Perfect.
Goodnight, dear Boot.
What? What is it?
I don't want you to go.
JENNIFER LAUGHS
What if we ran away together?
To where?
How about New York?
Mmm. I love New York.
I've been offered a posting.
And I want you to come with me.
Move to New York with me.
You know I can't. Yes, you can.
Yes, you can. We can.
You're just...asking me to run away? To just give up my life?
Well, in order to start a new one, yes.
And when you grow tired of me, bored of me, what then?
That won't happen. Well, it's happened before.
What makes this different? What makes...? Everything.
Everything about this is different.
If you think that this is even close to anything
that I've ever felt before, ever known,
then you couldn't be more wrong.
Jennifer, I love you.
I'm in love with you and I want to share my life with you.
You're in love with the idea of it all and you're being impulsive,
and I don't like it. I'm being instinctive! The difference is quite profound.
Do you have any idea what you're asking of me?
My family, my friends, they would disown me.
All the more reason to leave them behind.
SHE SIGHS
It's so easy for you. Easy?
Watching you return home every night to a man who...
A man who what?
Jennifer, I think it's entirely possible
that you might be wasted in the life that you're in.
"Boot, it's true.
"I was brought up to do what is expected of me
"rather than what might make me happy.
"I'm afraid to love you.
"I'm afraid that if I let myself go,
"I would love you so much it would consume me.
"And I fear that once I cease to be a novelty, you might tire of me.
"You have to understand that if I were to leave with you,
"it's not just my family and my security I would lose.
"It's my very peace of mind.
"And it's a risk I don't think I'm strong enough to take.
"I hope you understand.
"Yours always, J."
"My dearest and only love.
"I know you're frightened,
"but believe me when I say I've known nothing like this before
"and can assure you that I never will again.
"It's with that certainty that I've decided to make a bold decision.
"I'm going to take the job in New York.
"I'll be on platform two, Marylebone, Friday at 7.15 pm.
"Come with me, darling.
"Spare him a life half lived, a marriage of convenience.
"More importantly, spare yourself.
"Seize this thing that is true and real and infinite.
"Yes, it is scary, but I believe living a lie is worse."
A call from Mr Stirling's office.
He says to go ahead without him.
"We could be happy. So happy.
"Know that you hold my hopes, my heart in your hands.
"Your Boot."
THUNDER RUMBLES
Taxi!
And away!
WHISTLE BLOWS
Felipe, do you think we'll make it in time?
I think so.
Just barely.
TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS
Stand clear!
Felipe, please hurry.
All aboard!
HORN HONKS, TYRES SCREECH
TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS
ELLIE: "Our famous heavyweight corduroy trousers,
rubber shirt grip waistband, elastic side straps,
"three roomy pockets..."
PHONE RINGS
Honestly, cool if you want to get that. No.
Er... "Available in brown, fawn,
"bottle green and grey.
"Authentic detailing and rugged tailoring."
Very fine indeed.
Ah. Mega Mash.
"Smashingly smooth, fluffy, and flavoursome..."
Ellie.
I think I've found one. Oh, my God.
Read it out.
"Dearest J.
"I have spent my life avoiding complication,
"especially the romantic kind.
"Having met you, I now realise that what I was doing
"wasn't really living at all.
"I know it's hard for you to hear that I love you,
"but I have to say the words.
"They are in my head from the moment I wake until I fall asleep again,
"and if I can't say them, I'll write them to you, again and again.
"I love you, dear Jenny. Your B."
Shit.
You know what we should do?
We should just check out the PO box the other letters were sent to
and see if it still exists. Yes.
PHONE RINGS
HE LAUGHS
What are you doing?
Rory's phone. Ellie speaking.
Er, we work together. I'm afraid I made him stay late.
MOUTHING
No. No, no, no, no, no. I... I'm... I'm sorry.
OK. OK, see you.
Why didn't you tell me it's your birthday?
I...
I would rather be doing this.
Right. Get your stuff together.
So, why would you invite your ex to your birthday party?
I didn't.
I had no idea she was going to be here.
Who invited her, then?
She's my sister's friend, and I'm not talking to any of them tonight.
So, what happened with you guys, then?
She was religious,
but I guess when we met, she was only a bit religious.
And as the relationship went on, she was like,
"Actually, the fact that you don't believe in God
is emerging as somewhat of a deal breaker for me."
But, in the end, she married this guy.
You know, win some, you lose some.
What about you?
SHE SCOFFS
You don't want to know about me.
You couldn't be more wrong.
Well, I was with someone for a while.
Define a while.
Eight years.
And he really wanted kids, but I didn't.
So...
So we broke up.
I'm sorry. That isn't even the end.
Then we got back together, then we broke up again,
then there was this whole awful smorgasbord of haphazard shagging.
And then finally, he proposed.
We were on holiday with about a dozen of our nearest and dearest.
Oh, gosh.
Yeah.
I mean, it wasn't even that I didn't love him. I just...
I just wasn't sure that I loved him enough.
You know, maybe I do want kids. I don't know.
But I pretty much knew for sure I didn't want them with him.
Well, that sounds like a really shit break-up. I'm sorry.
And that is why people shouldn't talk about themselves
because it is depressing as shit.
Yeah, it's really depressing.
I think it might be time for your birthday dance.
My birthday dance? Yes, your birthday dance.
# I want each and every one of you to stomp your feet
# And I'm gon' tell each and every one of you
# To give me some assistance now
# Ain't love good, ain't love proud
# Let me hear the music
GUITARS PLAYING
# Oh, all right
# Well, all right
# Don't you know it's a big, bright world
# When a, a guy meets a girl
# Don't you know if the, the girl is real
# The world has got to smell so sweet
# Don't you know it's a, a good feelin'
# That sets your heart a reelin'
# Everybody now clap your hands
# Children, stomp them feet. #
Wow. Cool flat.
Yeah, this is... This is me.
THEY LAUGH
It's nice.
Oh! Your cat! He's Diesel.
Hi, Diesel.
DIESEL MEOWS
Erm, refreshment?
Yeah. Er, maybe actually a water.
Yeah. Thanks.
So many records.
It's kind of a hobby of mine.
MUSIC PLAYS
Hello.
# Hello, Mark, long time no see
# I bet you don't remember me... #
So these...
These ladies, they're all your sisters, right?
No. I'm a serial bigamist, actually.
Ah.
Yeah. Shucks. I thought so.
# By the way, have you seen him lately?
# Could you tell me
# How is he-e-e?
# I haven't seen him for so long
# Don't think of him when I'm alone
# Time flies so fast, you miss a lot
# It was two years the other night
# And I forgot. #
THUNDER RUMBLES
PHONE VIBRATES
Hi.
Erm, I was wondering...
Sorry, you're going to have to speak up.
Oh. Er, how do I find out who owns one of these PO boxes?
You want to open a PO box?
No, no. I want to find out who owns one of them.
Are you the owner of the box?
No, I...
I want to find out who owns one of them, so I can write to them.
I mean, I want to find out if they still own it,
if you, er... If you see what I'm saying.
You've obviously not heard of that little thing called data protection.
You know what?
Don't worry about it. I will, er... I'll figure something out.
ELLIE READS: "Dear J. This might sound strange,
"but I found some letters that may belong to you,
"addressed to J.S, postmarked 1965.
"They appear to be of sentimental value.
"If you could bear to tell me,
"I'd love to know the story behind them and Mr Boot.
"With all best wishes, Ellie Haworth."
"Dear Miss Haworth. I do not wish to speak to you
"regarding the events of the period outlined to me in your letter,
"and, as such, will be unable to assist you any further
"with your investigation.
"Sincerely, Jennifer Stirling."
OK, I'll see you.
Bye. Bye.
INTERCOM BUZZES
Hello?
Is that Mrs Stirling?
Speaking.
Hello. Hi. I'm... I'm Ellie Haworth,
from The London Chronicle.
I wrote to you regarding a series of letters that myself
and my colleague...
Yes, and I have responded via the enclosed address.
Yes...
I just w...
Look. If now isn't convenient, I'm more than happy...
I'm sorry, but as I said in my letter,
what happened between myself and Mr O'Hare is a private matter.
Yes, of course, and I'm... I'm very sorry for intruding.
Erm, I just wanted at the very least to return...
INTERCOM DISCONNECTS
Hello?
Shit.
Mrs Stirling.
Lovely to see you again. We've missed you.
Yes, it's... It's lovely to see you too.
I wouldn't suppose you have a spare key?
I seem to have left mine at home.
Certainly, ma'am, but PO Box 13's no longer in service.
I'm sorry?
As per Mr Stirling's request, it's been closed for the last month.
Well, reopen it. Now.
Please. Certainly, ma'am.
Mrs Cordoza, I need the keys to my husband's study.
I'm afraid this is an instruction and not a request.
Of course.
Thank you.
O'HARE: "My dearest and only love,
"I know you're frightened, but believe me when I say
"I've known nothing like this before
"and can assure you that I never will again.
"I'll be on platform two, Marylebone, 7.15."
"Seize this thing that is true and real and infinite.
"More importantly, spare yourself."
"..Living a lie is worse."
"I will never be satisfied with just a part of you."
"It's my very peace of mind."
"Come with me, darling.
"We could be happy. So happy."
CAR APPROACHES
CAR DOOR OPENS, CLOSES
"Know that you hold my hopes, my heart, in your hands."
"Yours always, J." "Your Boot."
What are you doing with this?
Larry, why have you been tampering with my mail?
They...
They found it on you.
The day of the accident.
I'm guessing you know who wrote it.
Yes.
Yes, his name is Anthony O'Hare.
Was.
Journalist.
I introduced you.
The two of you, it seems, were engaged in some kind of...
Jenny, he was killed.
Wait...
He was beside you in the car. No.
No.
The man beside me in the car was named Felipe.
The driver was Felipe,
but the man in the passenger seat was a Mr Anthony O'Hare.
And when you woke from your accident, I made a decision.
I was trying to protect you.
From what? The truth.
I didn't want you to have to bear the guilt.
Holy shit.
Anthony worked at The Chronicle.
Yes!
PHONE VIBRATES
OK.
MESSAGE SENDS
SHE EXHALES DEEPLY
PHONE RINGS
Hello? Ellie Haworth?
Mm-hm. This is Anthony O'Hare.
Oh, erm... Hi.
Erm... I believe you wish to speak with me.
Yes.
Uh, hello, Mr O'Hare.
So, how did you stumble on my story?
Well, initially, I was just...
I was just following an instinct.
Well, then I thought there might be a feature in it.
HE CHUCKLES
And then...
The more I read, the more I started to feel...
I just...
I found them incredibly moving.
So...
..did she meet you?
D... Did you go...
..to New York together?
No.
Mrs Stirling did not accompany me to New York.
And was that the last...? I mean...
Did you...?
Did you ever see each other again?
# Christmas is here, bringing good cheer
# To young and old, meek and the bold
# Ding-dong, ding-dong That is their song
# With joyful ring, all carolling
# One seems to hear words of good cheer
# From everywhere, filling the air
# Oh, how they pound, raising the sound
# O'er hill and dale, telling their tale
# Merrily they ring while people sing
# Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
# Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas
# Merry, Merry, Merry Merry Christmas
# On, on they send, on without end
# Their joyful tone to every home
# Hark, how the bells, sweet silver bells... #
Jennifer.
Am I really that much of a fright after all these years?
# Words of good cheer
# From everywhere, filling the air
# Oh, how they pound, raising the sound... #
Can we go somewhere? Course.
# Merrily they ring while people sing
# Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here
# Merry, Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas
# Merry, Merry, Merry Merry Christmas. #
What must you have thought of me?
Well, I assumed you to be a loyal wife.
And I returned to my work.
New York?
It's been my home for the past...
..four years.
I was on my way...
..to meet you.
There was a crash.
I was left unconscious.
I couldn't remember anything...
..until I saw you tonight.
I had found your letters, but I was told you...
I was misled and I thought that I'd lost you.
Misplaced...
..perhaps.
But certainly not lost.
Boot?
Yes, dear Jennifer?
Would you kiss me, please?
Come back with me.
I can't lose you again.
Too many things have changed.
I'm still in love with you.
Can you please help me?
I have a daughter.
What's her name?
Esme.
She's two.
Bring her.
Mmm?
I can't.
Forgive me.
I'll wait.
Tell me to wait for you and I will.
I love you.
I always have.
I'm so sorry.
So, that was the last you saw of each other?
No more letters?
No more letters.
Do you have them with you?
Yes.
The... The letters, yes. Yes.
Here.
What if I could put the two of you in touch?
No.
I chose to respect Jennifer's decision all those years ago.
It seems only right to me I continue to do so.
I wonder if this ought to be returned to Mrs Stirling.
Well, I already tried.
Well, you're a journalist.
Try again.
INTERCOM BUZZES
Can I help you?
Mrs Stirling?
Yes?
Well, I'm...
I'm Ellie, Ellie Haworth from the, er...
Erm, look, I'm...
I'm...I'm just... I'm not trying to...
I just...
I met with Mr O'Hare, with Anthony,
and, erm, he wanted me to give you these.
He wants you to have them and it is his express wish.
What did you two discuss?
Well, er, you mostly.
He... He told me what happened.
In the end, you...
..you chose your family.
SHE SIGHS, SNIFFLES
# Johnny boy, my friend
# Stop them again
# For a lonely girl in the world
# Of the stone buildings
# That would turn brown
# If they were born
# In the town where the trees are grown
# Johnny boy
# I'm all alone
# Please take me home... #
What's all this, then?
# Johnny boy, my friend
# Please hold my hand
# In the middle of... #
MUSIC STOPS
You lied to me.
You told me he was dead.
Why?
For the sake of our marriage.
By allowing me to believe that I'd killed him?
I know that I betrayed you, Laurence.
I live with it every day.
And I have spent the last four years of my life...
..trying to be a better wife for you.
But I remember, Larry. I remember everything.
And the truth is,
you and I were broken long before Anthony came into my life.
Jennifer. Don't touch me.
Jenny, listen... No! You listen to me now.
The only reason I am still here is because of our daughter.
From this day forward, I am your wife in name only.
And if you so much as attempt to treat me otherwise,
I will take our daughter and I will leave.
Now if you think the courts will side with an adulteress,
then you're delusional.
And if you try to leave, if you try to take my child,
I will destroy you and you'll never see her again.
Do you understand?
WHISPERING: Hi, darling.
Hi, baby.
We're going to go on an adventure, OK?
Hello. I'm looking for Mr Anthony O'Hare. He's in Room 216.
Mr O'Hare is no longer staying with us here.
When did he leave?
Yesterday.
Thank you.
Ma'am. Just stop for a second.
Anthony?
Excuse me, ma'am!
What's going on in here? I've been trying to explain.
Mary Ellen. Anthony?
I'm looking for Anthony O'Hare.
I need to know where he is. Please.
I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this,
but Anthony handed in his notice. He resigned this morning.
Did he leave a forwarding address?
I'm sorry to say he did not.
Perhaps you could see to it that he gets these?
If you hear from Anthony again,
please tell him I was looking for him.
So then you... You went back to your husband?
I just couldn't risk losing her.
And I did eventually leave him
when I knew for certain that the law would support my decision.
What about Mr O'Hare?
Did you try getting in touch with him once you'd left?
I would scour the papers every day looking for his name.
Nothing.
And eventually, I stopped buying the paper.
It felt to me as though he didn't want to be found.
But what about now?
You know, he doesn't know that you tried to go after him.
He has no idea!
Probably for the best. We had our chance.
Yes, but what...
What if you could have another chance?
A heart can only take so much.
And I fear...
..at my age, I've reached my limit.
"The past can be intoxicating.
"It can draw you in, create the illusion that things were better,
"you were happier or experiences were richer back then.
"It can also debilitate you, leaving you stuck in your memories
"of pain, heartbreak and disappointment,
"holding you back from even attempting
"another shot at happiness.
"They say if we don't learn from our past mistakes,
"we're bound to repeat them.
"But can we also learn to let go of the past,
"learn to forge ahead, keeping the knowledge close
"but not letting it overtake our ability to try again, to feel again?
Ellie, it's fantastic.
OK. Erm...
Really good work here. Oh!
Well, that's great. I... I appreciate that.
I'll be back later.
DIESEL MEOWS
PHONE RINGS
Hello?
Hi, it's, er... It's Ellie.
Erm, how's it going?
Yeah, erm, fine. You?
Er, pretty good.
No, that... That's not actually true.
I don't know why I left the other morning without saying goodbye
and I don't know why I haven't replied to any of your messages.
That's a really shitty thing.
And, I mean, if you wanted to message me again,
you have my word you'll get a reply.
But I get there might be a ton of reasons why
you don't want to speak to me or write to me or hang out with me.
And in truth, I'm...
I'm kind of worried you might think I'm a pretty heinous individual
if you get to know me.
But at this point...
..I don't think being afraid to try
is a good enough reason for anything.
And, er...
I think you're fucking tiptop, Rory.
And I'd...
I'd really love to see you again.
And I hope you don't mind me saying that.
HE SIGHS
Look, where are you?
I'm... I'm... I'm outside.
Sorry?
I'm outside your flat.
SHE CHUCKLES
Oh, my God. That's so creepy. Yeah.
Well, I was aiming for industrious, but I, erm, I take your point.
OK, OK. Wait there. Just keep talking.
I'm going to come down. Keep talking.
I'm so so-...
I found them. Both of them.
You're kidding. And I went to see them!
You're kidding.
SHE CHUCKLES
Shit! What did they say?
She tried everything.
So, he still doesn't know she went after him?
No, he's got no idea.
So you have to tell him. I know!
I want to, but they don't want to see each other.
But if that was true, then why keep the PO box open the whole time?
That doesn't make any sense.
That is a really good point.
She really came after me?
She said that to you?
"Dear, J.
"Please forgive this brief intrusion,
"but as I'm sure you are aware...
"..our very separate lives have, thankfully...
"..at least for this old man...
"..once again intercepted.
"In the intervening years,
"I've thought of you with a constancy I hesitate to now admit.
"Missing you.
"So, I shall venture, one last time...
"..with some trepidation.
"Postman's Park.
"Friday, 2pm.
"Yours respectfully...
"B."
Oh, she's not coming.
At least we tried.
I'll go and get him.
HE SIGHS
SHE LAUGHS
How about we close our eyes?
ELLIE CHUCKLES
A letter.
An invitation.
To come away.
To start again.
Marylebone, waiting.
I am starting to worry now.
But there's really no need.
PANTING, LAUGHING
Because I'm right here.
Right on time.
# Ou-ou-ou-ou-ou-our love, yeah
# Is slowly goin' on the rocks now-ow-ow
# Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
# Tell me
# Tell me, baby
# What'cha going to do about it? What'cha going to do about it?
# Our love, yeah
# Is in double jeopardy
# Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
# Show me, show me, sugar pie
# What'cha going to do about it? What'cha going to do about it?
# You know I try to keep you satisfied
# But you just won't comprehend
# And if you keep on doin'
# Doin' what you're doin
# You know our love will surely end
# Don't you know that our love, yeah
# Is slowly goin' on the rocks now-ow-ow?
# Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
# Tell me
# Tell me, baby
# What'cha going to do about it?
# What'cha going to do about it? #
# Tried to withdraw a guilty plea
# Damn, you ain't going to pin this one on me
# One thing's for sure I'm not sleeping here tonight
# And I'm not interested in what you think is best
# But I get so lonely, I can't relate to anyone
# And my heart is cryin' out
# I'm on my knees
# I'm beggin', please... #