THE WRITER & THE ANGEL – Premise for screenplay

 

A lonely, heavy drinking, ageing wannabe writer takes a holiday in Palma, Mallorca to work on his novel. Unfortunately, as soon as he arrives he is stricken with flu. The young beautiful waitress at his, rather nice boutique city centre hotel notices and tells him he needs to go to bed. For the next few days she checks on him and nurses him and after her shifts sits on his bed and they talk and talk. He tells her stories of his life and she strokes his head. The writer is quite ill and at times delirious. Towards the end of the week, as arranged, a woman, closer to his age, whom the writer has met on a dating site and dated a few times, comes out for a few days. The writer is much better and the waitress slips into the background, makes herself scarce and allows the couple to have their little holiday. The couple have fun but the woman feels the waitress is rude to her and flirty with the writer and that he is over friendly with her.

 

When they return home, the woman ends the embryonic relationship with the writer, citing that younger women seem to be attracted to him and that he will obviously leave her for one, as her reason.

 

For the writer, the following year is filled with illness and family tragedy and failed attempts at rekindling old failed relationships but he manages to complete his book and sends a signed copy to the waitress, with whom he has maintained a vague contact, and includes a message thanking her. She is overwhelmed that he has remembered and they exchange more messages. She tells him that if is ever in Mallorca again, he should stay at her house. Believing that she wants to rent him a room he accepts and offers to pay; she declines.

 

As they are in the process of firming up on arrangements for him to visit, the waitress invites him to join her social media page. He finally connects and on looking through her pictures discovers a very risqué bondage photo of her facing away. He realise that he knows nothing about her.

 

The big day comes and he arrives. They meet and hug and are instantly comfortable, talking endlessly like old friends. She is warm and friendly and even more beautiful to him. She drives him to her off grid ramshackle house, miles from anywhere in the middle of a forest which she shares with two dogs.

 

She cooks him food and cares for him. They have fun, laughing at nonsense, singing loudly together in the car driving along with the windows open. They hold hands. She is bright and strong and capable and he admires her. Whilst wondering what the catch could be, somewhat predictably, he finds himself falling in love with her.  That night he kisses her, full on the mouth. She doesn’t push him away but neither does she respond. He is at the same time confused, excited.

 

In conversation she opens up and hints at a troubled childhood and talks about abuse and about how men have only wanted her for sex. She also reveals she is married but separated. The next day they take a boat and explore the coast. She strips off to a thong and is completely comfortable being naked around him. They spend more time holding and touching and kissing that evening. He is intoxicated by her and even more confused. He calls his friend. 

 

Not really understanding what she thinks of him or why she has invited him or why she is being so caring and affectionate and friendly and giving so much of her time whilst asking nothing in return; after the talk with his friend, the writer decides to tell the waitress how he feels; he is really attracted to her and wants her and that he fallen in love with her but he doesn’t want to think of him as one of those men who just want to fuck her so, whatever happens between them on this holiday he won’t have sex with her. She is embarrassed and shy and smiles and throws her arms around him. She explains she doesn’t have the words.

 

With the spectre of sex dealt with they become even more comfortable with each other, lots of cuddles and kissing. Cooking together and laughing and listening to music and singing. 

 

Over the next days the two become even closer and comfortable. She points out that he drinks too much. They talk and talk and she reveals more about her past; her work in the fetish business, her previous sex Sub relationship with her Master in Germany, her “career” as a porn actress from 17 to 24, how when young she didn’t value herself and just gave it away to anyone.

 

Each reveal feels like it is almost designed to make him want her or love her less, or is at least a test of his love. The writer IS shocked and also conflicted. A big part of him wants to run away, to have nothing more to deal with her. 

 

He finds all of his inbuilt male prejudices and ideas about love and relationships challenged and tested; ownership and control and ego etc. Despite believing he was reasonably enlightened he finds himself wanting. 

 

Here we move to the central theme.

 

After an uncomfortable time in examining his initially judgemental reactions; a time in which he manages to stop drinking. He begins to see the waitress differently; as a strong, independent woman with an unpromising start in life who has moved from controlled to controller; who has exploited her exploiters and taken control of her life and managed to retain her humanity and grace.

 

He realises that it’s him and his old ideas who is limited. He realises that he loves her even more. He can probably accept her past but knows he would have to change hugely to accept her present and her future - even if it were on offer.  He wants to hold her and kiss away the past and make it all better, but she has already rescued herself and doesn’t need that. The writer is yet again out of his comfort zone; unsure what role he has - if any.

 

They go to a party with a lot of people her age and she dances with her friends while he watches. It’s fun for him initially but as the evening wears on he feels old and out of place and finds himself jealous as men approach her and flirt with her and she with them. Although they are not really together, in his mind they are and from somewhere he has feelings of ownership and control. He admonished himself but he feels cuckold. He doesn’t do anything or say anything but she notices. 

 

He examines his feelings. He believes he can adapt to accept her past but realises that he can’t accept her present. He can adapt only so far. He realises he has projected his own feelings on to her and that any relationship is only in his head. He has confused real kindness and genuine affection on her part for something else.

 

In the morning she makes him breakfast and drives him to the airport. She is a little more distant and the writer realises this has been a gradual process over the last couple of days. 

 

They hug at the airport. He holds her tight and the emotion wells within him. He holds her by the shoulders and looks into her eyes. “I love you Angela. I didn’t mean to. I know it’s foolish but it’s true. You can’t help who you fall in love with”

It’s too much and he starts to cry. She is embarrassed and shy but holds him. He says goodbye and turns and walks to the terminal, still crying.