Bobby Deerfield

Bobby Deerfield stands on a race track, studying skid marks and searching for clues about a recent crash. His vision includes his friend Modave and a mysterious key, but the moment is revealed to be a dream when he wakes with a start. The dream lingers as he lies in bed, reliving that day at the track.

Modave's funeral is attended by Bobby and others, including Lydia. Bobby openly declares that he will not drive another Formula 1 car until they figure out what happened to Modave, noting that their cars are identical. The promise underscores his need for answers and changes in his approach to racing.

In Paris, Bobby reconnects with his brother Leonard, but their conversation remains strained. Leonard presents legal papers about their mother's property and piles of boyhood photos, pushing Bobby to confront family history he often avoids. The exchange highlights their divergent lives and unresolved memories.

Bobby travels to Leukerbad, Switzerland to question the crash with surviving driver Karl Holtzmann. Karl insists Modave simply misjudged the turn, but Bobby remains unsettled and convinced there is more beneath the surface. The tension sets the stage for Bobby's pursuit of truth beyond official explanations.

A patient named Lillian Morelli at the sanatorium engages Bobby in discussions about speed, danger, and death. She challenges his beliefs about racing being exciting, probing his sense of risk and what he truly fears. Their exchange hints at a growing fascination between them.

The next morning, Lillian asks for a ride to Florence. In a tunnel, she urges Bobby to scream, creating a charged moment between them. They stop at a hotel in Bellagio, Italy, where their proximity deepens and plans for the car's steering are discussed.

Back in Bellagio, Bobby arranges with his Paris mechanic to pull the steering linkages from his car and Modave's, and to have the crash film ready for a detailed comparison. The move signals how fixated he is on understanding the crash and preventing another tragedy.

In Florence, Bobby and Lillian visit Luigi for a Bocce game, and she persuades him to remove his sunglasses so he isn’t hiding from mirrors. A crowd recognizes him as Bobby Deerfield, drawing attention and complicating his attempt to blend in with ordinary life. Their growing bond becomes more visible to the public eye.

The pair picnic together and Lillian questions why he never truly has fun. She tells a wild story about her father's death but then confesses she made it up. Bobby concedes that emotional distance can be easier than real connection, and they share a kiss that seals their complicated chemistry.

After their night together, Lillian leaves for the morning but is gone when Bobby wakes. She has left a marked newspaper clipping about a balloon regatta in the countryside, a small clue that foreshadows their next journey together. Bobby stores the memory as he returns to his routine.

Bobby arrives at the balloon regatta where Lillian is with Carlos and a couple of others. She asks him to join them, but he declines, and the balloon drifts away without him. The moment underscores their divergent paths yet lingering connection.

Back at Jarama, Bobby takes the lead but misreads a turn and crashes; flames engulf his car, yet he escapes unharmed. The crash crystallizes the fragility of his career and the personal stakes surrounding his pursuit of answers.

Lydia reveals to Bobby that Lillian is dying, a truth Bobby had not anticipated. He realizes how unaware he’s been of her vulnerability and the gravity of their situation sinks in. The revelation reorients his priorities and emotions.

Back in Florence, Bobby imitates Mae West to amuse Lillian, who responds with a soft, knowing line: 'It's a beginning.' He shows her childhood photos, and she asks why there are no photos of his mother, prompting a quiet, intimate exchange about family history.

During a boat outing, Bobby tells a story about his mother's death that he admits was made up, and Lillian laughs and accepts the lie. She later fades away in Leukerbad, and Bobby stays with her until her death before driving back to Paris.