Intimacy

Jay maintains a ritual of weekly sex with a mystery woman every Wednesday, a habit that dominates his lonely life in a decrepit London house. The arrangement starts as purely physical, but over time an emotional attachment begins to form, anchoring him to someone he cannot name. He lives in isolation, using the ritual to feel wanted.

At the bar, Jay grows frustrated when his boss hires a junior barman, Ian, without consulting him. Initially resentful, he gradually takes Ian under his wing and tries to mentor his new colleague. The dynamic at work foreshadows Jay's need for control and companionship.

Driven to know more about the woman he sees weekly, Jay follows her through the streets of London and into the grey suburbs where she lives. His pursuit reveals a life he had not imagined and deepens his fixation on Claire. The streets themselves become the backdrop for his growing obsession.

Jay discovers the woman’s name is Claire and learns she is married to Andy, a black cab driver, with a son named Leo. He forms a tenuous bond with Andy and Leo, visiting them separately while Claire remains mostly unaware of the connections. The revelation unsettles Jay, adding moral complexity to his affair.

Jay's deadbeat friend Victor unexpectedly comes to stay with him, turning his already fragile routine on its head. Jay reluctantly agrees to let him crash in, though it strains his space and schedule. The tension foreshadows further complications in Jay's life.

On a Wednesday, Jay throws Victor out before Claire is due to arrive. The eviction underscores Jay's desire to protect his burgeoning affair while still keeping others at arm's length. The absence of Claire that day further heightens the sense of impending exposure.

Sometime later, Jay and Ian go to a squat to rescue Victor, who has apparently fallen into drug abuse. Victor accuses Jay of being heartless, exposing the fragility of their friendship. The incident forces Jay to confront the consequences of his choices.

With Victor's encouragement, Jay has sex with a woman he meets there, but he leaves abruptly in the morning. The encounter underscores his ongoing hunger for connection beyond Claire and signals his emotional disarray. The morning after leaves him unsettled and isolated.

Jay confides in Andy about his failed marriage and that he is having an affair with a mystery woman who he sees every Wednesday. Andy, in turn, introduces Jay to Claire after a play, bridging the two parts of his life. The new connection intensifies the stakes of the affair.

Andy visits Jay's bar and obliquely makes it apparent that he knows about the affair. The knowledge alters Claire’s perception of the situation and foreshadows the looming confrontation. She remains conflicted about her marriage and her future.

The next Wednesday, Claire arrives at Jay's house while Ian and Victor help clear it. She declares she will not leave her family and won't see Jay anymore. They have one final, charged encounter before Claire leaves for good.