Not Another Happy Ending

Jane Lockhart has weathered a long string of rejection letters. Tom Duval, a Franco-Scottish editor at a struggling publishing house, tells her he will publish her debut. They form a positive editing partnership that promises to shape her work.

The debut is published and quickly becomes a sensation, marking Tom's first big hit. Jane earns an award for best new writer, solidifying her rising status in the literary world. The early success sets the tone for their collaborative relationship.

Onstage, Willie Scott presents Jane with the award and flirts with her, creating palpable tension. The interaction foreshadows a deeper connection and the two eventually become a couple. The award ceremony marks a personal turning point as well as professional momentum.

As Jane nears finishing her second book, writer's block takes hold and stalls her progress. The imagined presence of the book's protagonist begins to pop up at awkward moments, interrupting ordinary life and fueling creative frustration.

Tom tries to prod Jane into writing by making her feel unsettled, convinced that misery sparks great art. This tactic gradually reveals a deeper truth: he is falling in love with Jane himself. The line between professional challenge and personal longing becomes blurred.

After reading what she has written so far, Tom feels elated and inspired. The moment between them nearly becomes a kiss, intensifying the undercurrents of their relationship. The close encounter heightens both hope and risk for their collaboration.

Willie calls with a confession of love and a proposal, adding a new complication to the fragile balance between Jane and Tom. The love triangle destabilizes their professional partnership and challenges their personal boundaries.

With Willie back in the picture, the romance between Tom and Jane wanes and they drift into a more ordinary, forgettable routine. The dramatic tension gives way to everyday life and the sense that their original spark has dimmed.

Tom completes a screenplay adaptation of Jane's debut but changes the ending to a happier one. He asks Jane to revert to the original ending, yet Willie refuses to back down, intensifying the creative and personal clash.

Seeing the creative friction and personal strain, Jane leaves to finish the second book alone in the countryside. She seeks space away from the triangle to rediscover her voice and momentum.

Tom follows Jane to apologize and proposes rewriting the ending together. He asks to stay, even keeping outside in the cold until nightfall before she lets him back in. A tense reconciliation rekindles a mutual spark and fresh inspiration.

In the film's closing moment, Jane stands in a cemetery and speaks over a casket. Tom interrupts with the news that she will sign copies of her new book, which they lift from the casket together. He then reveals a new book contract, and the couple share a final kiss, signaling a renewed personal and professional partnership.