Year: 1987
Runtime: 93 min
Language: English
Director: Alan Clarke
Two teenage babysitters, Rita and Sue, living in a working-class neighborhood in northern England, become entangled in an affair with their affluent employer, Bob. As Bob's marriage falls apart, the two young women find themselves navigating a complicated and increasingly precarious relationship, blurring the lines between desire and exploitation while seeking an escape from their difficult circumstances.
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Read the complete plot breakdown of Rita, Sue and Bob Too (1987), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Rita and Sue are two teenage girls nearing the end of their school years, living in a dilapidated council estate in Bradford, West Yorkshire. They take up babysitting jobs for a middle-class couple, Bob and Michelle, who reside in a more affluent neighborhood. One evening, while driving the girls home, Bob takes a detour to the Yorkshire moors. During this ride, he opens up about the intimacy issues in his marriage and shockingly suggests engaging in sexual relations with both girls, to which they eagerly agree, igniting a controversial affair.
Meanwhile, Michelle starts to suspect her husband of infidelity, especially after discovering a pack of Durex condoms in his pants. Despite Bob’s denial and the girls’ attempts to reassure her, the tension escalates. On another occasion, Bob’s attempt at intimacy with Rita and Sue ends in him being unable to perform, leaving both girls dissatisfied. To alleviate the awkwardness, he takes them to a club, where his indiscretions are further complicated when Mavis, a friend of Michelle’s, spots them together.
As expected, Mavis informs Michelle the following day. Fueled by suspicion, Michelle confronts Rita at her home and drags her along to Sue’s flat, where the situation escalates into a chaotic confrontation involving Bob, Rita, Sue, and even Sue’s parents. An explosive argument ensues, creating quite the spectacle in front of their neighbours. Just when emotions are high and tensions threaten to erupt into violence, Rita’s brothers arrive on motorbikes to her rescue. Feeling utterly humiliated, Michelle returns home, wreaks havoc in the house, and ultimately decides to leave Bob, taking the children with her.
The very next day brings further news as Sue reveals to Rita that she’s pregnant with Bob’s child and plans to move in with him now that he is single. Rita is crestfallen when Bob shows up to take her home, and she angrily tells them both to leave.
As Sue tries to move on from Bob, she begins a relationship with Aslam, a Pakistani cab driver. Their connection is soon jeopardized when Sue’s drunken father hurls racist insults at Aslam after a night out. Determined to escape the turmoil at home, Sue makes the decision to move in with Aslam and his sister.
The plot thickens when Sue visits Rita in the hospital, only to run into Bob, who attempts to rekindle their previous fling. She declines, but Aslam sees her exiting Bob’s car and accuses her of infidelity, leading to a heated confrontation. In the heat of passion at home, when Bob inadvertently calls out Sue’s name while with Rita, chaos ensues. Rita, angered by the thought of Bob possibly seeing Sue behind her back, rushes out to confront her. This confrontation leads to Aslam violently confronting Sue, but Rita steps in to defend her friend. Together, the two girls escape from his wrath and head to Bob’s place for refuge.
Once at Bob’s house, the girls think they are safe until Aslam arrives at the door, determined to win Sue back. Despite their resistance, the situation becomes dire, prompting a police intervention following a neighbor’s call. Aslam manages to evade capture just in time, running from the scene.
Feeling empowered, Rita tells Bob that she is allowing Sue to stay with them, regardless of his protests. The two girls sneak upstairs, leaving Bob feeling abandoned. Surprisingly, when he follows, he discovers both girls waiting in bed, ready to join him in an unforeseen twist of their tumultuous tale.
Last Updated: November 15, 2024 at 16:45
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