Stutterer

Greenwood tries to call about a bill issue, but his stutter makes him stumble over words. The call ends with the other person hanging up before he can finish. The moment underlines his struggle with spoken communication and isolation.

Later, in an online chat, Ellie tells Greenwood she has a surprise for him and will reveal it the next day. The message marks a shift to social media as their communication channel. The anticipation sets the stage for a potential in-person meeting.

In public, Greenwood voices snap judgments about strangers in his head. He practices a quote he intends to tell his father. During a game of Go with his father, he manages to say the quote, albeit slowly, and his father is pleased.

That night, Ellie nervously messages Greenwood that she is in London for a week and wants to meet in person. Greenwood hesitates to reply, fearing his stutter would reveal itself. The online confession fuels a potential future meeting.

The next day, his father is on the phone arguing with the company about communicating with his son regarding the bill. Ellie sends another message, sad that Greenwood has not replied. Greenwood writes a made-up excuse to avoid meeting but does not send it.

The next morning, Greenwood begins learning sign language, pretending to be deaf to avoid speaking. In his head, he still answers people and wishes he could talk. The shift signals a growing longing to connect without relying on speech.

He has a moment of clarity and responds to Ellie, telling her he would love to meet. This marks a shift from avoidance to openness. The gesture signals hope for a real-life encounter.

That evening, while waiting for a bus, Greenwood intervenes when a man is assaulting a woman. The confrontation leaves him with a bandage across his nose. The event shows Greenwood taking action despite his own insecurities.

That night, as he practices sign language, Greenwood confronts his self-pity and poor communication. He receives a notification of a reply from Ellie, though the content isn’t shown. He is nervous yet pleased by the possibility of meeting.

The next day, he gets ready and travels to see Ellie, rehearsing what he will say in his head. He pushes through his anxiety by practicing his words silently. The journey marks a commitment to bridging their distance.

When he arrives, he stands across the street and witnesses a stranger attempting to speak to Ellie from behind. Ellie does not respond until she taps his shoulder and signs to him, revealing that she is deaf. They share a hopeful smile as their connection shifts to sign language.

Ellie makes eye contact, waves, and signs for him to cross the street. Greenwood smiles and nods, stepping toward her. The moment cements a turning point in their relationship through nonverbal communication.