The Wild and the Willing

A group of university students enjoys dancing, drinking, and flirting as the story opens. Harry is dating Josie, while his roommate Phil remains a quiet outsider. Phil harbors affection for Sarah, who has already jilted him for another man, setting up underlying tensions.

Despite their differences, Harry develops a protective bond with Phil, looking out for him as he navigates campus life. This camaraderie foreshadows the danger and loyalty that will drive the plot. Their friendship becomes a counterpoint to Harry's more reckless impulses.

Harry becomes involved with Professor Chown's unhappy wife, Virginia. The professor remains aloof and resists divorce because he hopes to be knighted, complicating any potential relationship. Harry's pursuit of Virginia creates a conflict between desire and consequence.

Harry wants Virginia to leave with him, but she stays behind, worried about her future. Her hesitation highlights the personal cost of his impulsive schemes. The relationship provides a catalyst for Harry's recent restlessness.

Gilby, who once chased Virginia, grows jealous as he watches the events around the tower. He reports Harry and Phil to the university authorities, sowing trouble just as the stunt looms. The authorities respond with bureaucratic seriousness and concern about discipline.

Harry conceives a dangerous Rag Week stunt: climbing the campus tower at night to raise a flag. He needs a partner, and Phil volunteers, hoping to be pulled into campus life rather than stay on the fringes. Harry hesitates because Phil is a poor climber but is persuaded to include him.

On a night of Rag Week, the plan unfolds as a crowd gathers and the fire brigade is alerted. Phil's climbing is fraught with slips, while Harry tries to guide and support him from above. The mood oscillates between revelry and risk as the stunt escalates.

Despite the danger, the two reach the top of the tower and hoist their flag, delivering a moment of audacious victory. The crowd cheers though the stunt has a dark undercurrent. Their achievement feels hollow given what comes next.

On the descent, Phil loses his footing. Harry makes a desperate effort to hold on, but Phil slips from his grasp and falls to his death. The tragedy casts a shadow over the celebration and changes everything for Harry.

The university expels Harry in the wake of the fatal stunt, forfeiting his scholarship and derailing his academic career. The dream of knighthood and scholarly achievement dissolves into a punitive consequence.

In a final visit to Professor Chown and his wife, the professor concedes that Harry's paper was brilliant but acknowledges that the stunt ruined his career. The personal and professional costs are laid bare in a blunt, painful moment.

Josie meets Harry at the bus station and recognizes that he doesn't mean as much to her as she hoped. She asks him to take her with him, but he refuses, choosing not to hurt others any further. It marks the emotional closure of their relationship.

The final scene features Reggie singing a ballad about Harry and Josie, offering a melancholic reflection on their brief romance and the consequences of Harry's choices. The mood lingers as the credits roll, underscoring what has been lost.