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The film opens on Hector
"Heck" (Matthew Goode) and Rachel's (Piper Perabo) wedding day in North
London, England which Rachel's overbearing mother, Tess, (Celia Imrie), is
in charge of planning. Rachel's father Ned (Anthony Head) and her younger
sister Henrietta, nicknamed "H" (Boo Jackson), are supportive. Flower shop
owner Luce (Lena Headey) and Henrietta are chatting with Hector and Cooper
"Coop" (Darren Boyd). Henrietta takes an immediate liking to her, and she
asks if Luce can sit by her during the wedding. Rachel arrives with her
father and the ceremony begins. During the ceremony, as Rachel walks down
the aisle, she makes eye contact with Luce and does a double-take. At the
reception afterwards, Luce introduces herself to Rachel. As Luce tries to
get a drink, Rachel admits that her wedding ring fell in the punch, and
the two fish it out before going their own ways.
Sometime later, Rachel goes to Luce's shop and invites her and Hector to
dinner, with Rachel planning to set Luce up with Coop. Luce confides to
Heck that she's a lesbian and is bemused as Coop attempts to seduce her.
During the meal, Luce espouses her belief in love at first sight, while
Rachel counters that it takes time to find the right person. Later on that
night, Rachel and Luce share a moment together on the balcony as it rains.
The next day while grocery shopping, Hector and Rachel run into Luce and a
female friend, Edie (Eva Birthistle). Hector then tells Rachel that Luce
is gay. Hector inquires as to the relationship of Luce and Edie, but they
assure Rachel and him that nothing is going on. Edie says Luce "loves
another."
Hector sets Luce and Rachel up to spend some time together as friends
despite Rachel attempting to avoid Luce. The two spend an evening
together, visiting a football match and an arcade. At the end of the
night, Luce walks Rachel back to her flat. Rachel leans forward to kiss
Luce but withdraws at the last moment and goes inside her home.
Rachel continues to resist her growing attraction to Luce. Unable to deny
what she is feeling, Rachel eventually confronts Luce directly at her
flower shop. The two discuss the state of their relationship in a back
room, concealed from any potential customers. She tells Luce that a
romance between them cannot happen, turns to leave, and returns seconds
later to kiss Luce. Their foreplay gets interrupted by Hector, who has
stopped by to pick up flowers for Rachel, feeling guilty about the
distance growing between them. Later, Rachel and Luce agree that they
cannot betray Hector. Hector quits his job and when he returns home drunk,
she confesses all to him as he sleeps, but does not say who her love is.
Hector, who was feigning sleep, calls Coop for support. Coop confronts
Luce after deducing that she is the one Rachel loves. Luce decides that
being near Rachel without being with her is too hard. She makes plans to
go on an extended trip out of the country, leaving care of her shop to her
mother.
Days later, while Rachel and Hector are celebrating her birthday, Rachel
finds out about Luce's trip, and Hector realizes who Rachel is in love
with. Wanting Rachel to be happy, he leaves. Rachel confesses to her
parents that she is in love with a woman, and she tracks down Luce. Rachel
gets stuck in traffic and tries to call Luce, who ignores her. However,
Rachel realizes Luce is in the same traffic jam when she hears the same
man on a bicycle singing "Happy Together" and comments, "I've heard that
song before." Rachel proceeds to climb on the roof of her car. She then
uses the lessons Luce taught her at the football match about how to yell
loudly to call to her. The two women reunite and kiss each other in the
middle of a crowded London street.
During the end credits, we see the characters sometime later. Heck is on a
plane, all set to write his travel book, when he discovers a young woman
with whom he has instant chemistry (Angel Coulby) will be sitting next to
him for the long flight. The scenes continue with H and her young
boyfriend playing at a playground, Coop holding a baby, and Luce and
Rachel enjoying each other's company. |
