The Passionate Stranger

Professor Roger Wynter and his wife, novelist Judith, live in a small but splendid country house a few hours' drive from London, relying heavily on their car for transport. Unfortunately the Professor has recently become confined to a wheelchair due to the after-effects of a recent bout of polio, so requires a new chauffeur to not only drive but also assist and lift him in and out of the chair as necessary.

When Italian migrant Carlo arrives as a prospective candidate he is quickly determined strong and serious enough for the task. Despite a sometimes faltering grasp of English, he assumes the position right away - and captures the eye of house maid Emily in the process.

Having driven Mrs Wynter to a London meeting with her publisher one day, Carlo parks up to wait and discovers a fresh manuscript she has left on the back seat. Picking it up, he begins to read the tale of a crippled, crotchety genius; his long-suffering, sweet-natured wife; and their dashing new Italian chauffeur, Mario:

After driving the wife, Leonie Hathaway, into London one day, the car breaks down on the return journey. Captured by the romance of a fair taking place in the village where they seek refuge overnight, and the stern words Sir Clement Hathaway relays down the telephone, the pair fall into each others' arms...

Back in the real world, Carlo - who has long admired Judith's beauty - takes the story as a direct fantasy from her mind, perhaps even an instruction for him, and determines to win her undying love. Just how far he is willing to go in recreating the tale, and whether Judith can make him discern fact from fiction, remain to be seen.