THE STORY SO FAR
Innocent abroad Elaine is working as an au pair in Paris in 1959. At a party thrown by her American employers, the Westons, Elaine meets Jack, an attractive young poet from London. Jack finishes with his possessive girlfriend Brigette so he and Elaine can go on a date. On their third meeting, Jack takes Elaine to the hotel where he is staying in the Latin Quarter. It’s smoke-filled and loud, home to a mixed bag of creatives, most of them part of the new Beat movement. Despite feeling out of her comfort zone, Elaine enjoys spending time with Jack, eating a meal he cooks and chatting about their lives. Only, when Jack reads Elaine one of his poems, she stifles a snigger. Upset, Jack speaks to her in a condescending manner. As Elaine storms from the room, she comes face to face with Jack’s ex-girlfriend, Brigette.
Who is this?’ demanded Brigette in a strong Parisian accent, her pretty features contorted with rage.
Elaine didn’t know whether to back away into Jack’s room or try and dodge around his furious ex. She couldn’t remember ever having been in such an awkward situation before.
‘Brigette, what are you doing here?’ Jack was now standing beside Elaine. His face was red. Elaine wasn’t sure if this was from embarrassment or anger, and whether that anger was all aimed at Brigette.
‘I knew you’d be staying in this awful place when I found you’d gone,’ Brigette fired. ‘But I didn’t think
