A neglected wife sees widowhood as freedom, only to become trapped by her family's expectations of grief.
Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases
Comfort Without Affection
Anne-Marie enjoys wealth, maids, and social comfort, but her marriage to the work-obsessed Gilbert has become a failure. His emotional neglect creates the conditions for her secret affair.
Key Events
Affluent Married Life — Anne-Marie lives with maids, money, and the comforts of marriage. Characters: Anne-Marie, GilbertLocation: The Gratigny home
A Failed Marriage — Despite her comfortable life, Anne-Marie's marriage is described as a total failure. Characters: Anne-Marie, GilbertLocation: The Gratigny home
Gilbert's Career — Gilbert is established as a famous plastic surgeon devoted to his job. Characters: GilbertLocation: Gilbert's workplace
Years Of Neglect — Years of Gilbert's neglect leave Anne-Marie emotionally dissatisfied. Characters: Anne-Marie, GilbertLocation: The Gratigny home
The Secret Affair — Anne-Marie has an affair with a ship builder. Characters: Anne-MarieLocation: An unspecified meeting place
A Lover's Proposal — Her lover urges Anne-Marie to leave her husband and unbearable situation. Characters: Anne-MarieLocation: An unspecified meeting place
The Planned Escape
Anne-Marie's lover urges her to leave Gilbert and go to China. She spends a full day preparing for departure and imagining a new life.
Key Events
A Lover's Proposal — Her lover urges Anne-Marie to leave her husband and unbearable situation. Characters: Anne-MarieLocation: An unspecified meeting place
The China Project — The ship builder is seeking a major project in China. Characters: Anne-MarieLocation: China
Planning Departure — Anne-Marie spends an entire day planning her departure. Characters: Anne-MarieLocation: The city
Return Home — After spending the day away, Anne-Marie returns home. Characters: Anne-MarieLocation: The Gratigny home
Family Gathering — Anne-Marie is surprised to find the whole family gathered there. Characters: Anne-MarieLocation: The Gratigny home
Death Changes Everything
Anne-Marie returns home to find the family gathered and learns that Gilbert has died in a car accident. She privately feels relief, believing the failed marriage is finally over.
Key Events
Shocking News — The family reveals that Gilbert has died in a car accident. Characters: Anne-Marie, GilbertLocation: The Gratigny home
Unexpected Relief — Anne-Marie feels relieved because her failed marriage has ended. Characters: Anne-Marie, GilbertLocation: The Gratigny home
Hope For Freedom — Anne-Marie sees an opportunity to meet her lover more often. Characters: Anne-MarieLocation: The Gratigny home
China Seems Possible — She looks forward to going to China with her lover. Characters: Anne-MarieLocation: The Gratigny home
The Family Trap
Anne-Marie hopes to see her lover and travel to China, but the family's constant presence prevents her from acting freely. Her son interprets her behavior as shock and watches over her.
Key Events
Family Remains Present — Anne-Marie's hopes are complicated by the family's continuous presence. Characters: Anne-MarieLocation: The Gratigny home
The Son's Concern — Her son believes she is in shock because Gilbert has died. Characters: Anne-MarieLocation: The Gratigny home
No Chance To Leave — Her son's constant attention prevents Anne-Marie from getting a break. Characters: Anne-MarieLocation: The Gratigny home
Forced Mourning — Anne-Marie must pretend to mourn Gilbert's death. Characters: Anne-Marie, GilbertLocation: The Gratigny home
Grief As A Mask
Anne-Marie must perform mourning even though she feels relief and anticipates freedom. She hides her true emotions while her plans remain obstructed.
Key Events
Hidden Happiness — She hides her relief and happiness from the family. Characters: Anne-MarieLocation: The Gratigny home
Mourning Performance — Anne-Marie continues performing grief while her hoped-for escape is obstructed. Characters: Anne-Marie, GilbertLocation: The Gratigny home
Story Breakdown
Affluent Marriage — Anne-Marie's comfortable household conceals a deeply unsatisfying marriage.
Material Comfort — She has maids, money, and the lifestyle many ordinary women would dream of.
Marital Failure — Her marriage to Gilbert is described as a total failure.
Neglected Household — Gilbert's professional devotion leaves Anne-Marie without proper attention.
Surgeon's Career — Gilbert is a famous plastic surgeon who lives for his job.
Emotional Absence — His neglect drives Anne-Marie toward an affair.
Secret Affair — Anne-Marie begins a relationship outside her failed marriage.
Ship Builder Lover — Her lover works as a ship builder.
Call For Departure — He urges her to leave Gilbert and the unbearable situation.
China Escape Plan — A major work opportunity in China becomes the basis for Anne-Marie's hoped-for escape.
Overseas Project — The ship builder is seeking a major project in China.
Departure Planning — Anne-Marie spends an entire day planning to leave.
Sudden Bereavement — A fatal car accident abruptly ends Gilbert's life and changes Anne-Marie's plans.
Family Gathering — Anne-Marie returns home and finds the whole family waiting there.
Accident News — She learns that Gilbert has died in a car accident.
Mourning Performance — Anne-Marie must conceal her relief while her family interprets her behavior as grief.
Private Relief — She feels relieved that her failed marriage has ended.
Family Surveillance — Her son thinks she is in shock and refuses to give her a break.
Anne-Marie lives an easy life with Gilbert, a rich plastic surgeon: a beautiful house, a doggy, a cleaning lady, expensive furniture, the lot. Not so easy in fact when she thinks twice. She does not get on with her husband any longer. She gets on his nerves and he does not attract her any longer. She feels good only when she jogs on the beach and ... when she is the arms of her lover, Leo. One day, Gilbert gets killed in a car accident. Good news, since she will be able to live with Leo. The trouble is her well-meaning family settle at her villa with a view to supporting the "poor widow" morally. Anne-Marie just cannot admit she is not distressed at all, especially to her son Christophe. She is now even more of a prisoner than when Gilbert was alive...
