TORN SYNOPSIS (THIRD REVISION)

Ben Field is mourning the tragic death of his ‘brother’, Tod, whom his estranged wife, Roxanne, blames for the breakdown of their marriage. Vengeful, she snatches their son, William, on the pretext that Ben’s not his biological father. Grief stricken, but not for the loss of his marriage, Ben seeks solace in the barn. Here he finds his 1974/5 journal. It chronicles memories he’d rather not recall, but looking to discover why his life had fallen apart, he feels compelled to read it.

Aged sixteen, Roxanne and Ben agree to marry. But her sudden return to Nigeria brings a sense of heart ache and betrayal. Defending Roxanne against racist bullies, Selby Smith and Vittorio Capilano, aka Cappy, demands regular sacrifice and brings Ben to the attention of Eloise Maye. She patches him up after a fight, they become friends, fall in love, but Ben, compromised by promises made to Roxanne, denies the true nature of his affection. Rejected, Eloise leaves for Switzerland, but a passionate farewell embrace at the railway station, is much more than a kiss.

An only child, the school’s pariah, Ben had long wished for a brother. Cappy, assisted by silent, unknown accomplice, ‘Hat,’ subject Ben to a brutal attack. Home, after a spell in hospital, Ben discovers an intruder in the barn. ‘Hat’s’ disfigured appearance and unmasked long dark hair, conceals his secret. Calling himself Tod, Ben takes pity and offers him sanctuary. They strike up a friendship and Tod returns Ben’s favour the day Cappy threatens to burn down his house. Fearing their friendship’s in jeopardy, Tod decides to move on, despite Ben’s plea that he stay.

Cappy’s body is found in the harbour. Tod returns covered in his blood. It was an act of self defence and he intends to turn himself in. Ben dissuades him, provides an alibi and place to live.

The Capilano mob leave Tod for dead on a railway line. He spends two months in a coma, Ben never far from his side. During rehab, Tod demonstrates an innate artistic talent. He gains a place at college and develops a passion for painting nudes.

Roxanne’s eighteenth birthday lapses without her promised return. Ben’s abandons his celibate existence losing his virginity to a girl whose name he doesn’t even know. But the sun sand and sex summer of 1976, triggers a crisis of conscience.

Tod fails to return from a party. Ben gets a tip off and finds him chained and beaten in his parent’s house. He spends time in hospital, receives unwelcome media attention and later testifies against his abuser. Tod’s biological father tracks him down. They’re planning to live in Ireland together, when Tod discovers Ben’s journal in the barn. Memory restored, he decides to stay.

Eloise, Miss United Kingdom, comes looking for Ben. She declares her unconditional love, but past promiscuous behaviour, makes Ben feel unworthy. Eloise says she forgives him, and asks him to kiss her. There follows a whirlwind romance, they plan to be wed, but for some unknown reason, she writes calling it off. The following year she has a baby, but remains incommunicado, on all matters, including the paternity of her son.

Tod is forced to harbours a torturous secret, for fear of its consequences. The pair move on with their lives, but, forced to do battle with Selby Smith, Tod ends up in hospital. Smith is fatally wounded, Tod’s injuries are less serious, but he’s forced to disclose that he has a brain tumour. Claiming it’s benign, the growth is removed and Tod appears to make a remarkable recovery.

After an absence of six years, Ben spies Roxanne on a dance floor. She ignores him, so climbing into her taxi, they head back to the farm. She’s to be wed the next day, for unlike Eloise, she can’t forgive his sexual indiscretions. Terrified when a storm breaks, Ben offers her a room for the night. Later, she climbs into his bed, they enjoy a night of passion, but come morning she has gone. Locating the church, he arrives to interrupt the ceremony. A fracas breaks out as they make their escape to Merryfields. Roxanne falls pregnant. They wed, but it proves to be no fairy tale. Roxanne resents Tod’s presence and leaving William with Ben, goes to live with her mother in London.

Tod’s tumour is terminal. Ben’s incandescent with grief, but Tod’s determined they will live for every minute. He tells Ben he has a son and Ben promises to be a father to him. Tod’s death pushes Ben to the edge, he contemplates suicide, but is brought back from the brink by his love for his son.

The story journeys full circle, when Ben’s mother informs him he has a visitor. It’s Eloise and after all these years without word, he now learns that Tod’s the father of her son. The mistake is explained, she brims with remorse, reaffirms her love and on behalf of them both, begs his forgiveness. Looking into the opaque eyes of the only girl he ever truly loved, remembering what she once said to him, he simply responds - ‘Kiss me Ellie. Just Kiss me.’