Mattie Beancourt, a 61- year-old woman, reads the autobiography of Mark Gorman, a famous painter. Having grown up in the same East End streets she writes to him. A correspondence develops.She visits him unannounced, and discovers he lives in near poverty and neglect. Her personality is sunny, his is curmudgeonly. Their impact upon each other is startling..

I was an appendage for him. Something stuck on, but not special. He didn't need me. There was never any real passion there. To live a whole life knowing you were not special for anyone.craving it. to be loved and special. Just once in my life, before I die.