A Long Way Down 2014

As the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve, Martin Sharp (Pierce Brosnan), a man who once had it all - a loving wife, two rambunctious children, three pampered canines, and four prestigious People’s Choice awards - stood atop the Toppers Building in London, contemplating an irreversible exit from his crumbling life. The once-ubiquitous TV personality, whose morning show reign was rivaled only by the sun itself, now found himself a shell of his former self, stripped of his 5-morning-a-week anchor position and abandoned by his wife following a scandalous affair with an underage girl.

The launch of a new men’s moisturizer had been the catalyst for Martin’s downfall, as it was there that he met Suzy Jenkins. Their fleeting romance led to a prison sentence, leaving him a broken man, devoid of purpose or direction. As he teetered on the brink of despair, rain began to fall, forcing Martin to abandon his suicidal intentions and descend from the rooftop.

Back on solid ground, he chanced upon Maureen (Toni Collette), another soul equally lost and disillusioned with life. Her fragile existence revolved around her disabled son Matty, whose needs consumed her every waking moment, leaving little room for anything else. As Martin watched her wait patiently for a bus, he felt an inexplicable connection to this stranger.

Their brief encounter was soon interrupted by the arrival of Jess (Imogen Poots), a young woman struggling to escape the toxic grasp of her no-good boyfriend Chaz, who exploited her vulnerability and dependence on drugs. Martin’s instincts told him that Jess needed help, just as he did.

As fate would have it, a third stranger appeared - J.J. (Aaron Paul), a pizza delivery guy with a mysterious past shrouded in secrecy. His true intentions remained unclear, as he cryptically revealed his terminal illness, claiming to be terminally ill with brain cancer that was deemed inoperable by medical professionals.

Despite their vastly different circumstances and personalities, these four misfits found themselves bound together by their shared desperation and despair. Martin’s chance encounter with Maureen had set the wheels in motion for this unlikely quartet to form an uneasy alliance, each member drawn to the others’ stories like moths to a flame, desperate to find solace in their collective misery.

As the night wears on, Martin’s hesitation to intervene proves costly, leaving Jess vulnerable as she confronts Chaz. Maureen’s timely warning prompts the group to regroup and retrieve Jess from the back of an ambulance, where she’s being whisked away to a hospital. Upon awakening, Jess reveals that her pill-taking was an accident, and she hadn’t intentionally sought to end her life.

The four strangers, now bonded by their shared experience, form a pact to wait until Valentine’s Day before making any rash decisions. However, their agreement sparks controversy when it hits the headlines, with Jess’s family being subjected to intense media scrutiny. The disappearance of Jess’s sister Jennifer two years prior only adds fuel to the fire.

As the group seeks solace in Maureen’s home, Martin concocts a scheme to capitalize on their notoriety, spinning a tale of an angelic apparition that interrupted their mass suicide attempt – conveniently resembling Matt Damon. Each member is drawn to the promise of financial gain and agrees to participate in Martin’s plan.

Their next stop is his old TV chat show, where they’re subjected to Penny’s (Rosamund Pike) merciless interrogation. The program’s hostess accuses Jess of being driven to desperation by her role in Jennifer’s disappearance, further deepening the group’s despair. In a private moment, JJ confesses to Jess that he never had cancer and reveals his true motivation for seeking suicide – though the reason behind his decision remains shrouded.

The four friends flee London’s prying eyes, seeking refuge at a vacation resort where they finally feel at ease with each other’s company. Maureen marvels at the hotel’s opulence, although it’s actually Martin’s cheapest-ever stay. For her, this marks her first foray into flight travel. However, their respite is short-lived, as a revelation from one of their own and the intervention of journalist Kathy (Tuppence Middleton) ultimately drives them apart.

As JJ (actor name) and Kathy strike up an unexpected connection at the resort, tensions simmer beneath the surface as Jess grows increasingly perturbed by JJ’s new acquaintance. The air thickens with unspoken feelings, as if an invisible thread has been tugged, revealing the fragile web of relationships that have formed throughout their journey together.

Unbeknownst to Kathy (played by actress name), JJ confides in her about his deception, the weight of which seems to bear down upon him like a crushing burden. He reveals the truth behind his cancer patient ruse and the pact he shares with the other three, exposing the intricate web of lies that has been woven throughout their adventure.

Meanwhile, Jess is stunned by Kathy’s true identity as a reporter, her eyes narrowing in suspicion as she begins to piece together the puzzle that JJ has so carefully constructed. As the stakes rise, JJ finds himself torn between his growing connection with Kathy and the unraveling threads of his own deceit.

But just as all seems lost, JJ makes a desperate attempt at redemption, confessing his lies to everyone in earshot. The ensuing chaos is marked by Martin’s explosive outburst, which culminates in a brutal brawl that leaves all parties reeling.

In the midst of this turmoil, Matty (Josef Altin), Maureen’s son, suffers a heart attack, only to recover and regain his footing. As Jess and Martin pay a visit to Maureen in the hospital, they are struck by the somber realization that their pact has finally come to an end.

As Valentine’s Day dawns, the group reunites on the very rooftop where it all began, coaxing JJ back from the edge with a collective effort. The air is thick with the weight of their experiences, as if the very fabric of reality has been stretched to its limits.

In the aftermath, the group members go their separate ways, only to reconnect once more on New Year’s Eve, this time via video call. As they share in each other’s company from afar, Martin tends to his daughter, Maureen enjoys a raucous celebration with friends, and JJ and Jess find themselves basking in the warmth of a newfound love.