Felicia's Journey 1999

Felicia, a young Irish teenager, finds herself in a desperate situation after her boyfriend, Johnny, abandons her to join the British Army, leaving her pregnant. Determined to find him, she embarks on a ferry to England in search of a lawnmower factory in Birmingham where she believes he is now employed. Instead of finding Johnny, she encounters the enigmatic Joseph Hilditch, a catering manager with a peculiar background as the son of a once-celebrated TV chef. Hilditch has a strange obsession with his deceased mother, regularly watching her cooking shows and recreating her recipes. He offers his assistance to Felicia, claiming he can help her locate Johnny, but his true motivations remain murky.

During a ride Hilditch offers, he claims he is en route to visit his wife at the hospital. However, Felicia’s search for Johnny at the supposed factory ends in disappointment. Hilditch, while she is away from the car, takes the opportunity to pilfer her money. As the situation grows dire, Felicia meets a Jamaican Christian pedlar who extends an invitation for a free stay at a church hostel. When Felicia realizes her money is missing, she confronts the other residents, suspecting them of theft, before deciding to visit Hilditch’s home.

Unbeknownst to Felicia, Hilditch has located Johnny at his barracks but withholds this information from her. Instead, he fabricates a tale about his wife’s death and erroneously suggests that Felicia should terminate her pregnancy. Following the procedure, which Hilditch pays for, he brings her back to his home, where he delivers a chilling twist—administering an overdose of sleeping pills as she drifts into unconsciousness. He chillingly reveals his history of manipulative behavior towards vulnerable girls, whom he claims he has ‘helped’ but ultimately ‘laid to rest’ once they sought to leave him.

As Hilditch works in his garden, his dark intentions face an unexpected interruption when the Jamaican witness along with a new convert enter to preach. The Christian shares that Felicia had spoken of Hilditch as a kind yet troubled soul, stirring feelings of guilt within him. Admitting to his wrongdoings, he confesses that his loneliness drove him to steal from Felicia to ensure she stayed by his side. The horrified witnesses depart, leaving Hilditch to grapple with his conscience. Meanwhile, Felicia awakens, struggling to escape the grip of her captor. When Hilditch discovers her attempt to flee, he shockingly allows her to go. However, he later succumbs to his despair in a tragic twist, taking his own life in the kitchen with a pair of tights.