Finding Your Feet 2018

As Lady Abbott (Sandra Abbott), a woman of refined elegance and tradition, is shocked to discover that her husband of 35 years, Mike, has been unfaithful with her best friend Pamela. The revelation sends her reeling, causing her to seek solace in the unlikeliest of places: the inner-city council estate of her estranged older sister Bif.

Bif’s unconventional lifestyle, marked by serial dating and a carefree spirit, is a far cry from Sandra’s staid and secure existence. As she struggles to cope with the betrayal, Sandra finds herself increasingly at odds with her new surroundings. A heated confrontation at an Asian restaurant with the owner ends in her being taken away by the police, only to spend the night recovering from her emotional turmoil.

The morning after brings a call from Mike, informing Sandra that he’s chosen to abandon their marriage and move in with Pamela. This devastating news triggers a full-blown anxiety attack, prompting Bif to rush her sister to the hospital. There, Charlie helps them navigate the aftermath, as Sandra begins to slowly open up to the possibility of change.

As she adjusts to life on the estate, Sandra is dragged along by Bif to a community dance class, where she’s forced to confront her own feelings and limitations. The experience rekindles memories of her past ballroom dancing days, and she finds an unlikely ally in Charlie, who shares his own struggles as he copes with the loss of his wife.

The arrival of Sandra’s daughter Nicola and grandson Luke adds another layer of complexity to her already tumultuous life. As Bif prepares for a date, Sandra is left to face the challenges of single parenthood head-on, including answering Luke’s difficult questions about the state of their family.

In the midst of this chaos, tragedy strikes when Bif’s date, Gerald, meets an untimely demise during a striptease performance. As the reality of her situation sets in, Sandra begins to find solace in the dance, gradually embracing her new surroundings and finding a sense of freedom with Charlie by her side.

However, when their teacher asks for volunteers to participate in a charity dance show, Sandra’s hesitation speaks volumes about her ongoing struggle to let go. Meanwhile, Charlie’s own demons are put on full display as he grapples with the loss of his wife and the weight of caring for her in a dementia care home.

As Sandra faces the prospect of divorce and begins the process of selling their Tudor-style home, she unleashes her frustration by destroying Mike’s tennis trophies with a wood chipper. With Charlie and Ted’s help, they remove her belongings from the house, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her life. A chance encounter with Mike and Pamela at the pub provides the perfect opportunity for Sandra to assert her newfound independence and shame those who have wronged her.

As the charity street performance comes to a close, Sandra joins her friends Ted and Charlie for an impromptu celebration aboard their houseboats, where Charlie reveals his audacious plan to traverse the Channel and explore France’s majestic canals. The thrill of adventure beckons, and Sandra finds herself swept up in Charlie’s infectious enthusiasm.

Later, as the group prepares to take in the festive lights of Christmas past, Bif unexpectedly bows out, her absence only adding to the mystery surrounding her sudden departure. Unbeknownst to Sandra and Charlie, Bif is in fact undergoing medical testing at a hospital, her health concerns a heavy burden she carries alone.

Meanwhile, an Italian dance festival promoter stumbles upon their performance video online and extends an invitation for them to perform in Rome come February. As the group prepares for their European escapade, tensions simmer beneath the surface. Charlie’s growing closeness with Sandra is palpable, while Bif struggles to keep her pain at bay.

It is on this precipice of joy and sorrow that Bif reveals her devastating diagnosis: lung cancer. She confides in Sandra, asking her to share the burden with only one other - Charlie. The group embarks on their Italian adventure, Bif’s physical decline a poignant reminder of mortality’s sting. Yet even as pain grips her body, her spirit remains unbroken.

The night before their departure from Italy, tragedy strikes: Bif passes away, leaving Sandra and Charlie reeling. In the days that follow, Sandra scatters her friend’s ashes amidst the serene Hampstead Heath Ponds, where they had once found solace in each other’s company.

As Sandra navigates the grief-stricken landscape of her life, a letter from Charlie arrives, bearing news of his wife’s passing and his own decision to set sail for France. Meanwhile, back home, Sandra finds herself at a crossroads - a birthday party marked by Mike’s disapproving scowl and Luke’s playful prompting - where she finally realizes that the old life she once knew is no longer her truth.

With Charlie already gone from the mooring, Sandra takes a courageous leap of faith from the riverbank, choosing to abandon the familiar shores of her past for the uncertain waters of her future.