The Word

As renowned author Clayton Hammond (Dennis Quaid) takes the stage for a public reading of his latest literary endeavor, The Words, the audience is transported into the world of Rory Jansen (Bradley Cooper), an aspiring writer struggling to make a name for himself in the bustling city of New York. With the unwavering support of his father (J. K. Simmons) and the love of his life, Dora (Zoe Saldana), Rory embarks on a journey to publish his debut novel, only to face a series of rejections from publishing houses.

As the years pass, Rory's relationship with Dora blossoms, and they decide to take the next step by tying the knot. During their romantic getaway to Paris, Dora surprises Rory with an unexpected gift – an antique briefcase filled with secrets and stories. Unbeknownst to him, this mysterious relic contains a manuscript of unparalleled quality, penned by a masterful wordsmith. As Rory delves deeper into the manuscript, he becomes enthralled by its narrative, which centers around a protagonist named Jack.

Meanwhile, Dora stumbles upon the manuscript on Rory's laptop and, under the assumption that her husband is the author, encourages him to share his work with the world. The pair meets with Joseph Cutler (eljko Ivanek), a prominent publisher, who is smitten by the manuscript's genius. With Cutler's backing, Rory's novel becomes an overnight sensation, catapulting him into the literary limelight.

As Hammond concludes his reading and steps backstage, he is greeted by his agent (John Hannah) and introduced to Daniella (Olivia Wilde), a bright and ambitious young writer seeking insight into the creative process. Noting that Hammond's personal life is shrouded in mystery, particularly his marital status despite still wearing his wedding ring, Daniella expresses her admiration for his work and requests an interview. With the reading concluded, Hammond agrees to meet with Daniella after the ceremony, returning to the stage to share the rest of his story with the audience.

As the narrative unwinds, Rory's serendipitous encounter in New York City's Central Park with an enigmatic elderly gentleman (Jeremy Irons) yields a profound revelation. This mysterious figure, whose words would soon unravel the fabric of the story, was the true author behind the manuscript, drawing inspiration from his own life in Paris during the tumultuous days following World War II. As Irons' character recounts his tale, it becomes clear that he was a young soldier (Ben Barnes) stationed in France by the US Army at the war's conclusion, where he fell deeply in love with Celia (Nora Arnezeder), a French waitress. Their whirlwind romance blossomed into marriage and parenthood, but the devastating loss of their infant daughter proved too much for Celia to bear, prompting her departure from Irons' character's life.

In his grief-stricken state, he channeled his emotions into the manuscript, a cathartic expression of his pain. He shared this tender tale with Celia during a visit to her parents' home, only for it to have an extraordinary impact on her, ultimately leading her back to him. However, fate had other plans; she inadvertently left the precious manuscript behind in a train's briefcase, effectively severing its connection to their lives.

As the narrative jumps forward to the present, Irons' character discloses that he and Celia attempted to mend their fractured marriage but ultimately succumbed to divorce. With a heavy heart, he departs, leaving Rory alone on a park bench.

The public reading concludes, and Hammond implores his fans to purchase the book for a satisfying conclusion. Daniella then accompanies him back to his apartment, where she presses him to reveal more of the story. Irons' character opens up about how Rory shares the truth with his wife and later with Cutler (Hammond's publisher), expressing his desire to credit the old man as the true author. However, Cutler passionately advises against this, foreseeing irreparable damage to both their reputations, instead recommending that they offer the old man a share of the book's profits.

Undeterred by this setback, Rory seeks out Irons' character at a local plant nursery, where he finds him tending to his green thumb. Despite initial reluctance, Irons' character relents and shares a poignant epiphany: as fate would have it, years after their divorce, he chanced upon Celia with her new husband and baby girl on a train platform. This bittersweet encounter serves as a gentle reminder that people ultimately move forward from past mistakes, just as Rory will too.

As Daniella persists in her pursuit of truth from Hammond, he gradually unveils the shocking truth about the old man's demise and the authorship of the manuscript. This revelation comes just days after Rory's second encounter with the enigmatic figure, leaving an indelible mark on his psyche. The weight of this knowledge proves too much for Rory to bear, as he becomes ensnared in a cycle of haunting nightmares that refuse to dissipate.

In a desperate bid to exorcise his emotional demons, Rory throws himself into another literary endeavor, one that allows him to pour out his emotions and tell the unvarnished truth about the manuscript. The cathartic process helps to distract him from his grief, but it's clear that his emotional scars run deep.

Meanwhile, Daniella's pent-up passion boils over as she bestows a fervent kiss on Hammond, only to be rebuffed as he hesitates at the threshold of romantic involvement with another woman. In that fleeting moment of uncertainty, however, Hammond is struck by a poignant memory: Rory lying in Dora's arms, his words of comfort echoing through the air like a gentle balm. This vision sparks a profound realization within Hammond - that The Words may indeed be an autobiographical account, with Rory serving as a proxy for his own life experiences. The notion sends ripples of introspection throughout him, setting the stage for a journey of self-discovery and growth.