also decides to see Laura again. In the meantime she has settled down in a flat of her own, and this is where they have sex for the first time, without Vincent confessing to Laura that he has recently made love to his own sister-in-law. When, some weeks later, Maureen announces that she is pregnant again, he is of course afraid that he might be the father of her baby. Out of jealousy, Maureen writes Laura's ex-husband Robert an anonymous letter, urging him to make up with his wife again. Vincent and Laura split up again as Laura is not certain about her husband's intentions. In the end two instances of deus ex machina resolve the complicated situation. First, Maureen has a miscarriage, freeing Vincent of any doubt that he might have fathered an illegitimate child. Then Robert commits suicide, paving the way for a Catholic wedding between Vincent and Laura, who are planning to leave the past behind and start a new life somewhere else. Quote "Muyah! There's no friendship between grown men and grown women, and no one can tell me different." (See also When Harry Met Sally....) Film The novel was adapted as a feature film and released to British cinemas in 2005. The writer-director was Steven Woodcock. Jason Merrells played Vincent, Denise Welch played Maureen, and Mairead Carty played Laura. Other actors featured were Marcia Warren (Mrs Dungarvan), Andrew Dunn (Matthew) and Roy Walker (the Monsignor). Allan Gill School boy #4 (uncredited) Other reading For a spiritual account by a convert to Roman Catholicism, see the writings of Ronald Knox. For a fictional treatment of the lives of Catholics in England in the 20th century, see the novels of David Lodge, in particular The British Museum Is Falling Down and How Far Can You Go?. For an example of the motif of the evil mother, see Christopher Isherwood's novel All the Conspirators. For a light-hearted look at adultery, see Iris Murdoch's A Severed Head. See also The Jealous God 1964 in literature 1964 British novels Adultery in novels British novels adapted into films Novels set in Yorkshire Catholic novels Eyre & Spottiswoode books Novels by John Braine