Clinical Overview
Anna, a successful London stage actress, falls for Philip, a married American diplomat. Against her better judgment, she embarks on an affair—only to discover that Philip lied about being married to avoid commitment.
Diagnosis
The laughs need to come from their mutual hypocrisy and self-deception.
Prescription
Adding reputational risk would raise the stakes: Anna’s public image must be spotless, and her self-worth rooted in her certainty of her moral superiority. She needs to be undone first by her own moral compromise, then by Philip’s betrayal. Philips’ lie could also get a twist: He’s not only married—he’s married to a man.
