Brief Encounter

The story is about Laura Jesson, a housewife in a loveless marriage.
Laura ventures into the nearby town of Milford once a week for shopping and to the cinema.

Returning home from one of her weekly excursions, at the station she gets a piece of grit in her eye which is removed by a doctor called Alec Harvey. Both are in their thirties; each is married, with two children. The doctor is a general practitioner who also works one day a week as a consultant at the local hospital.

Enjoying each other's company, the two arrange to meet again. They are soon troubled to find their innocent and casual relationship quickly developing into love.

For a while, they meet furtively, constantly fearing chance meetings with friends. This brings home the fact that a future together is impossible and, wishing not to hurt their families, they agree to part. Alex has been offered a job in Johannesburg, South Africa, where his brother lives.

As they await a sad and final parting, Dolly Messiter, a talkative acquaintance of Laura, invites herself to join them and is soon chattering away, totally oblivious to the couple's inner misery.
Alec's train arrives. With Dolly still chattering, Alec departs with a last look at Laura but without the passionate farewell for which they both long. After shaking Dolly's hand, he lightly squeezes Laura on the shoulder and leaves.

Laura waits for a moment, anxiously hoping that Alec will walk back into the refreshment room but he does not.
As the train is heard pulling away, Laura suddenly dashes out onto the platform. The lights of a passing express train flash across her face as she conquers her impulse to commit suicide; she then returns home to her family.
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Dr. Alec Harvey: I love you. I love your wide eyes, the way you smile, your shyness, and the way you laugh at my jokes.
Laura Jesson: Please don't.
Dr. Alec Harvey: I love you. I love you. You love me too. It's no use pretending it hasn't happened cause it has.
Laura Jesson: Yes it has. I don't want to pretend anything either to you or to anyone else. But from now on, I shall have to. That's what's wrong. Don't you see? That's what spoils everything. That's why we must stop, here and now, talking like this. We're neither of us free to love each other. There's too much in the way. There's still time, if we control ourselves and behave like sensible human beings. There's still time. [She is overcome with tears]

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Dr. Alec Harvey: Could you really say goodbye? Never see me again?
Laura Jesson: Yes, if you'd help me.
Dr. Alec Harvey: I love you, Laura. I shall love you always until the end of my life. I can't look at you now cause I know something. I know that this is the beginning of the end. Not the end of my loving you but the end of our being together. But not quite yet, darling. Please. Not quite yet.
Laura Jesson: Very well. Not quite yet.

Dr. Alec Harvey: I do love you,so very much. I love you with all my heart and soul.
Laura Jesson: I want to die. If only I could die...
Dr. Alec Harvey: If you'd die, you'd forget me. I want to be remembered.
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Laura Jesson: This can't last. This misery can't last.
I must remember that and try to control myself. Nothing lasts really. Neither happiness nor despair. Not even life lasts very long. There'll come a time in the future when I shan't mind about this anymore, when I can look back and say quite peacefully and cheerfully how silly I was.
No, no, I don't want that time to come ever. I want to remember every minute, always, always to the end of my days.