The Girl You Left Behind

The next morning, Liv runs compulsively to manage her grief. Back home, she deletes an overdraft email notice from the bank. She visits her father, Michael, who is upset because his partner, Caroline has left him. Although she knows that Michael and Caroline break up and make up constantly, she goes round to his house. She cleans his kitchen and realizes he has forgotten the fourth anniversary of David’s death. They talk about how she has drifted from her friends. When he seeks relationship advice, Liv refuses to give it, except saying that he should stop being unfaithful to Caroline.

At TARP (Trace and Return Partnership), art recovery agent Paul McCafferty informs a client that a gallery has agreed to return his family’s Degas, stolen during World War II. His relief turns to dismay when the client, who had emphasized the personal value of the painting to strengthen his case, immediately asks how to sell it. Paul’s colleague Janey assigns him a new case: a portrait that is thought to have gone missing during World War I, recently seen in a magazine feature on a minimalist London home. Paul treats Janey carefully as he is aware that she is attracted to him and wants to avoid offending her.

That evening, Liv returns to the Glass House and chats with Fran, a homeless woman who lives nearby. Inside, Mo has used a spare key to enter and has taken a call about Liv’s overdue council tax. After Mo leaves for her shift, Liv panics at the thought of spending the anniversary of David’s death alone. She decides to go out by herself and get drunk.

To avoid male attention, Liv goes to a gay bar. Paul is there with his brother, Greg. While she is very intoxicated, someone steals Liv’s handbag containing her wallet, keys, and £200 in cash meant for the council tax. Paul helps her report the theft and walks her to Mo’s restaurant. When they find Mo’s restaurant closed and there is no answer at the Glass House, he offers Liv a place to stay.

At Paul’s flat, they drink wine and talk into the early hours. Paul corrects Liv’s assumption that he is gay. Liv explains her grief and financial strain. She kisses him and suggests they have sex, but he turns her down because she is drunk. He lets her sleep in his son Jake’s room. The next morning, hungover and embarrassed, Liv sneaks out before he wakes.

A few days later, Liv works with the children’s charity that forms part of the Halston Foundation set up in David’s memory by his architect firm. Afterward she visits Sven, David’s former business partner, and confesses her money problems. Sven advises her to sell the Glass House, but she refuses. They discuss the Goldstein project, a huge building contract that is the culmination of David’s work.

Paul is distracted at work, thinking about Liv. He learns the police recovered Liv’s bag and calls the Glass House to return it. Mo answers and they make arrangements for him to visit. Liv is embarrassed when he arrives but is delighted to find the £200 cash still in the bag. He asks her out and she accepts. Walking away, David smiles because he had replaced the stolen cash himself before returning the bag.

Over several weeks, Liv and Paul go on four dates. At home, Mo and Liv start to get used to living with each other. Mo encourages Liv to rearrange her bedroom and Liv makes some changes but refuses to move The Girl You Left Behind. Nervous before a fifth date with Paul at her place, Liv suggests a pub instead.

At the pub, Liv explains her anxiety about having Paul in the space she shared with David, then invites Paul back to the Glass House. They have sex in the kitchen. In the morning, Paul notices the painting. Liv talks to him about it, revealing that David bought it cheaply for her on their honeymoon and that she feels a deep connection to it. Paul makes a connection between the painting and the one TARP is looking for. Anxious and confused, he leaves quickly without explaining why. Liv is confused and wonders what she did wrong.

The next morning, Paul checks that Liv’s painting is the stolen work in his new case. He confides in his brother Greg about the conflict between his job and his relationship with Liv, saying that he must prioritize the case over her. Meanwhile, Mo comforts Liv, making a voodoo doll of Paul.

Paul visits the Glass House and delivers an official TARP letter demanding the painting’s return. Liv reads the claim and sees Paul’s name listed as a director. He explains the work was stolen during World War I from the artist’s wife. Furious, and convinced that Paul got close to her because of the painting, Liv throws him out.

In a flashback to her honeymoon, Liv remembers David buying The Girl You Left Behind in Barcelona from a woman named Marianne Johnson. Marianne has wanted to give it but David had insisted on paying a small amount. In the present, Sven researches the painting and learns its value is probably £2-3 million, urging her to hire a lawyer. Liv looks up TARP’s commission-based model and feels targeted.

Paul intercepts her during a run and tries to explain. Enraged, Liv accuses him of engineering the situation and hits him. He insists he is truthful and explains the portrait is of Sophie Lefèvre, taken by the Germans, after which the painting disappeared. Liv dismisses his motives as financial and runs off. She observes that her accusations make Paul furious. She returns home to find her father waiting.