Although saddled with a perpetually grousing semi-invalid mother (Margery Mason) and an illegitimate child, Valerie Marshall (Carol White) toils cheerfully enough at the GPO telephone exchange. She knows what she has in life is not enough but she doesn’t really know what she does want.
Her friend at the exchange, sexy June (Doremy Vernon) finds life and love less complicated and there’s a diffident Indian, Mahdav (Sam Dastor) whose poetic words of love and pleas for understanding are too strange for Valerie’s comprehension.
Two men touch her life: a young priest (John Castle) who offers friendship which is mistaken for intrusion, and pop singer Mike Preston (Roy Harper) whose premeditated version of idealism Valerie finds original and fascinating. They share a brief affair which Valerie sees as the dawning of a great light, but it’s a fleeting thing and means far less to the singer who uses the experience as material for a song.
Valerie has more than her fair share of tragedy and it all collides leaving her alone and rejected at the telephone exchange.
The film is well-intentioned and Carol White’s performance is as accomplished as ever, but there is a tired feeling that it’s all been done better before.
Valerie Marshall
Carol White Mike Preston
Roy Harper Father Dyson
John Castle Mrs Marshall
Margery Mason June
Doremy Vernon Mahdav
Sam Dastor Ray
Richard Vanstone Joe
Michael Cashman Arthur
Brian Croucher Andy
Sean Hewitt Mike’s MD
Peter Jenner Barry
Len Jones Dave
Ivor Butler Kevin
Ian Ramsey Jacko
Colin Pilditch Peter
Colin Daniels Charlie
Michael Tarn Janice
Jenny Donnison Yvonne
Yvonne McKain Ann
Sara Clee Babs
Babs Jessup Doctor
Peter Miles Night Nurse
Mairhi Russell Irish Nurse
Phyllis MacMahon
