Rye Lane 2023

In the vibrant backdrop of South London, Yas finds herself in an unexpected situation when she stumbles upon Dom during an emotional moment in a gender-neutral toilet at an art exhibition that centers around the theme of mouths, curated by their mutual friend Nathan. Their paths cross again amidst the creative chaos of the exhibition, and a shared journey unfolds as they traverse the lively Rye Lane Market. Here, they delve into Dom’s recent heartache stemming from a painful breakup with Gia, who infamously cheated on him with his best friend, Eric. Just when you think things couldn’t get more tangled, Dom is forced back home to live with his parents.

In a twist of fate, Dom encounters Gia and Eric at a local restaurant, making it a pivotal moment since it marks their first meeting since the shattering breakup. Intriguingly, Yas impulsively decides to join them, pretending to be Dom’s new love interest. They weave an imaginative backstory of having met while joyfully singing karaoke, leaving Gia in a state of utter confusion.

The plot thickens as Dom and Yas share a casual yet revealing lunch at a nearby tortilla shop. Here, Yas opens up about her own recent split from Jules, who didn’t see the importance of waving at tourists on boats—a quirk she recognized as a significant red flag. In a playful yet rebellious spirit, they hatch a plan to reclaim Yas’s prized copy of A Tribe Called Quest’s The Low End Theory, which still resides in Jules’s flat. This leads them to Jules’s mother’s house, where a comical yet awkward encounter unfolds when Dom is caught rummaging through a panty drawer, resulting in him being unceremoniously ejected from the premises.

Outside, Yas confesses that she initially approached Dom out of pity, but as time passed, she genuinely enjoyed his company, to the extent of rejecting a job interview for the chance to explore their budding connection.

The duo continues their adventurous escapade when one of Jules’s mothers lending her moped to Yas sets them off to Mona’s karaoke bar to retrieve the coveted key to Jules’s flat. In exchange for this treasure, they need to showcase their singing talents, where they perform “Shoop,” culminating in a surprising kiss from Yas to Dom. However, their breaking and entering attempt into Jules’s flat doesn’t go as planned; they are caught red-handed by Jules and his new girlfriend, leading to chaos that results in a piece of Jules’s art getting damaged. It’s an explosive moment when Jules reveals he was the one to end things with Yas, leaving Dom feeling betrayed by her earlier lies. An argument ensues, resulting in Yas discarding her much-treasured record during a moment of frustration.

Time progresses, and the pair attempt to move forward by dating other people, but the echoes of their brief yet intense connection linger just beneath the surface. Yas finally attains her dreams as a costume designer on a film set, while Dom breaks free from the confines of his parents’ home.

As fate would have it, during another one of Nathan’s artistic exhibitions—this time dedicated to anuses, an unexpected yet grand gesture finds Yas reaching out to Dom. She dramatically waves at him from a boat on the serene River Thames. In a heartwarming moment, he reciprocates by waving back through the window, igniting a spark of passion that sets him into motion to meet her. After a short wait for the boat to dock, they reunite in a warm embrace, culminating in a passionate kiss that speaks volumes of their undeniable chemistry. The story of Yas and Dom reflects the highs and lows of young romance, highlighting the unpredictability and complexity of human relationships.