Sweet November 1968

Charlie Blake is a successful British box manufacturer who meets Sara Deever when they both take a driver’s exam in New York City. She tries to get a few answers from him, but he is expelled for cheating. They run into each other later and go out on a date.

Back at her apartment, Alonzo, Sara’s older, vegetarian friend, introduces a contrasting vibe. Then Richard bursts in; he begs to stay with her, but she has already packed his bag. After he leaves, Charlie asks why Richard referred to him as his successor. She explains that she runs a “special therapy program”: she takes in a man for no longer than a month to diagnose and fix whatever problem he has. Richard was “October,” and she wants him to be “November.” She believes his trouble is his devotion to his work. Charlie accepts, though he is only interested in a short fling. He tells his employee, Digby, to send him a telegram after a week so he will have an excuse to leave.

As November progresses, Charlie begins to fall in love for the first time. When the prearranged telegram arrives, he phones Digby to handle an important business meeting by himself. Clem Batchman, another of Sara’s projects, shows up, inciting Charlie’s jealousy, until Sara informs him that he just wants to introduce her to his fiancée, Carol.

Charlie becomes troubled by certain signs that Sara may be ill. When he asks Alonzo, his worst fears are confirmed: Sara has only a little time left. She lives as she does so that she will be remembered after she is gone. Charlie tries hard to get her to break her self-imposed rule, and believes he has succeeded. She later admits to Alonzo that, unlike all the others, she has fallen for Charlie, but wants him to remember her as she is now. Thus, when December arrives (and a clumsy Gordon) arrives, she has secretly packed November’s bag. Charlie reluctantly leaves, promising he will never forget her.