WE ARE WITHOUT DEFENSE AGAINST THE FIRST DRINK. There it is in plain siight on page 24 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous. Richard Peterson knows this as he walks through the door of his favorite restaurant, Misty's by the Sea. After all, he is celebrating his twenty-ninth year of sobriety. What he is about to find out reveals his powerful and intimate struggle with his personified addiction.
Richard, 60's and a bit rumpled, carries himself with an air of someone who has known some past success. His face bears the history of a man who has come to terms with life's struggles. The quaint restaurant tinkles with soft music, laughter and clinking glasses. He is greeted by Amy, a young hostess who engages him with their usual playful banter. She, flirting, needles him about his age and that he reminds her of her grandfather. He enjoys the dance.
Leading him to his regular table, away from the bar of course, Amy passes him off to a young server, Emily. No need to hand him a menu, she knows he always orders the sea bass. We follow Emily to the bar, where we find Marcus the bartender. Emily explains Richard is celebrating his twenty-ninth year of sobriety as Marcus shakes and pours Richard's usual cucumber mocktail. They enjoy a laugh, singing "Keep coming back" while they secretly throw back a couple shots of tequila, providing a sharp contrast to Richard's sobriety.
The story takes a dramatic turn as Richard finishes his meal and leans back in his chair to survey the happy customers. For standing at his table, we find Angelique. Beautiful, mysterious, seductive, and holding a martini, she sits down. Richard is in trouble. Angelique is the metaphorical personification of Richard's addiction to alcohol. Only Richard can see her. This adds a powerful supernatural element when Emily points out to Marcus that Richard appears to be talking to himself.
Angelique seductively engages Richard as she describes all the adventures they had together. Travels to Paris, Rome, Italy, along with naked romps in Tahiti. Richard counters with memories of going to rehab, divorce, jail, and a car accident. He begins to be drawn into her, into his own mind of how much his addiction nearly destroyed him, and yet, just how much the constant comfort, warmth, companionship she, alcohol, provided him. Angelique tempts him to take a drink of her martini. Richard reveals he has a heart problem, but she isn't buying it. "Just a sip, Richard. One sip won't hurt your heart", she coos. The tension builds as we feel for Richard and what could be a fatal decision were he to drink.
A light hearted singing of HAPPY BIRTHDAY heard from across the restaurant breaks the tension. Richard softly, painfully sings "Keep coming back..." to himself. A happy couple he knows greets him as they walk past his table. They pause, swaying a bit from their own celebrating and invite him to a weekend party. He watches them as they head towards the door. Angelique strokes Richard's hand sensually. He looks longingly into her eyes. She smiles and simply says, "Let's get out of here."
The final scene finds them holding hands, standing outside a liquor store, their faces lit up by the yellow sign that beckons them inside. This scene symbolizes the terrible moment when an alcoholic is compelled to take that first drink that shatters his sobriety, We linger on their faces and feel the fear Richard is experiencing. The terror of giving in to a deep longing and the destructive desire that could destroy him. As we wait for his decision, a man exits the liquir store holding a bag. Richard watches him as he gets into his car and sits. The man pulls out a pint bottle of liquor and drinks.
The resolution comes as we see Richard standing in front of the liquor store. He is now alone. Angelique is gone. Richard turns away from the store and slowly walks past camera and out of the shot. He has faced the seduction of his addiction and won. This time.
