A widowed socialite, sworn off men after a failed marriage, now smitten by her new working-class neighbour, must compete with her scheming best friend to win his heart – before he departs this mortal coil.

SYNOPSIS:

Pushing middle-age, socialite Ruth Bastian is wary of men – thanks to her deceased philanderer husband. She’s content to live alone in a quiet, gated residential estate – the perfect environment to suppress her real need to find true love.

Perfect, that is, until her new neighbour arrives. Morrie Anderson – widower, recently retired, chain-smoker with baggage, and an apparent penchant for prostitutes, in particular the young Denise. Someone best avoided.

Easier said than done, for when Morrie collapses in a coughing fit in his driveway, Ruth finds herself going to his aid – and by default becomes involved in his welfare.

Thus, Morrie meets vivacious physician, Dr Jeanette Parker, confidant of Ruth and fellow member of her country club. She’s in a predicament with a demented mother costing a fortune in a care facility. When Morrie reveals he’s the recent winner of a major lottery, her interest in him quickly extends beyond the medical.

During a charity golf tournament at Ruth's country club, Morrie's true character is revealed, and he soon becomes flavor-of-the-month. After years of abstinence, Ruth throws caution to the wind and goes to bed with him.

But Jeanette will have none of this and surreptitiously tries to quash the relationship by putting ideas into Morrie's head about Ruth’s sexual ‘disposition’– it's just a pity the intended inference that Ruth is going through menopause is misinterpreted by Morrie.

Jeanette need not have bothered, for Ruth’s new-found faith in men is short-lived following another visit from Denise. Humiliated, Ruth ostracises Morrie – only to discover that Denise is his niece, his only kin, come to comfort her ailing uncle. When Ruth sets about repairing the damage, and reconnect with Morrie, he questions her sexual orientation. When confronted, Jeanette, who is privy to Morrie's deteriorating health, confesses that though initially she was interested in Morrie’s money, her intentions soon turned noble, intending to save her best friend being from being hurt by love a second time round.

Ruth, however, is undeterred. There's no way she will give up her second chance to live happily ever after – however long that might be.

ONCE BITTEN