Black-ish

London, winter 1962. England is gripped by the Cuban Missile Crisis and a series of sex and spy scandals have rocked the British government. Model Christine Keeler, barely 19, has returned to stage-dancing in Soho’s famous cabaret clubs, living with her West Indian boyfriend Johnny in a racially tense Notting Hill and confiding in her best friend Mandy Rice-Davies. It has been over a year since Christine’s secret affair with the married, middle-aged Conservative War Minister, John Profumo. Christine is shaken by violent harassment from a West Indian stalker, ‘Lucky’ Gordon, and when Johnny blames Christine and tries to shoot her, she considers refuge with her mentor and society osteopath, Dr. Stephen Ward, who is under MI5 surveillance for entertaining a handsome Russian diplomat.

London, New Year 1962. The shooting has led to court proceedings against Christine’s former lover Johnny and brought press attention for Christine and Mandy. Christine is recognized by a tabloid journalist who is investigating the rumour that she and John Profumo had a secret affair. Tempted by the offer of money for her story, Christine must first convince the newspaper it is both true and sensational enough to risk a libel lawsuit. Stephen Ward is still under MI5 surveillance and must reassure Captain Ivanov that Christine’s press attention will die down soon. War Minister Profumo must deflect any connection to the girl in the newspapers. His colleagues and actress wife Valerie Hobson start making the connection.

London, spring 1963. Christine finds herself a pariah in both London society and its West Indian communities. Her stalker ‘Lucky’ Gordon is still on the prowl, and she is frustrated that the tabloid has yet to publish her tell-all. Dr Stephen Ward reports a burglary and suspicious theft of his private society photographs, and persistent rumours force John Profumo into more denials. He continues to confidently dismiss the rumours to his wife and colleagues, but privately he scrambles to stop the story. Running out of options, Profumo orders a conflicted Stephen to intervene. Under pressure, both Christine and Profumo struggle against the story getting out of control. As they fight back, they reflect on the hasty conclusion of their infamous romance.

London, spring 1963. Christine’s Profumo article has been axed and affair rumours have been temporarily silenced by Profumo’s Parliament denial, but both she and Mandy are now hot topics for newspapers and magazines. ‘Lucky’ Gordon is still at large and when a late night party leads to an assault, he is arrested and charged. Meanwhile, John Profumo tries to move on from the rumours, his career now at stake due to his formal denial in Parliament. The police open an investigation into his one remaining vulnerability: the go-between for wealthy men and young women, Stephen Ward. Stephen finds his lifestyle is suddenly under scrutiny, and the police harass Christine, Mandy and Stephen’s patients for any evidence of crimes. Desperate Stephen must convince the government to back down.

London, summer 1963. Both Christine and Stephen suddenly find themselves under pressure in the courts. The truth of the affair is out, Profumo has resigned, and the police investigation has led to the arrest of Stephen Ward on exaggerated charges of living off immoral earnings. The story has also whipped up rumors of sex parties, affairs and illegal abortions in society London. In his trial, ‘Lucky’ Gordon insists Christine lied under oath about who caused her injuries. Stephen’s Old Bailey hearing is the trial of the decade. John Profumo is forced into a humiliating police interview about money he gave Christine. Profumo tries to repair his marriage, and in the infamous trial Stephen must fight public bias and hope that his friends will support him.

London, autumn 1963. In the aftermath of Stephen’s trial, Christine has sold her story and is auditioning to play herself in a film of the Profumo Affair. Profumo escapes the public eye in Scotland, ‘Lucky’ Gordon has been released due to doubts over Christine’s testimony and the world awaits news on Stephen Ward and the verdict. Meanwhile, she is advised to make a deal to avoid prison. But she is adamant she is innocent of any crime. As Profumo rebuilds his reputation working for an East London charity, and Mandy tries to build her own career as a cabaret singer, Christine fights the labels of being a liar and prostitute. She reflects on the happier days with Stephen and Mandy: days and nights in a glamorous early 1960s society London, and a country on the cusp of change.