Mattie Beancourt, a 61- year-old woman, reads the autobiography of Mark Gorman, a famous painter. Having grown up in the same East End streets she writes to him. A correspondence develops.She visits him unannounced, and discovers he lives in near poverty and neglect. Her personality is sunny, his is curmudgeonly. Their impact upon each other is startling..I was an appendage for him. Something stuck on, but not special. He didn't need me. There was never any real passion there. To live a whole life knowing you were not special for anyone.craving it. to be loved and special. Just once in my life, before I die.