The Bitter Ash 1963 Des works at a boring job, and his girlfriend Julie is pressuring him to get married by claiming to be pregnant, so that she will not have to work Laurie is living a life of quiet desperation with her husband Colin, an aspiring writer who refuses to look for a job Des meets Laurie while visiting a work mate who is dying of leukemia While they go for a drive, Laurie invites Des to a rent party at their house After this Vancouver counter culture party, Colin finds Des and Laurie in bed together