Elena Ferrante's story of a life long friendship between Lila and Lena comes to an end in this sad and surprising final chapter.

While deep in conversation with her old lover Nino and holding his child with Lena, Lila loses sight of her own daughter who suddenly disappears. Lila's world will never be the same and, despite Lena's attempts to help her friend try to come to terms with her loss, their past comes back to haunt them and one of them finally decides that there is only one way forward.

Does this free the other or hold her prisoner to her past forever?

Lena ...... Monica Dolan
Lila ...... Anastasia Hille
Nino Sarratore ...... Daniel Flynn
Pietro ...... Ferdinand Kingsley
Adele ...... Sylvestra Le Touzel
Dede ...... Grace Wingate
Dede ...... Ella Dale
Elsa ...... Isobel Tinsley
Elsa ...... Georgia Taft
Mariarosa ...... Claudia Jolly
Carmela ...... Louise Calf
Colombe ...... Louise Calf
Antonio ...... Hugh Kermode
Mother ...... Jane Whittenshaw
Guido ...... David Collings
Franco ...... Simon Scardifield
Augustin ...... Simon Scardifield
Armando ...... Josh Dylan
Marisa ...... Sara Markland
Elisa ...... Nelly Harker
Photographer ...... Nelly Harker
Enzo ...... Carl Prekopp
Marcello ...... Ben Crowe
Guest ...... Ben Crowe
Alfonso ...... Nick Armfield
Tina ...... Sylvie Goodwin
Imma ...... Grace Pearcey
Imma ...... Cosima Pearcey
Michele ...... Daniel Ryan
Guest ...... Daniel Ryan
Gennaro ...... Tom Davies
Pasquale ...... Nicholas Gleaves

Written by Elena Ferrante
Translated by Ann Goldstein
Dramatised for radio by Timberlake Wertenbaker

Director: Celia de Wolff

A Pier production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in October 2017. Show less