George Hall is settling down into retirement rather nicely until one day he notices a small patch of red skin on his hip. His doctor says it's eczema, but George is convinced it's cancer and he's dying. George's wife Jean is carrying on an affair with David, George's erstwhile colleague. His daughter Katie is having cold feet about marrying Ray, her reliable but non-U boyfriend. His son Jamie is watching his carefully constructed life in London unravel because he won't go public about his homosexuality and bring his boyfriend to the wedding. Unnoticed by his family, George's grip on reality relaxes as he surrenders to the gathering demons of a non-existent cancer.