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In a quiet suburban house, Patrick is making his final plans. A meticulous man, he makes sure of every preparation, down to the last detail. Some last reflections, and then he says goodbye to his wife, the world, and his life. It's horribly sad. At work in her shop, his wife Diana is fending off yet another phone call about her ageing and ailing mother, who needs extricating from yet another accident. It will be a while before Diana realises what Patrick has done.
Elsewhere, Angie is fretting over her husband Ray, who has a government job shrouded in secrecy and who works away from home a lot. He's not good at keeping in touch and while Angie doesn't mind too much for herself, she does worry about the effect Ray's extended absences have on their teenage son Ben, who misses him terribly and takes it out on his mother. So when Ray informs Angie that this latest absence is likely to be extended, she worries even more.