Jason Cavendish (Donald Pleasence) is a British professor who has written a popular children's novel. Living with his family and loyal butler, Mr. Hill (Denholm Elliott), in a remote mansion, Cavendish isn't used to visitors, but he receives one unexpectedly in the form of Daniel Young (Tom Conti), a student working on a thesis involving the author's work. Soon, however, it's clear that people aren't who they appear to be, and mystery and murder are part of the puzzle
Another of Dennis Potter’s “visitation dramas”: Adultery by John disturbs Janet, so she flirts with the simple, mistreated Billy during the middle of giving him a reading lesson. Unfortunately, it triggers aggressive behavior in Billy which he directs toward John.
An old English couple (Peggy Ashcroft, Lionel Jeffries) are seen as they were, as young lovers in a seaside hotel in 1934.