Madness is relative(s).
John Greenfinch has spent much of his teenage years, and early twenties caring for his invalid mother. After she dies in a tragic accident however he begins to wonder just how much of the blame for what happened to her lies with him. Forced to acknowledge that in moments of weakness, he did indeed sometimes wish she was dead, John is plagued by doubts that he might well have done something, however unconsciously, to help engineer her death. Eventually, his obsessing leads to a nervous breakdown.
Eight months later, John is released from a psychiatric hospital and returns to the family home. His older brother, Philip, is now living there too, having finally returned to the UK, after spending the last few years living abroad. Philip is rarely there however and John leads a sad, lonely existence, until one day Meredith Bell, knocks on the door, collecting for a local charity.
Only later will they both realise just how devastating the effects of this first encounter have proven to be.