Content Warning: This section contains discussions of suicide, domestic violence, bullying, mental illness, alcohol use disorder, and pregnancy loss.

Eudora Honeysett is a no-nonsense, practical elderly woman who lives in Southeast London and is dissatisfied with old age living. She prefers to be called “Miss Honeysett” and confronts the postman for walking through her flower beds to deliver the mail. On the day the story begins, Eudora finds an envelope that she plans to open later as a treat. She heads to the recreational center for her swim and then stops at the neighborhood supermarket, picking up some milk and apple turnovers.

On her way home, Eudora runs into Stanley Marcham. A year ago, Stanley witnessed Eudora fall on the sidewalk and called an ambulance. That trip to the emergency room initiated frequent check-ins by the NHS (National Health Service, the taxpayer-funded healthcare system in England) and Eudora’s assigned social worker, Ruth. Eudora resents their efforts to improve her health and function and would prefer to be left in peace.

While she was in the Accident and Emergency Department (commonly called A&E, the equivalent to the ER in the US) after her fall, Eudora met Elsie Howlett in the waiting room.