Margaret, a retired woman living in the English countryside, enjoys a peaceful life tending to her home and garden. However, her tranquility is disrupted by the troubles facing her sons family, who live in a busy city. Her grandson, William, is a well-mannered and calm young man. He used to do well at school, but chose not to pursue higher education, instead finding work at a local factory. After getting married and having a son, Williams life began to unravel when he became addicted to alcohol.
Spending most of his time in the wrong company, William soon adopted a self-destructive lifestyle, leading to constant arguments and tension within the family. His marriage is hanging by a thread. In hopes of helping her grandson and keeping the family from falling apart, Margaret invites William to come and live with her. She believes that a change of scene might do him good and that her company could ease the loneliness of her old age, as well as provide him with some much-needed structure by helping around the house.
At first, Williams stay brings noticeable improvement. He seems more settled, and his wife breathes a sigh of relief. They start adjusting to life in the countryside, even lending a hand to their grandmother in the garden. Yet, after a month, things take a turn for the worse as William slips back into his old ways. Eventually, his wife leaves with their son, but William isn’t fazed. Instead, he finds a new partner with similar habits, and the pair begin cohabiting in Margarets home, showing little regard for her feelings.
Financial worries soon crop upcreditors begin demanding repayments. William even borrows money from Margarets friends, causing her distress. Despite the mounting difficulties, William manages to persuade his grandmother to sign over the house, leaving her in a precarious position. With the fear of being made homeless looming over her, Margaret watches as William and his new partner continue to live off her hospitality, showing no inclination to support her in return.
One day, overwhelmed by despair, Margaret exclaims, Hell can’t frighten me, for I have already lived through it in this life. The couple hatches a plan to start their own business and take out a loan from the bank. Yet, with so much uncertainty, there is a real risk that, if things go awry, they could all find themselves out on the streets, facing the dire consequences of their choices.
