A Spot of Bother

George Hall, a hypochondriac, retires from his career manufacturing playground equipment. This marks the beginning of a new chapter in his life and sets the stage for his health anxieties to intensify. His family prepares to adjust to the changes brought by his retirement.

George notices a skin lesion on his hip and becomes convinced it is a fatal cancer. His hypochondria causes him to reject medical opinions, and he attempts to remove the lesion himself. This incident highlights his obsessive fears about health and mortality.

In his attempt to self-treat, George unsuccessfully tries to cut out the lesion with scissors, causing significant blood loss. He calls an ambulance before losing consciousness, demonstrating the severity of his anxiety and desperation. His bloodied handprints terrify his wife, Jean.

Katie, George's daughter, announces her plans to marry Ray, a man of lower social status, which her parents disapprove of. Meanwhile, Jamie has trouble with his boyfriend Tony, leading to further family tensions and conflicts over relationships and social expectations.

Katie visits George in the hospital and realizes she wants to be with Ray for love, not just for his house. She proposes to Ray, and they plan their wedding, signaling a shift in her priorities and her independence.

George suffers from severe panic attacks, exacerbated by witnessing a deer being killed on TV and discovering Jean having sex with David. These events worsen his mental health and deepen his fears about mortality and the meaning of his life.

Despite Jamie’s objections, George delivers a heartfelt speech about the brevity of life and the importance of valuing one’s time. His speech is awkward and met with mixed reactions, and he ends up attacking David in a rage, revealing his instability.

George confronts Jean about her affair with David. Though upset, he recognizes that ending their long-term relationship would be too painful, and they decide to stay together, accepting their disloyalty and complicated love.

George learns about Tony and Jamie’s relationship, and reflects on homosexuality as long as it is kept discreet. He reads an article about a risky surgery for conjoined twins, which prompts him to reconsider his previous anxieties and 'stop all this nonsense'.

In the end, George and Jean reconcile and decide to continue their life together. The household returns to a feeling of stability and normalcy, as the family faces life’s uncertainties with a renewed sense of acceptance and understanding.