In the year 1881, just 18 months following the death of his father, Louis Wain, portrayed by the talented Benedict Cumberbatch, becomes the primary provider for his family, which includes his five sisters and their mother. Taking on the role of the family's sole male figure, he secures a position as an illustrator for The Illustrated London News under the guidance of Sir William Ingram. Initially, Ingram offers him a full-time position, but Louis, with hopes of finding success in both music and playwriting, decides to turn it down, seeking avenues that, unfortunately, yield no fruitful results.
To support his sisters, Louis hires Emily Richardson, played by the charming Claire Foy. The moment they meet, their chemistry ignites a spark of attraction, much to the displeasure of the eldest sister, Caroline (played by Andrea Riseborough). In a bid to keep Emily close, Louis eventually accepts the full-time role, hoping to retain her as the governess. An educational theater outing to see The Tempest takes an unexpected turn when Louis's panic over a recurring nightmare causes Emily to comfort him in a men’s restroom, igniting gossip from the ever-curious neighbor, Mrs. DuFrane. Embarrassed by her dismissal following the incident, Caroline soon fires Emily. In a twist of fate, before she departs, Louis declares his feelings for her, leading to a budding romance.
Fast forward to 1884, and the couple happily marries, yet their union triggers yet another scandal within the Wain family due to the significant age difference—Emily being ten years his senior—and her status as a governess. Settling into their new home in Hampstead, Louis begins to freelance as an illustrator to help support his family. However, tragedy befalls them when Emily receives a grim diagnosis of breast cancer. To alleviate their sorrows, they adopt a stray kitten named Peter—a notable pet choice during the rigid era of Victorian society. Louis starts painting Peter, transforming his artwork into whimsical representations, as he infuses more anthropomorphic qualities into the cats, reflecting the emotional turmoil stemming from Emily's declining health.
As England faces a financial crisis, the newspaper cuts down on staff, leading Sir William Ingram to advise Louis to cherish more time with his wife. Following his encouragement, Louis presents his imaginative illustrations to Sir William, and miraculously, they make their way into the Christmas edition, drawing in significant attention. Unfortunately, the joy is short-lived as Emily passes away a few months later. Grieving, Louis immerses himself in creating a variety of cat illustrations, ultimately forming fanciful societies of feline characters, though his work increasingly reveals his detachment from reality.
By 1891, the popularity of Louis's delightful cat depictions skyrockets, gracing postcards and greeting cards, thereby altering public perception about keeping cats as pets. Louis gains notoriety and even becomes chairman of The National Cat Society. However, the family's financial struggles compound. With Louis's failure to copyright his art, they remain in a constant state of debt, leading to their eviction from the Sussex home. The youngest sister, Marie, begins to show signs of mental illness, adding further strain to their familial bonds.
In a twist of fortune, Sir William offers a temporary refuge for the family at one of his properties, but darkness looms as Marie is institutionalized, and following the death of Peter, Louis spirals into his own mental decline. In 1907, he embarks on a trip to New York, courtesy of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, with aspirations to foster a thriving career in America that could alleviate his debts. Upon meeting Max Kase, played by Taika Waititi, Louis learns of the widespread admiration for his artwork. However, tragedy strikes again as he receives news of his mother's death from influenza shortly after arriving in the city. Though he finds temporary success in New York, he returns to England in 1914 at Caroline's urging.
Upon his return, the grim news unfolds; Marie has also succumbed to influenza, and Sir William passes away due to gout complications. Following the family's eviction, they relocate to a modest flat in London. Louis continues to illustrate amidst the backdrop of World War I, and in an unfortunate accident, he falls and hits his head while attempting to jump off a double-decker bus, descending into a coma that gifts him a vision of the year 1999. Awakening from the coma, he draws inspiration to design avant-garde cat toys, which are produced, seemingly heralding a change in fortunes, only for hope to be sunk when a German U-boat destroys the ship carrying these toys.
The year 1917 sees more loss with Caroline's death. The cumulative grief of losing Emily, his mother, Marie, Peter, and Sir William plunges Louis into profound mental breakdowns. In 1924, his sisters feel compelled to admit him to the Springfield Mental Hospital in Tooting. During an inspection, Dan Rider (played by Adeel Akhtar), recognizes Louis from a moment in their shared past and launches a campaign to secure funding for Louis to move to a more humane facility that welcomes cats and offers patients access to nature.
The response to this campaign is overwhelming, with contributions pouring in from thousands of Louis's admirers, including contributions from renowned author H.G. Wells and other prominent British figures. The funds successfully lead to Louis’s transfer to Bethlem Royal Hospital in Southwark, where he is granted the companionship of a cat. By 1930, he finds himself in Napsbury Hospital in St. Albans, and as he navigates this new chapter, he finds solace in the spirit of Emily. With his journal and a remnant of Emily’s old scarf, he sets out into the painted countryside, the very place where Emily prophesied he would eventually find her, echoing the profound blend of love, loss, and the enduring connection they once shared.
