Wakefield

A city-wide power outage traps Howard at home. He chases a raccoon into the garage attic and realizes he can watch his wife Diana and their daughters from an unseen perch. He ignores her calls and falls asleep, choosing a solitary escape over a confrontation.

Howard wakes to realising his absence won't be believed. Diana reports him missing to the police, triggering a family crisis. His mother-in-law Babs arrives to comfort Diana, and a tense confrontation about money and responsibility ensues.

After washing and planning what to say, he slips back to the garage attic to wait out the questions. He feels relief at not having to answer to clients or chores, and he begins to shed his old life piece by piece. He vows not to take any more from his former life.

Months pass as Howard abandons his former career and daily routines, wandering the town during the day and being treated as homeless. He fills his time with puzzles, reading, and quiet observation, savoring life without pressure. He continues to forage at night and even uses a neighbor's outdoor bathroom to stay hidden.

Herbert and Emily, residents of Dr. Sondervan's home for mentally disabled youth, find Howard and follow him back to the attic. The encounter forces him to confront the origins of his relationship with Diana and whether he ever truly loved her. He realizes that disappearing has given him control, but not happiness.

Watching the world from the attic, Howard sees summer turn to fall and understands that his selfishness and jealousy have imprisoned him in his own making. He acknowledges that his family might be happier without him, even as he longs for what could have been.

He recalls how he wooed Diana away from Dirk Morrison and wonders whether love or manipulation was at play. He contemplates letting Diana choose her own path without interference. The reflection hints at his readiness to relinquish control.

He decides to shed the old lie and returns to the city to prepare himself for a proper reunion. He cleans up, buys a new suit, and resolves to tell Diana the truth rather than manipulate events.

At the Christmas season, Diana and the daughters decorate the tree while Howard weighs their possible reactions to his return. He envisions both a joyful reunion and horror at his return, underscoring how his absence has reshaped their happiness.

Howard walks through the front door and declares, 'I'm home.' He faces the family with a chance to rebuild as a real husband and father, aware that trust must be earned. The scene marks a break from his self-made prison.

The narrative leaves Diana and the daughters' response unresolved, emphasizing the fragility of reopening a closed life. Howard's humility contrasts with the reality of repairing trust after years of manipulation.

Howard reflects on how freedom came from confronting his flaws and recognizing that love is not about control. He accepts that he must earn forgiveness and rebuild a relationship based on honesty rather than evasion.