Nicholas Anderton is a highly respected neurosurgeon at the top of his field. But behind the successful façade all is not well. Tormented by a toxic marriage, and haunted by past mistakes, Anderton has been eating to forget. His wife, meanwhile, has turned to drink.

There are sniggers behind closed doors - how can a surgeon be fat, they whisper; when mistakes are made and his old adversary Nash steps in to take advantage Anderton knows things are coming to a head...