A strange new virus has appeared, which only attacks strains of grasses such as wheat and rice, and the world is descending into famine and chaos. Architect John, along with his family and friends, is making his way from London to his brother's farm in northern England where there will hopefully be food and safety for all of them.

A reconstruction of the possible events that might have led up to the real-life tragic case of the Luxton family who lived at West Chapple Farm, Winkleigh, Devon. Brothers and sister Robert, Alan and Frances Luxton had lived in the farm for many years. On 23 September 1975 their bodies were found with shotgun wounds outside their farmhouse.