Seven weeks and three days before his death, Edgar walks out on Gwen and their comfortable, long-standing marriage. To aid his search for excitement, he has taken to driving a brand-new cherry red convertible. But it is not adventure that sweeps Edgar away when his car becomes stuck on a level crossing: it is the 8.20 eastbound train.
Now Gwen finds herself at Edgar’s funeral in a startling red suit, which seemed such a good idea when she was getting dressed that morning. There are appropriate ways to behave at funerals, but for Gwen they seem utterly out of reach. So she relinquishes good behaviour altogether and simply follows her desires. Within weeks, Gwen has sold almost all her belongings, including the marital home. Then she sets off across country alone, but not before she has commited an act which will utterly transform her life.