Peter Greenaway directs this black comedy which revolves around three generations of women called Cissie Colpitts (Joan Plowright, Juliet Stevenson and Joely Richardson). When each of the women decides to drown their husband, they enlist the assistance of Coroner Madgett (Bernard Hill), who finds his job seriously compromised as a result. Meanwhile, Madgett's adolescent son Smut plays obscure folk games and becomes obsessed with collecting animal corpses.