Summaries

Synopsis

Warning: spoilers contained within

It is the 1970s. College lecturer Richard Willoughby, his wife Juliette (Jools) and their young asthmatic son, Owen, have relocated to Starve Acre on the Yorkshire moors, the isolated farm of Richard's dead father. They believe the clean air will be good for Owen's asthma. Owen complains to Jools that a voice in his head is whistling to him.

At a village fayre screaming disturbs Richard and Jools. A small pony's eye has been gouged out. Richard finds Owen alone, a bloody stick in his hand. At home Jools asks Owen about the incident. Owen appears to have no memory of it. Jools makes an appointment with a doctor to assess Owen's behaviour.

Richard, Jools and Owen meet with Dr Monk. Jools mentions that Owen hears the voice of 'Jack Grey' who whistles to him and provokes his bad behaviour. Richard is startled to hear mention of Jack Grey and blames his father's friend Gordon for putting ideas into Owen's head. Later, Richard tells Jools that Gordon is now banned from Starve Acre.

Richard and Owen walk across the Starve Acre field. Richard mentions an old, long gone oak tree. Owen says Gordon told him the oak was a doorway into other worlds. Richard tells Owen this is just superstition. Owen suggests they should try to find the old oak. Richard promises Owen that he will do so.

While Richard is at work Jools drinks tea outside, spellbound by the field. Under ground, tree roots start to freely writhe. Coming out of her trance Jools finds Owen unconscious on the floor. At the hospital it emerges that Owen has died.

Richard walks across the field and enters a tent which covers a large hole Richard has begun digging, fulfilling his promise to Owen. He continues excavating.

Richard is tidying his father's study. He finds a handwritten book: 'Starve Acre by Neil Willoughby.' Richard flicks through the book. He reads an entry entitled 'A Failed Summoning.' A photograph depicts a young boy wearing only his underpants standing in the field. Another entry states, 'I've offered my own flesh as a ransom.' Richard realises his father had attempted to sacrifice him.

Jools' sister Harrie arrives at the house to support her grieving sibling. While Richard continues his excavations Jools and Harrie watch television. Jools becomes fascinated by the wallpaper behind the television. She sees Owen reaching to touch it. Abruptly, Jools is awakened from sleep by the sound of television static.

Richard is again digging in the field. Something draws him into the house. Harrie is putting Owen's clothes into bin bags. Jools requested she do so. Richard confronts Jools. He tells her he knew she was not happy with Owen and that all they had to do was love him without judgment. Richard adds that all he ever did was show Owen love and affection. Back in his excavation Richard discovers the skeleton of a hare. He places the skeleton in a box and takes it into his study.

While Richard continues excavating Gordon arrives at the house with Mrs Forde. Mrs Forde tells Jools she helps people with meditation and suggests that she, Jools and Harrie meditate to help address Jools' grief. During the candle-lit meditation Mrs Forde begins chanting. She encourages Jools to tell Owen that he can go. Jools tells Owen, "Go, my love." Mrs Forde's chanting intensifies and the candle's flame erupts. "The Dandelion has bud..." Mrs Forde whispers.

During the meditation ceremony Gordon approaches Richard. Gordon denies mentioning Jack Grey to Owen. Richard says Jack Grey was his father's delusion. Back in his study Richard examines the hare skeleton which appears to have tendrils of flesh growing on it. Richard takes the skeleton to work to seek his colleague Steven's view of this strange development. When Richard opens the box the skeleton has no flesh attached. Confused and embarrassed, Richard drives home.

Jools and Harrie are painting Owen's room white. Richard checks the hare skeleton again. The flesh on the bones has reappeared and greatly increased. The hare's heart starts to beat and its lungs begin to breathe. Richard covers the hare in its box with a blanket like a baby in a crib.

Harrie suggests to Jools that they both return to Harrie's home. Richard discovers the hare is now alive and fully formed. Jools sees the hare and seems much taken with it but says it should be set free. Richard and Jools release the hare into the wild but it seems reluctant to leave. That night Richard and Jools make love. Richard tells Jools that his father used to strip him to his underpants and make him stand for hours in the field. Richard admits that he doesn't know what's happening any more. He gets dressed and walks across the field, now full of excavation holes. Drawn to a particular spot he begins to dig. By morning he has exposed the lost oak tree.

Harrie finds Neil Willoughby's book and reads it. Harrie tells Jools the book refers to a practice requiring the sacrifice of a child, a woman and a man "for the dandelion to bud." Steven joins Richard at the new excavation and is impressed by the preservation of the oak tree's remains. Jools reads Neil's book and sees a drawing of a demon attached to the oak tree's roots.

Richard and Steven hear Harrie scream. The hare has attacked her, cutting her arm. Jools finds the hare in the house. She holds it like a baby. Jools tries to feed the hare an apple but notes that it does not seem to need anything. Richard, nervous and upset, joins Steven back at the excavation. Steven continues digging.

Jools has placed the hare in a wicker crib. She sees what she thinks is Steven staring at the house screaming, "I am here for him!" Fearful that Steven wishes to harm the hare she takes a knife to the excavation.

Harrie drives to a nearby telephone box but is unable to make a call. Gordon arrives and tells Harrie that Neil tried to summon The Dandelion by offering Richard as a sacrifice; however, Jack Grey (a.k.a. The Dandelion) demands that only a son much beloved by his father will suffice. That is why Owen, rather than Richard, was taken. Disturbed, Harrie drives back to the farm.

Jools leaves the excavation having stabbed Steven. Richard tries to staunch the blood flow from Steven's wound. Richard rushes to the house. Jools reassures Richard that they gave physical form to Jack Grey (the hare) and that, thanks to Jack, Owen's asthma attack provided her a moment of clarity. She knew they would be better off without Owen.

Harrie arrives back at the house. She finds Jools and Richard bathing Jack. Harrie looks on, horrified.

Owen's room is now a nursery. Jools places Jack in a cot. Richard opens the curtains. A hammer lies on the window sill. Richard looks towards his excavations. Mrs Forde is conducting an incantation over the oak tree's remains. Gordon is burying Steven in a hole. Gordon sees Richard and holds up three fingers, reminding Richard that three sacrifices are necessary to complete Jack Grey's resurrection.

Harrie enters the nursery and becomes captivated by Jack's unblinking eye. As she strokes Jack in the cot Richard kills her with the hammer, completing Jack Grey's third sacrificial requirement. Jools retrieves Jack from the cot and places the hare onto her exposed breast. Jack begins to suckle. Richard and Jools smile at each other. Richard begins to sing a folk song. Jools hums along.