In the 1930s, a man named John meets with his father, Cyril, at a pizza restaurant. Cyril is terminally ill and had told John he would be in town. John reflects on his dysfunctional family, glad he left his father to make a living for himself but sorry for his mother and sisters, who are still under his money-greedy grasp.   When Cyril arrives, John notices his visual deterioration. He has dyed his hair and painted his cheeks with blush. Cyril recollects how the town used to be when he was a famous local sports player in his youth. He tells their waitress he recognizes her from the past and remembers her name as Annie. The waitress says she's never seen him and threatens to call the police on him when he puts his hand on her knee. When John asks Cyril what his doctor has told him, Cyril says he doesn't believe in doctors because they just try to steal your money. He says his sickness has left him broke and requests twenty pounds from John, which John anticipated to be inevitable. John says he has been sending as much money home as he could. He also tells Cyril to stop signing his name on checks, which Cyril casually justifies as a manner to save time.   Cyril talks about one of his daughters who recently married and moved to Bristol. He asks John to show him the letter she sent him, so he gets it from his office. John gives Cyril eighteen pounds and his sister's letter. They say goodbye, with Cyril telling John he cannot expect him to change at his old age. Cyril departs, and John feels emotional despair. He attempts to calm down but cannot stop calling out for his father.