
Patrick Melrose is a man from a very privileged yet traumatic childhood in the 1980s. Patrick's father was a very abusive man and Patrick's mother put up with his behavior. Eventually, Patrick's trauma led him down a path of adulthood addiction and severe substance abuse in New York.

London, 1982. Patrick Melrose, 23 years old and in the grip of an all-consuming heroin addiction, flies to New York to collect his father's ashes.

France, 1967. During a hot summer's day at the Melrose chateau in Lacoste, 8-year old Patrick explores the grounds, a sanctuary of hiding places from the complex adult world.

England, 1990. Patrick Melrose, now 31, is finally clean and practicing law. Despite avoiding social situations and their inevitable temptations, Patrick is persuaded to attend a high society event in the Cotswolds by best friend Johnny.