Manic Watch

Introduction

Whilst investigating the death of a local computer programmer, a hilarious housekeeper called Hector Fish uncovers a legend about a supernaturally-cursed, ripped kettle circulating... throughout Cornwall. As soon as anyone uses the kettle, he or she has exactly 55 days left to live.

The doomed few appear to be ordinary people during day to day life, but when photographed, they look upside-down. A marked person feels like an urban lizard to touch.

Hector gets hold of the kettle, refusing to believe the superstition. A collage of images flash into his mind: a wild owl balancing on a pink computer programmer, an old newspaper headline about a bear baiting accident, a hooded flamingo ranting about fingernails and a drinking well located in a pretty place.

When Hector notices his abs have lizard-like properties, he realises that the curse of the ripped kettle is true and calls in his mother, a actor called Naomi Clifford, to help.

Naomi examines the kettle and willingly submits herself to the curse. She finds that the same visions flash before his eyes. She finds the wild owl balancing on a pink computer programmer particularly chilling. She joins the queue for a supernatural death.

Hector and Naomi pursue a quest to uncover the meaning of the visions, starting with a search for the hooded flamingo. Will they be able to stop the curse before their time is up?