The Nightmare Worlds of H.G. Wells

Penniless student Edward Eden (Luke Treadaway) receives a proposition from the elderly Egbert Elvesham (Michael Gambon). Elvesham tells Eden that he is dying and needs someone to inherit his sizeable estate and name, and that he has handpicked Eden as the perfect heir. Unable to resist the flattery and the money, Eden accepts the offer of inheritance.

Alec (Johnny Flynn), a struggling artist, tries to create a painting worthy of the Royal Academy, or simply his own expectations. His wife Isabel (Antonia Thomas) tells him that he is making himself sick worrying about it. Indeed, he is so disturbed by visions of his painting's subject, the tantalizing St. Catherine, that he envisions her coming to life.

Pawkins (James Wilby) and Hapley (Rupert Graves) are both moth specialists and long-term rivals in the field of entomology. When Pawkins becomes ill, he produces a paper far below his normal standards. Hapley relishes the chance to publicly mock his rival, shaming him in front of their peers. Before Pawkins can respond to the criticism, he collapses and dies.

Shopkeeper James Coombes (Shaun Parkes) fantasizes about murdering his money-grubbing wife Eveline (Leanne Best), though always with the knowledge that he'll never go through with it.