Cassie Grant, portrayed by Christina Ricci, is an American traveler exploring England on foot. While heading towards Ashby Wake, she is struck by a car driven by Mrs. Marion Kirkman, played by Kerry Fox, who promptly contacts emergency services. At the local hospital, doctors determine that Cassie has sustained only minor scratches and no concussion. However, the accident has left her with amnesia. She remembers her name and that she is from the United States, but she cannot recall her hometown, her family, or the reason for her presence in England.